Kailua Pier (Tender Landing) → Historic Kailua Village (Aliʻi Drive)
Disembark from the tender and walk off the pier to find central Aliʻi Drive and Huliheʻe Palace right in front of you.
Cruise port in United States
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Explore on foot directly from the pier. Average time in port: 9 hours. 26 places to explore.
- Ships calling here
- 18 ships
- Upcoming sailings
- 199 sailings
- Average time in port
- About 9 hours
- Lowest fare
- From USD 593
Photo by Ian Stauffer on Unsplash
After disembarking
Cruise ships dock at Kailua Pier (Kona Tender Pier). Explore on foot directly from the pier.
- Where the ship docks
Cruise ships dock at Kailua Pier (Kona Tender Pier).
- Tender Landing Process and Walkability
The tender boat takes about 10–15 minutes from the ship at anchor to the pier. Historic sites, shops, and beaches are immediately accessible on foot after landing, making sightseeing convenient.
- Admission to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Admission to Puʻuhonua National Historical Park, an ancient Hawaiian sanctuary, is $10 per person for visitors on foot or by bicycle and $20 per vehicle.
About 9 hours in port: where can you go?
Time available at the destination after subtracting return travel.
- Kailua-KonaAt the pierTime at destinationAbout 9 hr
- Pu'uhonua o HōnaunauAbout 35 min each wayTime at destinationAbout 7 hr 30 min
Return travel Time at destination
Calculated from the average time in port. Return deadlines vary by sailing; check the daily programme on board.
Between the terminal, city and airport
Travel between the terminal, city center, railway station and airport.
Kailua Pier → Kahaluʻu Beach Park
At the Aliʻi Drive stop, take the Kona Trolley or Hele-On Bus south to Kahaluʻu Beach Park in 15 minutes.
Kailua Pier → Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park
Take a taxi or Uber in front of the pier and drive south on Mamalahoa Highway 11 for about 35 minutes to Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park.
Kailua Pier → Greenwell Farms (Kona Coffee)
Take a rental car or taxi from the pier uphill south toward Kealakekua to the entrance to a historic coffee farm.
Kailua-Kona places to explore
Explore 18 checked places. Select a pin to see its card, or choose View on map from a card.
Huliheʻe Palace
A summer residence of the Hawaiian royal family, built of basalt and coral limestone in 1838, displaying rare koa furniture and artifacts of King Kalākaua and Queen Kapiʻolani.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- USD 15~USD 18
Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park
A historic nature park to explore traditional coastal fishponds (loko iʻa) built by ancient Hawaiians from lava rock, a canoe landing, and basalt petroglyphs.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- Free
Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area
A former airport runway used until the 1970s, transformed into a public beach park where visitors can park on the wide runway and stroll along the rocky shore.
- Visit
- about 45 min
- Admission
- Free
Mokuaikaua Church
Hawaii's oldest Christian church, founded by the first Christian missionaries to arrive in Hawaii in 1820, with ohia wood columns and imposing basalt walls.
- Visit
- about 30 min
- Admission
- Free
Kahaluʻu Beach Park
A shallow, calm lagoon protected from offshore waves by a natural reef breakwater, where you can snorkel close to dozens of green sea turtles (Honu) and colorful tropical fish.
- Visit
- about 1 hr 30 min
- Admission
- Free
To protect coral reefs and sea turtles, do not step on rocks; enter the water only at designated sandy spots.
Kamakahonu Beach
A calm bay beside Kailua Pier in front of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel, with shallow water and fine sand, good for a light swim or snorkel just after disembarking.
- Visit
- about 1 hr
- Admission
- Free
Trips nearby
With enough time in port, you can explore beyond the city. One-way times are approximate.
Pu'uhonua o Hōnaunau
About 35 min each wayTime at destination About 7 hr 30 min
SightsKealakekua Bay State Historical ParkA historic site where British explorer Captain James Cook died in 1779, and a marine life conservation area with clear water and pods of dolphins below the cliffs.
SightsPuʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical ParkA sacred “Place of Refuge” where people facing death for breaking kapu laws could flee to receive forgiveness, with a massive lava-rock wall and wooden tiki figures restored.
SightsTwo Step / Hōnaunau BayA natural aquarium where you can enter the sea directly via smooth lava-rock steps called Two Step, beside Puʻuhonua National Historical Park, with abundant coral reefs and tropical fish.
There is no sandy beach, only basalt rocks, so water shoes are essential.
ActivitiesGreenwell FarmsHawaii's oldest coffee farm, operating for 4 generations since 1850, offering free guided tours from cultivation through roasting and tastings of different Kona coffees.
