• What level of service can guests expect at Luana Inn?
    Guests at Luana Inn should expect a very high level of service. Our goal is to provide the service, professionalism, and amenities of a high quality establishment blended with the warmth and pace of a small, owner-operated Bed and Breakfast. Guests should expect: very clean rooms, daily maid service, fresh linen rotation, excellent food, a wealth of useful activities and area information, and always to be treated with warmth, professionalism, and respect. We respect our guests’ privacy but are always available to provide information and offer assistance. Back to top
  • Is breakfast included and what is it like?
    Luana Inn is a Bed and Breakfast establishment and a full breakfast is offered between eight and nine thirty am daily. Our focus is providing high quality breakfasts featuring made-from-scratch dishes utilizing fresh, local ingredients. All our baked goods and breakfast items are made from scratch, and we grow much of our own fruit. A sampling of our breakfast offerings includes: made from scratch coffee cake, scones, muffins, brioche, pan au chocolate, croissant, challah, baguettes, whole-grain, savory, and sweet breads, coconut oatmeal, muesli, granola, and other cereals, egg dishes such as French toast, pancakes, frittata, quiche, baked eggs, breakfast enchiladas, and Spanish tortilla, fried potatoes, sausages, ham, fresh seasonal island fruit (Hawaiian mango, papaya, white pineapple, figs, citrus, etc.) and 100% juice, 100% local Kona coffee, and a variety of high-quality teas. Back to top
  • Is this a good area to stay?
    Because of its lovely water, ideal climate, and easy access to all Island offerings, our area is an excellent place to stay. Back to top
  • Where exactly is the Inn located?
    We are on located on the Kona Coast of the Big Island, twenty four miles south of the Kailua-Kona airport. The Kona Coast is the western coast, and is known for sunny weather and gorgeous water. Our Inn is centrally located in South Kona, which is south of Kailua-Kona, the largest town on the west side of the Island. It takes between thirty and forty-five minutes to get to the Inn from the airport, depending on traffic.

    Located on the lower part of Napo’opo’o Road (the road that leads from the highway to Kealakekua Bay), the Inn is within walking distance of some of the best water on the Island (Kealakekua Bay), and is ten minutes from the charming shops and restaurants up along the highway that make up South Kona. Our location, although peaceful and quiet, is very central: neither too isolated (too far south, too high up in the mountains, or on a rough road), nor too noisy (on the highway, or in a busy area). The Luana Inn is surrounded immediately by interesting things to do and see, as well as being well situated for exploration of the entire island. Back to top
  • What’s the weather like at the Luana Inn?
    Elevation plays a major role in the weather patterns on the Big Island. Often when it is raining up on the highway at 1000 or 1200 ft, it is sunny and clear here at the Inn. The higher the elevation, the cooler and damper the weather. Please pack accordingly if you plan to visit Hilo (the rainiest city in the nation with about 120 inches/year), Volcanoes National Park, or Mauna Kea. We may be biased, but we consider the weather in our area to be perfect. In Captain Cook, the temperature averages 77 – 81 degrees Fahrenheit year round, with an average rainfall of about three inches per month (mainly in the evening or at night). Our immediate area, being so near to the ocean, is a little hotter and dryer, and is cooled daily by a luscious ocean breeze. Here at the Inn, at three hundred feet above sea level, we exist in a protected pocket of mild, sunny days.
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  • We want to see the whole island, how big is the Big Island?
    There is one highway that circles the entire Island. In fact, the perimeter of the Island can be driven in about five hours. Luana Inn is centrally located in a beautiful area for easy access to all that the Island offers. Most guests elect to spend their vacations here, taking day trips to other parts of the Island. Back to top
  • How far is it to…
    The water? At 300 feet above sea level on Napo’opo’o Road, Luana Inn has an incredible view of the coastline, and is only .8 mile from the ocean, namely historic Kealakekua Bay. The bay and surrounding coast is known primarily for providing some of the world’s finest snorkeling and diving.

    Directly across the bay is the Captain Cook monument, the best known and most popular snorkeling area, accessible via kayak or hike. A little farther down the road from the Inn is Ke’ei Beach, excellent for body-surfing and boogie boarding and, in the winter (like Manini Beach off Kealakekua Bay, also just a short walk away), surfing.

