Alii Drive is the seafront road that runs through the heart of Kailua-Kona — a winding three-mile strip between Kamakahonu in the north and Keauhou in the south. The northern end, from the pier to Hulihee Palace, is the busiest stretch: shops, restaurants, bars, and the main concentration of historic buildings on the shore.
The road follows the coast almost the whole way south, with the lava reef visible from the seaward side and Hawaiian flame trees and palms shading the inland one. Walking the northern half is the easiest way to spend an afternoon in town — pace it from Hulihee Palace south to White Sands Beach (Magic Sands), have a swim, then walk back as the sun sets over the bay. Most of the road is sidewalked but some southern sections require walking on the shoulder.