Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from Indianapolis, Nov 14–23: $4,212 for two, all in
The verdict
Our verdict
Worth it, if
- $189 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates
- Kalani Kai#104 in walkable Kailua-Kona, rated 9 from 6 reviews
- Typical highs of 80–81°F, lows near 70°F for your dates
The catch: The flights have 3 stops and 61h 48m of total travel time, and a checked bag is about $140 for two, not in the total.
Worth it if you want nine unhurried nights of volcanoes, snorkeling and coffee country; skip it if 3 stops each way sounds like too much.
Worth it if you can handle a long trip there: $4,212 for two, with the flights at $2,474 and 9 nights at Kalani Kai#104 at $1,501 plus $237 in property fees, taxes and fees included. It runs Nov 14–23, 2026, nine nights, on Alaska Airlines (AS) with 3 stops, not nonstop.
The total, before you go
$4,212 for two · 9 nights · flights, hotel, taxes, fees & the resort fee
| For two | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two, round trip | $2,474 |
| Kalani Kai#104, 9 nights, two guests, taxes in | $1,501 |
| Resort fee, collected at the desk | $237 |
| The total, before you go | $4,212 |
| A checked bag each, round trip (not in the total) | about $140 |
$189 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates.
Not in it: seat picks on basic fares and a checked bag (about $35 each way per bag on Alaska, $140 for two round trip); 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
$1,237 per person, round trip
$2,474 for two, taxes and fees included · Alaska · 3 stops · 61h 48m
Out Sat, Nov 14, 6:08 PM – Sun, Nov 15, 2:28 PM · back Mon, Nov 23, 11:52 PM – Wed, Nov 25, 5:20 PM
| Airline | Per person | Stops | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alaska | $1,237 | 3 stops | 61h 48m |
| Alaska | $1,250 | 3 stops | 60h 7m |
| Alaska | $1,274 | 3 stops | 63h 3m |
Prices checked Oct 15, 2026, 5:24 AM EDT. 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
$1,237 per person round trip, $189 below the highest fare we saw for these dates, a 13% gap across the 12 fares we checked. Add the hotel and its $237 in property fees and the trip comes to $4,212 for two before you go. Mid-November falls between Ironman weekend in October and the humpback whale season that starts in December. Typical highs run 80–81°F with lows near 70°F, though most days lean overcast and Saturday, Nov 14 shows drizzle. Nine nights gives you room to drive the island: the Kilauea caldera one day, Kealakekua Bay the next, manta rays after dark. Plan on spending money too; our estimate is $130 per person a day, $2,340 for two, outside the total, which brings the whole budget to $6,315.
The kind of trip this is
A nature-and-beach road trip for the two of you, with a slow pace between big days out. You'll trade resort lounging for volcano craters, black sand, night snorkeling and coffee farms, then come back to a seaside town with coffee shops. It suits couples or friends who like to drive, hike a little and get in the water, and who don't need nightlife.
Weather in Big Island (Kona & Hilo), Nov 14–23
Typical highs 80–81°F, lows near 70°F this time of year
| Day | Typical high | Typical low | Typical weather |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sat, Nov 14 | 80 °F | 70 °F | Drizzle |
| Sun, Nov 15 | 80 °F | 71 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Mon, Nov 16 | 80 °F | 69 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Tue, Nov 17 | 80 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Wed, Nov 18 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Thu, Nov 19 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Fri, Nov 20 | 80 °F | 69 °F | Overcast |
| Sat, Nov 21 | 80 °F | 69 °F | Partly cloudy |
| Sun, Nov 22 | 81 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
| Mon, Nov 23 | 80 °F | 70 °F | Overcast |
Weather data by Open-Meteo.com · averages, not a forecast
Where to stay in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
All three picks are in Kailua-Kona, the walkable seaside town with coffee shops, snorkel tours and mid-range hotels. Kalani Kai#104 is the best value: a vacation home at $1,501 for the stay ($167 a night), rated 9 from 6 reviews, plus $237 in property fees, already in our total. Holiday Inn Express & Suites Kailua-Kona by IHG is the top rated by volume: $2,505 for the stay ($278 a night), 8.3 from 390 reviews, breakfast included, plus $395 in property fees. Kona Isle C31 is another vacation home at $1,862 ($207 a night), rated 10 from 2 reviews, plus $431 in property fees. None of the three offers free cancellation. If you want sunnier resort beaches and golf, the Kohala Coast (Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Mauna Kea) is the strip to look at.