    The sacred City of Refuge National Park is about four miles away along the coastline and is a beautiful place to explore on foot, and to its north lies Two Step, the other most incredible area for snorkeling or diving.

    Ho’okena Beach is a beautiful mixed sand beach (lava and coral) and is also good for body surfing, swimming, boogie boarding, and general lounging. Ho’okena is about twenty minutes south of the Inn.

    The Volcano? The entrance to Volcanoes National Park is about an hour and a half drive away (about eighty six miles). (On the way there, you’ll pass South Point at about forty-five miles and Punalu’u Black Sand Beach at about fifty-eight miles.) The drive is phenomenally scenic, with beautifully winding roads that showcase the natural beauty of the Big Island. The cliffs just past Na’alehu (in between South Point and Punalu’u) are breathtaking.

    Hilo? Hilo is either just over two hours southbound (via Na’alehu and Volcanoes), or about two and a half to three northbound (via Kailua-Kona and Waimea).

    Kailua? The town of Kailua-Kona is about fifteen miles away, but the drive usually takes about half an hour; sometimes more, depending on traffic. One highway around the island makes for friendly, laid-back drivers, but it can also mean slow traffic. We suggest our guests avoid the highway during peak traffic times.

    Waimea? Waimea is about an hour from the Inn. But again, this depends on Kailua traffic.
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  • What is the difference between Kona and Kailua-Kona?
    Kona describes the Kona Coast, or the district that encompasses the west side of the Big Island bordered at the north by the Kohala Coast and at the South by Kau Desert. Kailua-Kona is the name of the biggest town on the west side of the Island, also known simply as Kailua. The reason it is referred to as Kailua-Kona is to differentiate it from the Kailua town on Oahu. Kona refers to the western coast, Kailua, to the town. Back to top
  • Why choose the Big Island?
    The Big Island is known for its vast stretches of beautiful, unspoiled land and varied environments (many of the world’s micro-climates exist on the Big Island). The Big Island attracts many visitors seeking outdoor adventure or the peace and quiet of a largely undeveloped, wild land. Outdoor adventure here includes exploration of Volcanoes National Park, water recreation (including snorkeling, diving, kayaking, and swimming, etc.), stargazing at sacred Mauna Kea, hiking, running, and biking (the Iron Man triathlon is held in Kona every October), etc. For the visitor seeking a slower pace, there is an abundance of vibrant flora and fauna to view here (native forest, native bird and wildlife, botanical gardens, etc.), sacred historic places to visit, divine coffees to be tasted, as well as a number of quiet beaches to enjoy. The beauty of this island is its wildness, and we urge visitors to explore and enjoy with respect and great care. Back to top
  • What activities are in the area?
    The two best things about our area are the natural beauty and the climate. Our favorite and our guests’ favorite area activities include: walking down to the Bay for a quiet sunset swim; hiking from the top of Napo’opo’o Road down to the Captain Cook Monument; kayaking across the Bay; snorkeling at Two Step; exploring the City of Refuge; sunbathing at Manini Beach; visiting the Painted Church; eating at local restaurants like Teshima’s; boogie boarding and body surfing at Keei and Ho'okena beaches; taking walks or running along Napo’opo’o and Middle Keei roads; watching the moonrise; whale watching at the City of Refuge; drinking coffee and eating ice cream at the Coffee Roastery around the corner; watching the sunset with a glass of wine from the pool patio; stargazing from the hot tub. There are also many small local eateries, galleries, and coffee farms nearby to explore. Let us know what interests you and we will happily provide recommendations. Back to top
  • What kind of road is Napo’opo’o? What kind of car should I rent?
    Although there are many unpaved roads in our area, Napo’opo’o is a two-lane, paved, county-maintained road. Although our area has beaches that are accessible with a regular rental car or on foot, we suggest considering an all-wheel drive vehicle for exploration of the Island. There are many rough roads on the Island, including the drive up to the top of Mauna Kea. Back to top
  • Is it true that you can swim with dolphins nearby?
    Kealakekua Bay is a resting place for a local pod of wild spinner dolphins. Although the dolphins in Kealakekua Bay are a large draw to the area, we do not support or condone swimming “with” them. We strongly suggest enjoying the bay, and all the Island’s wonders, from a distance and with respect. Back to top