Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from Honolulu, 23 – 25 Oct: £730 for two, all in
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The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- Nonstop 47-minute hop, leaving Honolulu Friday at 4:34 PM
- $290 per person, $6 under the $296 median we tracked
- Bears' Place Guest House scores 8.5 from 167 reviews
The catch: October is Ironman World Championship weekend in Kona, Bears' Place has no free cancellation, and a checked bag is about $140 for two.
Worth it if you want a quick volcano-and-snorkel weekend from Honolulu; skip it if you need flexible plans or a quiet Kona.
Worth it if you can lock in your plans and travel light: $967 for two, all in, covering the flights at $580 plus Bears' Place Guest House at $334 and its $53 in property fees, with taxes included. That's Oct 23–25, 2026, 2 nights, on a nonstop Alaska flight operated as Hawaiian Airlines, 47 minutes out. Checked bags and spending money aren't in that total.
The total, before you go
£730 for two · 2 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, return | £438 |
| Bears' Place Guest House, 2 nights, two guests, taxes in | £252 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | £40 |
| The total, before you go | £730 |
| Hold luggage each, return (not in the total) | about £106 |
Not in it: seat selection on basic fares and hold luggage (about £26 each way per bag on Alaska, £106 for two return); the resort fee is counted above. Prices are what we found at the time shown; the booking site’s checkout is the binding one.
The flight
£219 per person, return
£438 for two, taxes and fees included · Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines · nonstop · 47m
Out Fri, Oct 23, 4:34 PM – Fri, Oct 23, 5:21 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines | £219 | nonstop | 47m |
| Southwest | £219 | nonstop | 55m |
| Alaska. Operated by Alaska as Hawaiian Airlines | £219 | nonstop | 47m |
Prices checked 15 Oct 2026, 18:29 GMT-10. Prices change; the binding price is the one on the booking site.
Paid links: when you book through a link on this page, the booking site pays us a referral fee. Your price does not change. How we earn
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Why now
At $290 per person, the fare is $6 below the $296 median of our 8 earlier checks on this route, about 2% under. It did dip to $240 in the last 30 days, so this isn't the low, but it's a fair price for a nonstop that lands in Kona at 5:21 PM on Friday, Oct 23, with the evening still ahead. The forecast shows highs of 85–86°F and lows of 71–72°F, with rain chances of 6%, 20% and 25% across the three days and fog listed for Saturday and Sunday. October carries a season note, Ironman World Championship weekend in Kona, so expect a busier town if it falls on your dates. There's no time difference and no passport needed, so this getaway barely touches your work week.
The kind of trip this is
This is a nature-and-ocean long weekend: a volcano caldera, a night snorkel, coffee country and black sand, all on one road-trip island. It suits a couple or two friends who like to drive, start early and fill their days. The pace runs busy for 2 nights, so pick two or three things and save the rest for the next trip.
Weather in Big Island (Kona & Hilo), 23 – 25 Oct
Highs 85–86°F, little rain expected
| Day | High | Low | Rain chance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 23 Oct | 86 °F | 71 °F | 6% |
| Sat 24 Oct | 85 °F | 71 °F | 20% |
| Sun 25 Oct | 86 °F | 72 °F | 25% |
Where to stay in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
All three are in Kailua-Kona, the walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels. Bears' Place Guest House is the best value and the one in our total: $334 for the stay ($167 a night) for a Triple Room with Garden View, scored 8.5 from 167 reviews, with $53 in fees at the property and no free cancellation. Stylish Studio Condo Near Magic Sands Beach is the top rated at 9.2, though from only 19 reviews: $355 for the stay, $178 a night, with free cancellation and $45 in property fees. Aeolian Ranch Guest house is the budget pick at $205 for the stay, $103 a night, scored 7.2 from 626 reviews, with free cancellation and $32 in fees. Both guest houses sit in Kalaoa, Kailua-Kona.
Bears' Place Guest House
£252 for 2 nights, two guests · £126 a night
See roomsStylish Studio Condo Near Magic Sands Beach
£268 for 2 nights, two guests · £134 a night
See roomsAeolian Ranch Guest house
£155 for 2 nights, two guests · £78 a night
See roomsAll hotels in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) for these dates
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Where in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- Kohala Coast (Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea): The island's sunniest resort strip with golden beaches and golf.
- Kailua-Kona: Walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels.
- Volcano Village: Rainforest B&Bs at the gate of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park.
- Hilo: Rainy east-side town near waterfalls and the volcano, at budget rates.
- Captain Cook / Kealakekua: Coffee-farm country above the best snorkelling bay.
What to do in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
- See the Kilauea caldera at Hawaii Volcanoes National Park, with Volcano Village at the park gate
- Snorkel with manta rays at night off Kona, a good fit for your Friday or Saturday evening
- Stargaze from the Mauna Kea visitor station after dark
- Kayak and snorkel Kealakekua Bay at the Captain Cook monument
- Walk the black sand of Punaluu Beach
- Tour a Kona coffee farm in Captain Cook / Kealakekua coffee country
Tours and tickets in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Honolulu | Daniel K. Inouye International (HNL) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) | Kona International (KOA), Hilo International (ITO) |
| Flight time | 47m nonstop |
| Distance | 167 miles each way |
| Time difference | same time zone |
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What 2 nights in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | £438 |
| Hotel, 2 nights (Bears' Place Guest House) | £252 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 2 days for two | £393 |
| Total for two | £1,083 |
Flights and hotel are the prices we found; spending is a planning estimate for an upscale destination, per person per day times two.
Price history: Honolulu to Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | £219 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | £181 (16 Oct 2026) |
| Typical price, last 60 days | £223 |
| Price checks | 8 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travellers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Big Island (Kona & Hilo).
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- Ironman World Championship weekend in Kona
- No passport needed: it's a domestic flight, the currency is the US dollar and there's no time difference.
- The flight covers 167 miles in 47 minutes, Honolulu (HNL) to Kona International (KOA); Hilo International (ITO) also serves the island.
- The $290 per person fare is round trip and all-in as found when we checked; prices can change.
- Checked bags aren't in the total, about $140 for two.
- Bears' Place Guest House has no free cancellation; the other two picks do.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if your plans are firm. The fare is $290 per person, 2% below the $296 median we tracked, and the nonstop takes 47 minutes. The catches: our value pick has no free cancellation, and October is Ironman World Championship weekend in Kona.
How much is the whole trip for two?
$967 for two, all in: $580 in flights, $334 for 2 nights at Bears' Place Guest House and $53 in property fees, taxes included. Checked bags (about $140 for two) and spending money are extra.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic flight from Honolulu to Kona, you'll pay in US dollars, and there's no time difference.
What is the weather like?
The forecast shows highs of 85–86°F and lows of 71–72°F. Rain chances are 6% on Friday, 20% on Saturday and 25% on Sunday, with fog listed for the weekend days.
Is 2 nights enough?
For a focused trip, yes. You land at 5:21 PM Friday, so you could fit in a night manta ray snorkel, and Saturday is enough for the volcano park or Kealakekua Bay. You won't fit the whole island in.
Which flight did we find?
Alaska, operated as Hawaiian Airlines, nonstop at 4:34 PM on Friday, Oct 23, arriving 5:21 PM. Southwest has a 55-minute nonstop at 8:35 PM for the same $290 per person.
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All trips from Honolulu · Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in October 2026 · Home
Big Island (Kona & Hilo) in pictures
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Prices converted from US dollars at the rate of 16 Oct 2026.
Image credits
- Photo: Ham Chitnupong / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Josh Withers / Pexels, Pexels License
- Photo: Brian Wolf / Pexels, Pexels License