Kalani Kai#104
$1,501 for 9 nights, two guests · $167 a night
See roomsHoliday Inn Express & Suites Kailua-Kona by IHG
$2,505 for 9 nights, two guests · $278 a night
See roomsKona Isle C31
$1,862 for 9 nights, two guests · $207 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, a day drive from Kona
- Snorkel with manta rays at night off Kona
- Stargaze from the Mauna Kea visitor station after sunset
- Kayak and snorkel Kealakekua Bay at the Captain Cook monument
- Walk the black sand of Punaluu Beach
- Tour a Kona coffee farm above Captain Cook / Kealakekua
Tours and tickets in Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
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Getting there and around
| Airports in Indianapolis | Indianapolis International (IND) |
|---|---|
| Airports in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) | Kona International (KOA), Hilo International (ITO) |
| Flight time | 61h 48m (3 stops) |
| Distance | 4,306 miles each way |
| Time difference | -5 hours |
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What 9 nights in Big Island (Kona & Hilo) costs
| Estimate | |
|---|---|
| Flights for two | $2,474 |
| Hotel, 9 nights (Kalani Kai#104) | $1,501 |
| Food, getting around and tickets, 9 days for two | $2,340 |
| Total for two | $6,315 |
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: Indianapolis to Big Island (Kona & Hilo)
| Per person | |
|---|---|
| This trip | $1,237 per person |
| Lowest in the last 30 days | $890 (Oct 13, 2026) |
| Price checks | 4 |
Good to know
- Passport: no passport needed for travelers from the United States: a government photo ID is enough for Big Island (Kona & Hilo).
- Currency: US dollar (USD).
- No passport needed, and the currency is the US dollar.
- The Big Island is 5 hours behind Indianapolis.
- The outbound leaves IND at 6:08 PM on Nov 14 and lands at KOA at 2:28 PM on Nov 15.
- None of the three hotels offers free cancellation; property fees are listed separately from the room rate.
- Humpback whale season runs December through March, so these dates come just before it.
Questions readers ask
Is it worth it?
Worth it if you're fine with a long journey. The fare is $189 per person below the highest fare we saw for these dates, the weather runs 80–81°F, and nine nights is time to see the volcano, the bay and the coffee farms. The trade-off is 3 stops on Alaska Airlines (AS).
How much is the whole trip for two?
$4,212 for two, all in: $2,474 in flights plus $1,501 at Kalani Kai#104 and its $237 in property fees, taxes and fees included, as found when we checked. A checked bag (about $140 for two) and spending money are not in it. Prices change.
Do I need a passport?
No. It's a domestic trip in the United States, and you'll pay in US dollars.
What is the weather like?
Typical highs of 80–81°F and lows near 70°F for these dates. Expect mostly partly cloudy to overcast days, with drizzle showing on Saturday, Nov 14.
How long are the flights?
The itinerary has 3 stops and 61h 48m of total travel time. You leave Indianapolis at 6:08 PM on Nov 14 and land in Kona at 2:28 PM the next day. The return leaves at 11:52 PM on Nov 23 and gets in at 5:20 PM on Nov 25.
Is 9 nights enough?
Yes for a full loop. Nine nights covers the Kilauea caldera, Punaluu Beach, Kealakekua Bay, a night manta snorkel and Mauna Kea stargazing, with slow days in Kailua-Kona between them.
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All trips from Indianapolis · Big Island (Kona & Hilo) from every city · Prices on this route · Trips in November 2026 · Home
Big Island (Kona & Hilo) in pictures
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