Kona Walking Food Tour: 7 Restaurant Stops with Local Guide

Taste your way through Kona's restaurant scene without planning which places to try.

A walking food tour through Kona with stops at seven restaurants along Ali'i Drive, featuring small tastings and drink pairings at each. The guide shares stories about the Kona food scene, local history and the islands' royal past. Minimum age is 12. The tour runs about three hours and covers fresh fish, local ingredients and Hawaiian cocktails, wine and beer. Gratuities for the guide are optional at checkout.

Step-by-step itinerary

Stops and time spent at each

1. Hulihee Palace2m
2. Kailua Pier15m

Kona walking food and history tour

• Meet at Kailua Pier
• View famous Heiau from pier
• Stop at Hulihe'e Palace for history
• Stop in front of Hawaii's oldest church
• Visit at least 7 restaurants on Ali'i Drive
• Taste local food and drinks
• Hear stories about Kona's history and restaurants

The experience

The tour starts at Kailua Pier, where you'll get views of the famous Heiau before heading down Ali'i Drive. Along the way, you'll stop in front of Hulihee Palace for a brief history lesson and pass Hawaii's oldest church. The guide weaves stories about Kona's past and the restaurants themselves into the walk, so you're not just eating. You're learning why these places matter to the local food scene.

At each of the seven stops, restaurants serve their best and most popular items in small tastings, paired with Hawaiian cocktails, wine or beer. The focus is on fresh fish and local ingredients that Kona is known for. You'll taste what the chefs actually cook, not a sampler menu, which gives you real ideas for where to eat on your own time during the rest of your stay.

The walk takes roughly three hours and covers a manageable distance on foot. A live English-speaking guide leads the group, keeping it small enough that you can ask questions and move at a steady pace. If you have dietary restrictions or allergies (gluten, vegan or vegetarian needs), let the operator know when you book so the restaurants can prepare accordingly.

What’s included

• Small tastings at each of the seven restaurant stops.
• Hawaiian cocktails, wine and beer pairings.
• a live English-speaking guide who shares stories about Kona's food scene and local history.

Before you book

Days and timesMonday, Wednesday and SaturdayDepartures at 12:15 and 13:15

Book up to1h before

AgesAdult (12 and older) · Under 12: can't be booked

GroupUp to 12

Live guideEnglish

Meeting point and pickupNo hotel pickup: you go to the meeting point. Ends at a different place from where it starts.

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

Prices and times updated yesterday

Good to know

Low physical effortStroller-friendlyPets welcomeNot recommended with heart problems

Operated by Kona Tasting Tours

Is this one for you?Book this tour if you want to try the restaurants locals actually eat at without spending a full evening at each one. The guide handles the route and the tastings, so you get a real sense of the Kona food scene in an afternoon.

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Top questions

How many restaurants do we stop at on the Kona Walking Food Tour?

The tour includes seven stops at restaurants along Ali'i Drive, each serving small tastings and drink pairings.

What kind of food will we taste on this tour?

Each restaurant serves their best and most popular items, with an emphasis on fresh fish and local ingredients that Kona is known for. Drinks include Hawaiian cocktails, wine and beer.

Is the Kona Walking Food Tour suitable for someone with limited mobility?

The tour is not recommended for travelers with walking difficulties, as it involves walking along Ali'i Drive between seven restaurant stops over about three hours.

What happens at Hulihee Palace and Kailua Pier during the tour?

At Hulihee Palace, the guide gives a brief history lesson about the site. From Kailua Pier, where the tour meets, you'll have views of the famous Heiau before heading to the restaurant stops.

Can I book this tour if I have a gluten allergy or follow a vegan diet?

Notify the operator of any dietary restrictions or allergies when you book so the restaurants can prepare appropriate tastings for you.

What is the minimum age for the Kona Walking Food Tour?

The minimum age is 12 years old.