Skip to primary navigation Skip to content Skip to footer
Back to Blog

5 Best Things to Do in Kona at Night for Families


Things to Do in Kona at Night

Wondering how to spend your time with the kids on the Big Island when the sun goes down? Some of the most popular things to do in Kona at night include taking in the sunset from the beach and attending a Luau. But if you’re looking for something a little different, you might want to go stargazing from a volcano summit, witness lava flowing into the ocean, or – even better – snorkel alongside majestic manta rays, a genuine once-in-a-lifetime experience.

At Sea Quest Hawaii, we’ve been taking visitors on incredible snorkeling tours since 1988, meaning you can rest assured we know all the most famous spots and hidden gems. Book a tour with us if you want to see manta rays weighing up to 1,000 lbs. Keep reading to learn about even more amazing things to do in Kona at night.

Family-Friendly Things to Do in Kona at Night

From watching the sunset by the west coast to snorkeling with giant manta rays, here are five of the best things to do in Kona at night for families.

Watch the sunset

Sunset from Kona

If you want to admire the sunset during your holiday, you can soak up some of the best views from just about any beach on the west coast of the Big Island. Hues of purple and orange bouncing off the Pacific make for an excellent natural show for families. And if you’re traveling as a couple, watching the sunset from Kona is about as romantic as it gets.

Explore the volcanoes at night

Kīlauea at night

Believe it or not, the evening is one of the best times to visit Kīlauea, which is the biggest active volcano on the Big Island. Under the cover of darkness, you can observe lava flowing into the ocean, something that very few people are lucky to witness. The easiest way to explore Kīlauea at night is to join a tour from Kona, but you can also visit the crater yourself by following the dimly lit Rim Trail.

Attend a Luau

Luau in Kona

For an evening of cultural festivities and food, take the family to a Luau, which is a traditional Hawaiian party. While feasting on local delights, you’ll be entertained by live dancers and musicians playing classic Hawaiian songs. You’ll find Luaus throughout the Big Island, but we recommend choosing a beach-side festivity in time for sunset.

Stargaze at Mauna Kea

Stargazing at Mauna Kea

Reaching a height of over 13,000 feet, Mauna Kea is one of Big Island’s tallest summits and one of the best things to do near Kona at night. Thanks to the area’s minimal light pollution, Mauna Kea is an excellent spot for awe-inspiring stargazing. If you’d rather not join a tour, you can rent a car and drive there yourself.

Snorkel with manta rays

Snorkeling with manta rays

Snorkeling with manta rays is easily one of the best things to do in Kona at night. In fact, The Travel Channel named our Night Manta Experience one of the top ten must-do things to do in your lifetime. From Kona, we’ll sail you to one of the most successful viewing locations, where you can snorkel with manta rays as large as 16 feet in width.

Looking for Exciting Things to Do in Kona at Night?

There’s no shortage of unique things to do in Kona at night, whether you want to see the stars from a volcano vantage point, party at a Luau, or watch the sunset from a paradisaical beach. But if you want to do something truly breath-taking during your Hawaiian getaway, you might want to snorkel alongside manta rays on a tour that takes you to one of Big Island’s most scenic viewing points under the cover of night. Learn more about our Night Manta Experience or call us for more info.