Food and cafésThe Coffee ShackA spectacular cafe where you can sit on a cliffside terrace far above Kealakekua Bay and enjoy 100% Kona Estate coffee, homemade papaya brunch, and sandwiches.
The prime seats on the cliff terrace are assigned on a first-come, first-served basis on site.
Food and cafésRebel KitchenA handmade hamburger specialist in the southern village of Kealakekua, known for grass-fed Big Island beef patties, Hawaiian pickles, and distinctive house-made hot sauce.
ActivitiesKona Joe CoffeeA Kona coffee farm using a patented trellis-grid growing method to distribute sunlight evenly, with a beautiful cafe terrace overlooking the sea.
SightsSt. Benedict Catholic ChurchThe church preserves vivid three-dimensional biblical murals painted in oils across its interior ceiling and walls in 1899 by Belgian priest John Velghe to teach the Bible to Native Hawaiians.
Cruises calling at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
199 sailings are grouped into 63 cruises by ship and route.
Holland America Line2 departure dates1 sailing available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.1130 nights · Long cruise
30-Day Circle Hawaii & Sea Of Cortez
San Diego, California departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 5,654
Holland America LineSailing 2026.11Hawaii cruises · 18 nights · Long cruise
18-Day Circle Hawaii Holiday
San Diego, California departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 3,119
Norwegian Cruise Line87 departure dates80 sailings available to book
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2028.10
Princess CruisesSailing 2026.11Asia cruises · 19 nights · Long cruise
Hawaii & Japan Pacific Crossing
Los Angeles, California → Tokyo
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Princess CruisesSailing 2026.11Asia cruises · 33 nights · Long cruise
Hawaii, Japan & Southeast Asia Grand Adventure
Los Angeles, California → Singapore
Per person, double occupancyCheck with the booking provider
Princess Cruises5 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2026.11 ~ 2027.02Hawaii cruises · 16 nights · Long cruise
Hawaiian Islands
Los Angeles, California departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 1,299
The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection2 departure dates
Sailing 2026.12 ~ 2027.12Oceania cruises · 12 nights · Long cruise
Honolulu, Hawaii to Papeete, Tahiti
Honolulu, Hawaii → Papeete, Tahiti
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 12,500
Princess CruisesBook now
Sailing 2026.12Hawaii cruises · 16 nights · Long cruise
Hawaiian Islands Holiday
Los Angeles, California departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 1,669
Norwegian Cruise Line13 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2027.01 ~ 2027.03Holland America LineBook now
Sailing 2027.01Americas cruises · 24 nights · Long cruise
24-Day Mexico Riviera & Circle Hawaii
San Diego, California departure · round trip
Per person, double occupancyFrom USD 3,859
Holland America Line5 departure datesBook now
Sailing 2027.01 ~ 2028.04Hawaii cruises · 17 nights · Long cruise
17-Day Circle Hawaii
San Diego, California departure · round trip
Lowest departure fareFrom USD 2,854
Princess Cruises14 departure dates12 sailings available to book
Sailing 2027.01 ~ 2029.0263 cruises call at this port.
Ships calling at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Explore cabin types, dining and deck facilities for each ship.
Norwegian Cruise Line · 100 sailings
Pride of America
24 cabin types · 16 dining venues · 38 entertainment options · 11 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 16 sailings
Royal Princess
11 cabin types · 11 dining venues · 16 entertainment options · 15 decks
Explore the ship
Princess Cruises · 15 sailings
Ruby Princess
7 cabin types · 15 dining venues · 33 entertainment options · 15 decks
Explore the ship
Holland America Line · 13 sailings
Koningsdam
13 cabin types · 10 dining venues · 17 entertainment options · 12 decks
Explore the ship
About Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Kailua-Kona is a town on the west coast of Hawaii Island (the Big Island). Hulihee Palace is a former royal vacation home dating from 1838. Mokuaikaua Church, from the 1800s, is Hawaii’s oldest Christian church. On Kailua Bay, reconstructed thatched houses at Kamakahonu National Historic Landmark mark King Kamehameha I’s residence. Colorful coral lies off Kamakahonu Beach. Kailua Pier has boat moorings.
Cruise lines calling here: 6 places
Celebrity CruisesHolland America LineNorwegian Cruise LinePrincess CruisesRoyal Caribbean InternationalThe Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection
Ports frequently visited before this one
Ports frequently visited after this one
Need help choosing a cruise calling at Kailua-Kona, Hawaii?
Tell us your travel dates, party size and budget to find suitable cruises calling here.