Kapa’a vs. Kailua-Kona: A Hawaii Travel Guide

Planning to travel to Hawaii but can't decide where you want to go? Today, we are going to take a look at Kapa'a and Kailua-Kona so you know what you can expect and what you can plan to do.

When it comes to traveling to Hawaii, there are a lot of options, as Hawaii consists of seven different islands. These Islands include Ni'ihau, Kaua'i, O'ahu, Moloka'i, Lana'i, Kaho'olawe, Maui, and Hawai'i. Each of these islands is unique to itself and offers different environments, vibes, and activities.

Kapa'a and Kailua-Kona are located on Kauai Island and Hawai'i, otherwise known as “the big island.” Here is everything you need to know about Kapa'a and Kailua-Kona in this Hawaii travel guide.

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Location

Kapa'a

Located on the east side of the island of Kauai, Kapa'a is a beautiful place to stay. The island of Kauai is known for its beaches, water sports, scuba diving, and snorkeling. It is actually the oldest of all the Hawaiian islands. If you love to visit state parks, there are nine on this island to explore. The closest state parks to Kapa'a are Wailua River State Park and Ahukini State Recreational Pier.

Kailua-Kona

If you're staying in Kailua-Kona, you will be located on the west side of the big island. There are many things to experience and adventure on this island, including 14 state parks. The closest parks to Kailua-Kona are Kekaha Kai State Beach, Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, and Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park.

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Landscape

Kapa'a

Located on Kauai, this island offers a beautiful landscape of forests, mountains, waterfalls, and beaches. It is actually home to Poipu Beach, which has been named the best beach in the United States. Poipu Beach is only a 45-minute drive from Kapa'a. But there are plenty of beautiful beaches near Kapa'a if you're looking for a shorter travel distance. You can visit Fujii Beach, Waipouli Beach, or Kapa'a Beach.

Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona, otherwise just known as Kona to the locals, is located on the big island of Hawai'i. This island landscape is a little different from Kauai and has rugged ocean cliffs, lava deserts, bamboo forests, black sand beaches, and even snow-capped mountains. Kona is often a choice for tourists because you can see a volcano, a black-sand beach, and a 420-foot waterfall. This island is known as “Hawaii's Island of Adventure.”

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Cost

Kapa'a

Because of the island's popularity and high demand as a vacation destination, pricing for accommodations has risen. To stay in Kapa'a, the average cost of a hotel room is approximately $460 per night. But, the days and location of where you stay can impact the cost. Historically, room prices in Kapa'a are lowest on Tuesdays and highest on Sundays.

The top five rated hotels for the best value in Kapa'a include the Sheraton Kauai Coconut Beach Resort, the Kauai Shores Hotel, Aston Islander On The Beach, Fern Grotto Inn, and the Waipouli Beach Resorts & Spa.

Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona has a cheaper average hotel cost than Kapa'a. The average cost per night for a hotel room in Kailua-Kona is $374. Depending on where you stay, it can be cheaper to stay on the big island because it is bigger, so there are more options, which can create less demand at times. Also, most of the coast is going to be rocky beaches rather than sandy, although there are beautiful sandy areas in Kailua-Kona to visit. This is due to the Big Island being the youngest island of the Hawaiian islands.

The top five rated hotels for the best value in Kailua-Kona include the Royal Kona Resort, the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, PACIFIC 19 Kona, Shell Vacations Club Kona Coast Resort, and Club Wyndham Kona Hawaiian Resort.

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Weather

Kapa'a

If you're planning a trip to Kapa'a, the best times of the year to visit are October, April, May, August, and September. Although some of these months are considered off-season, there are perks you can experience during these times. But, as far as the weather goes, Kapa'a's weather stays pretty stable all year round. In the winter, you'll experience the mid-70s, and in the summer, around the mid-80s.

This island does get more rain than any other island, averaging 7-10 days per month. But this leads to the lush forests that give this island its nickname “Garden Isle.” Don't worry though, usually the rain showers come and go, and you'll soon again be basking in the sun.

Kailua-Kona

If you decide to visit Kailua-Kona, the best months to travel are the same as Kapa'a: October, April, May, August, and September. The temperature is similar, ranging from 75 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit throughout the year. But, if you travel to higher altitudes you will experience colder weather. If you're planning to visit Mauna Kea, Mauna Loa, or Hualalai, you can experience very cold temperatures, so don't forget to pack a few sweaters.

The wettest month of the year in Kona is September, but that doesn't mean you need to avoid travel during this time. Rain typically comes through in the late afternoon and early evening and quickly brushes through. The average day per month for rain is also very low at one to two days a month. But you will find that April, May, and June have the most overcast. January and December are the sunniest months in Kailua-Kona.

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Food

Kapa'a

If you decide to visit Kapa'a, here are some dishes that you need to try: poke, lomi lomi, poi, loco moco, fish tacos, coconut shrimp, and spam musubi. These foods are full of history from Hawaii as well as other traditional dishes from those who have made Kauai their home and brought flavors from their homeland.

Kailua-Kona

While visiting the big island, there are some foods you need to try. Some are similar to Kapa'a, but there are a few differences. While in Kailua-Kona, try the shaved ice, poke bowls, spam musubi, mochi, malasadas, loco moco, and the local coffee.

Kona coffee is known to have fruity and sweet profiles with hints of nuttiness and spice. The coffee is famous here because it is grown at higher altitudes and in almost perfect conditions on the slopes of Hualalai and Mauna Loa. Because the coffee is rare, it is the world's most expensive coffee. But it's important to note some people market their coffee as Kona when it is not. Check the percentages on the bag, if it's 100% Kona coffee that is true Kona coffee. Some companies will only put 10% Kona coffee and the rest cheaper coffee from other places.

Kapa'a vs. Kailua-Kona: Activities

Kapa'a

Since Kapa'a is known for its water sports, this is a great place to go for snorkeling, scuba diving, paddle boarding, surfing, and more. Kapa'a is also known as one of the great places to shop on the island. You'll be able to find small business shops as well as retail malls. The Kinipopo Shopping Village and Kapa'a Town are great places to find a variety of different shops as well as places to eat. Also, since Kauali's landscape has mountains and forests, you can enjoy hiking tours, biking, horseback riding, and zip lining.

Kailua-Kona

Because of the island's landscape, it has some different things to offer. Of course, you'll be able to do all the fun water activities like scuba diving, snorkeling, and paddleboarding. Due to visibility, Kona has some of the best snorkeling on the big island of Hawai'i. There are also many access points for snorkeling in Kailua-Kona. You should definitely make it a point to see the Kilauea volcano and the Volcano National Park. If you prefer, you can adventure on your own or go on a volcano tour. You can even take a helicopter ride to fly over the volcano and get a closer look.

The image featured at the top of this post is ©ESB Professional/Shutterstock.com.