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The Big Island of Kona top must see attractions before and after the Ironman triathlon.
Before or after the ironman here are my favourite places to see and do.
For the Triathlete race week.
Soak up the Ironman race week atmosphere swim at 7am with other like minded triathletes and spectators.
Swim the Ironman course and expect to swim with the dolphins. The closer to Ironman race day and more swimmers they seem to stay further out to the turnaround.
Swim out to the coffee of Hawaii boat 200-400m from the swim start and have a free coffee curiosity of Coffee of Hawaii.
Run along Alii Drive where mental & physical battles to get to the Ironman finish line.
Look out for white sand beach great for boogie boarding.
A relaxing place but you must find shade if you go there before ironman day is Kahalu’u Beach Park a great snorkelling beach but you can still swim on the surface and see colourful fish and turtles with normal swim goggles. Careful you do not get sun burnt before race day.
Have your picture taken at the official swim start.
Check out the official Ironman exhibition early in the week then rest yourself for Ironman day even if you are a spectator.
Best Kona tried and tested by IronMate
Best snorkelling Captain Cook Monument
Best sunset at Keauhou Beach Resort
Best place to swim with Dolphins is Kealakekua Bay
Best place to swim with wild but tame tropical fish is Kahalu’u Beach Park or Turtle beach is a close second.
Hire a car and…
Race week
Check out the 180km bike route. Stop and chill at the turnaround.
Find a quiet beach to swim and relax with the turtles on either black or golden sand beaches.
After the Ironman
Go and see Akaka Falls over 420 feet waterfall a spectacular site.
Drive to South Point the southern most point of the Island and the US. The trees actually grow sideways due to the winds.
Unwind at the painted church a relaxing place to chill.
Visit the breath taking (4,000 feet high) Kilauea Caldera crater a must see. It can be cold on misty over cast days so take extra warm layers. It only cost me $10 in 2010 to enter the park. Get a lot of free information form the visitors centre and a great view and rest rooms.
Visit Kealakekua Bay and the captain cook monument. – Snorkelling is considered to be the best place on the island. Spinner dolphins often swim in this area. The get their name because they jump right out of the sea and spin so don’t say I did not tell you.
Hiking in the Hawaii Volcano National Park is a great way to wind down after ironman day.
If you have hired a 4wd car then visit the quite Makole’s Black san beach near to Kona on the ironman course.
Hilo falls is another sight worth visiting an area where time forget to move on.
Manta Ray night dive a must if you are a diver.
Kayaking is a great way to see the marine life.
What I really enjoyed.
A helicopter flight over the active volcanoes, a once in a lifetime experience.
See lava flowing arrive before dusk to see the red lava glowing.
Black sand beach at Road to the Sea
What others have done on the big Island?
Getting married not for everyone but many do tie the knot. Many triathletes have done just that during the last 30 years.
Farmers markets for local foods and hand made trinkets.
Bike shop for everything Swim Bike Run Triathlon and of course ironman check out Bike Works.
I have only listed a few things I have done but on Kona you can do almost anything from Airplane tours -Arasailing - Cycling –Golf –Helicopter flight -Hiking –Horseback riding- Ironman (if you qualify) - Jet Skiing -Running -Snorkelling –Swimming –Scuba diving –Snuba – Tennis- Ocean Tours – Waterfall watching Whale Watching Windsurfing and not to mention eating drinking and watching the world swim cycle run and walk by.
Caution
Even on an overcast day especially high in the volcano region you can easily dehydrate or get sun burnt. Cover up or use high factor sun block and carry twice as much fluid as you think you need and most importantly keep sipping.
If you can purchase before you fly to the Big Island of Kona.
Get a great book called “Hawaii The Big Island Revealed”
ISBN 978-0-9814610-0-7 by Wizard publications
A must read with 35+ plus maps and easy to follow useful tips.
According to the above book the average rainfall can vary from 10 to 280 inches a year
Mark has competed twice at the World ironman Triathlon Championships and enjoyed the Island sights afterwards.
The above is my opinion and you may just have your favourites. I cannot be repsonbile for the weather or how quiet or the lack of turtles or dolphins or lava when you visit my favourite places on the big Island of Kona.
Go explore the Big Island some secrets are worth finding and are best kept to remain unspoilt for others.
Mark Kleanthous has twice finished the Ironman Triathlon in Kona