Kailua-Kona shore excursion: Sea turtles & Kona coffee

Walk the Honokohau Turtle Trail and spot Hawaiian green sea turtles in the shallows.

This guided shore excursion from Kailua-Kona covers the highlights of Kona in roughly five hours, timed to fit your ship's arrival and departure. You'll walk an easy trail to a white sand beach where Hawaiian green sea turtles live, tour a working Kona coffee farm and taste the beans, visit St. Benedict's Painted Church with its hand-painted biblical scenes, and explore Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park: a preserved Hawaiian settlement. A professional guide meets you at Kailua Pier, handles the route, and brings you back to the tender in time to reboard.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Kailua Pier15m · entry included
2. St. Benedict's Painted Church15m
3. Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park30m · entry included
4. Honokohau Harbor30m · entry included

Kailua-Kona highlights and wildlife

• Meet guide at Kailua Kona Pier
• Learn about Kona coffee and sample
• Visit St. Benedict's Painted Church
• Purchase lunch at local vendor
• Explore Kaloko-Honokohau National Park
• Walk Honokohau Turtle Trail
• Lunch at Honaunau Poke Shop or vendor

The experience

The tour starts at Kailua Pier when you step off the ship tender. Your guide holds a sign reading "C Big Island Tours". Look for it as you arrive. From there, the route heads inland toward the volcanic slopes where Kona coffee grows. You'll stop at a working coffee farm to learn how the beans are hand-picked (Hawaii is the only U.S. state that grows coffee commercially), taste some of the local roast, and see how it's processed. The farm visit usually happens at Greenwell Farms, though the operator may use an alternate if the main one is closed that day.

The drive south takes you through Captain Cook Village to St. Benedict's Painted Church, a small wooden structure famous for its interior walls covered entirely in hand-painted 3D biblical scenes done with ordinary house paint. A lunch stop follows at a local vendor (usually Honaunau Poke Shop or another nearby spot), where you can buy food on your own. Then comes Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park, an archaeological site established in 1978 to preserve traditional Hawaiian culture and activities. The park's visitor center explains what you're about to see.

The highlight is the Honokohau Turtle Trail Walk, an easy 30-minute stroll on uneven ground down to a white sand beach. The trail passes a reconstructed Hawaiian fish trap made of lava rock and a traditional Hawaiian hut, both archaeological sites. This beach is where you'll see the local wildlife: Hawaiian green sea turtles in the shallow water and native birds. The walk itself is short (about 100 yards, 10 minutes) once you reach the beach. Bottled water is provided throughout, and your guide brings you back to Kailua Pier in time for your ship's departure.

What’s included

• Professional guide in English.
• bottled water.
• port pickup at Kailua Pier and drop-off back to the tender.
• Kona coffee farm tour and tasting.
• entry to Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park.
• the Honokohau Turtle Trail Walk to the beach.

Before you book

Days and timesEvery dayDepartures at 09:00, 09:30 and 10:00

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (13 and older) · Child (3 to 12 years) · Infant (under 3): free

GroupUp to 25

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends back at the starting point.

Cancellation and refundsFree cancellation up to 24 h before the start. After that, no refund.It may be canceled due to bad weather or if the minimum number of travelers isn't reached. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund.

Prices and times updated today

Good to know

Low physical effortInfants must sit on laps

Operated by C Big Island Tours

Is this one for you?Book this if your ship docks in Kailua-Kona and you need a guide who adjusts the schedule around your tender times: the tour runs about 5 hours with pickup and drop-off at the port.

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Top questions

Can children come?

Yes. Ticket types: Child (3 to 12 years); Infant (under 3): free.

What happens if it rains?

It may be canceled due to bad weather. If that happens, you're offered another date or a refund. Free cancellation up to 24 h before the start.

What time does the tour depart and return to the ship?

Departure times are adjusted to match your ship's arrival and departure schedule. The tour runs approximately five hours from when you meet your guide at Kailua Pier, so the operator coordinates the timing with your vessel's schedule before the day.

Will I definitely see sea turtles on the Honokohau Turtle Trail?

The Honokohau Turtle Trail Walk leads to a white sand beach where Hawaiian green sea turtles live in the shallow water. The trail is a 30-minute walk on easy but uneven ground, and the beach is a known habitat for the turtles, though wildlife sightings are never guaranteed.

What is St. Benedict's Painted Church?

St. Benedict's Painted Church is a small wooden church in Captain Cook Village famous for its interior walls, which are completely covered in hand-painted 3D biblical scenes created with ordinary house paint. The detailed artwork is the reason locals call it the "Painted Church."

Is lunch included in the tour price?

Lunch is not included. The tour stops at a local vendor (usually Honaunau Poke Shop or another nearby restaurant), where you can purchase food on your own.

What should I wear and bring?

Dress comfortably for hot and sunny weather. The Honokohau Turtle Trail involves walking on uneven ground for 30 minutes, so wear sturdy shoes. Bottled water is provided throughout the tour.

Can I bring a collapsible wheelchair or mobility device?

Collapsible mobility devices can fit through the minibus doors, which are 32 inches wide, but the device must not exceed 45 pounds and must be reported to the operator before the tour date. The guide cannot assist with mobility units, and the Honokohau Turtle Trail involves uneven ground.