Nestled on the west side of the Island of Hawaii near Kona International Airport, Honokohau Harbor is a major destination for many. While it is a small boat harbor, the amenities and activities you can access from here will ensure that you have all the comforts of a large marina.
Many visitors come to the harbor as their meeting point for scuba dives, sailing charters, or sportfishing cruises. While waiting for their events, they often miss the interesting sights to see around a busy marina.
Watching the boats entering and leaving the harbor is relaxing, especially from the open-air restaurant at the harbor. The shallow, exceptionally clear water also makes it easy to see fish and sea turtles swimming around the boats. Sea turtles especially like to hang around the fishing boats to enjoy the discarded bits the fishers toss in the water while cleaning their catches.
The amenities at Honokohau Harbor make it an ideal place for boaters and visitors in the Kona area. Visitors typically don’t notice the many amenities for boaters at the harbor. But the fuel station, dry dock, and launches keep the boats that offer scuba and snorkeling dives, sailing trips, sportfishing, and whale watching running.
When you go as a visitor, you’ll be more likely to notice the convenience market that provides last-minute supplies and comfortable, clean restrooms where you can easily change clothes. There are other amenities and things to do at the harbor that make this a worthwhile destination.
Check out the following amenities at Honokohau Harbor that provide extra visitor comfort:
Harbor House Restaurant
Locals who own the boats at the marina and tourists waiting for their excursion both make the Harbor House Restaurant a popular eatery at the marina. You’ll enjoy outdoor dining with a view of the water, so you can watch the boats while relaxing in the breeze. The food here is casual fare with hamburgers, sandwiches, fish and chips, soups, and salads.
Convenience Stores and Services
Grab last-minute goods before getting out on the water at the convenience stores at the marina. These shops let you grab reef-friendly sunscreen, foods, fishing tackle, snacks, and other sundries to keep your day on the water fun. The harbor also has public indoor restrooms available that many visitors report as well-stocked, clean, and large enough for changing clothes before or after a boating trip.
Water Adventures
Several companies sail out of Honokohau Harbor, offering various adventures on the water. You can choose from sailing, whale watching, snorkeling, scuba diving, and sportfishing cruises leaving from this marina. Since the Honokohau Harbor only hosts small boats, the tours you book will be smaller and more intimate than those leaving on large vessels from other sites.
Some tours you can book anytime. Whale watching is a seasonal activity only available from September through May. Because humpback whale spotting is so popular and only available for a few months, these tours fill up quickly and often sell out, so book early. However, if you cannot get a whale-watching tour, many other companies offer sightseeing cruises that leave from Honokohau Harbor, making it easy to find an alternative excursion.
Honokohau Beach
At the northern edge of the harbor, Honokohau Beach starts. This site, though not technically part of the marina, is close enough to make a part of your trip to Honokohau Harbor. Bring your snorkel and waterproof camera to get a glimpse of native sea turtles that frequently stop on this beach to feed.
Choose the intimacy of the smaller cruises that leave from the well-appointed Honokohau Harbor near Kona. For its convenient location, great amenities, and multiple excursion options, Honokohau Harbor should be on your list of places to visit on the west side of the Island of Hawaii.
Insider Tips:
-The harbor has plenty of free public parking on both sides.
-Arrive early in the morning for a chance to see spinner dolphins in the water near the harbor.