The Kona Brewing Company brewery tour is a 60-minute guided walk through the Pawai Place brewhouse in Kailua-Kona, with a shuttle from the Kona Pub and four 4-ounce samples at the Thirsty Gecko tasting room. It suits beer drinkers who want a cheap hour; the drawback is appointment-only slots from 12–5 pm and a brand mostly brewed on the mainland.
Highlights
$25 per person for a 60-minute guided tour with four 4-ounce beer samples for guests 21 and over
Tours run seven days a week between 12 pm and 5 pm, appointment only, no walk-ins
Meets at the Growler Shack at the Kona Pub, 74-5612 Pawai Place; a free shuttle runs to the brewhouse at 74-5588 Pawai Place
Minimum age 15; groups are capped at 12 people per the March 2022 Big Island Now report
Tasting takes place at the Thirsty Gecko, where extra pints and tasters can be bought afterward
What to Expect
You arrive 15 minutes early at the Growler Shack at the entrance to the Kona Pub on Pawai Place.
A complimentary shuttle carries the group down Pawai Place to the brewhouse that opened to the public in 2022.
A guide walks you through the brewing process on the production floor, including the sustainability measures such as solar panels and spent-grain reuse described in a May 2022 Substack account.
The tour ends at the Thirsty Gecko tasting room with a private tasting of four 4-ounce pours for guests 21 and over.
You can buy additional pints, tasters and merchandise before the shuttle returns you to the pub, where the restaurant is open 11 am to 9 pm.
What's Included
Guided 60-minute brewery walkthrough
Round-trip shuttle between the Kona Pub and the brewhouse
Four 4-ounce beer samples (ages 21 and over)
What's Not Included
Food and additional drinks at the pub or tasting room
Merchandise
Gratuity
What to Bring
Government photo ID if you are 21 or over and want samples
A designated driver if your group is tasting
Restrictions and Requirements
Minimum age 15 to join the tour
Beer samples only for guests 21 and over
Appointment only; walk-ins are not taken
Group size capped at 12 according to Big Island Now (March 2022)
The Growler Shack at the entrance to the Kona Pub, 74-5612 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740, at the end of the Pawai Place cul-de-sac. The brewhouse itself is at 74-5588 Pawai Place.
Check-In
Arrive 15 minutes before your tour time
Parking and Getting There
Tour parking is at the original Kona Pub lot on Pawai Place, according to Big Island Now
Ratings from every source we could find
We haven't collected platform ratings for this tour yet.
Google Maps — Summarized by Our Team
Kona Brewing Company is a nationally recognized brand, and its original Big Island location is a well-known stop for beer-focused travelers per general brand recognition.
Last checked 2026-09-15
Ratings and review counts are checked periodically and may not reflect same-day changes on each platform.
What the Reviews Say
We have not yet read individual customer reviews for this tour. We read one first-hand press account of the tour (Substack, May 2022) and operator and reseller pages in October 2026. No platform rating with a review count was found for the tour itself.
About the Operator in General
A May 2022 Substack account of the tour found the beer at the source fresh and the production floor and patio worth seeing, but noted that the tour itself acknowledges much Kona-branded beer, including bottles sold in Hawaii, is brewed on the mainland.
Our Verdict
Tripreviewall's Take
At $25 for an hour including four samples, this tour is a reasonable add-on for beer drinkers already in Kailua-Kona, and the shuttle and tasting room make it easy. Do not expect a craft-brewery deep dive: the facility is a 2022 production plant for a national brand, and the tour is open about the mainland brewing that supplies most Kona beer. Non-drinkers and anyone under 15 get little from it.
Book This Tour If…
You are 21 or over and want to compare four Kona beers, including on-site-only pours, for $25
You are staying in Kailua-Kona and want a one-hour afternoon activity between 12 pm and 5 pm
You are curious how a brewery runs on a remote island, from shipping lead times to spent-grain reuse
You plan to eat at the Kona Pub afterward, which is open 11 am to 9 pm
Skip This Tour If…
Anyone in your group is under 15, since they cannot join at all
You are between 15 and 20; you pay full price but get no samples
You expect a small craft operation; the May 2022 Substack account describes a brand-marketing case study
You want to walk in; tours are appointment only
Tips From Reviewers and Operator Notes
Book ahead online; Big Island Guide and the operator both say tours are appointment only and fill up
Arrive 15 minutes early at the Growler Shack, not the brewhouse, because the shuttle leaves from the pub
Try the pub's own sampler of on-site-only beers if you cannot get a tour slot; the Sip Bite Go blog lists it at about $10
Sit inside near the kitchen at the pub to avoid the porch wait, according to the Sip Bite Go account
Assessed by the Tripreviewall editorial team, last reviewed October 2026.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much is the Kona Brewing Company brewery tour?
The Kona Brewing Company brewery tour costs $25 per person as of October 2026, according to the operator's website and Love Big Island. The price includes the guided 60-minute walkthrough, the shuttle from the Kona Pub and four 4-ounce beer samples for guests aged 21 and over. Big Island Now reported $20 when tours launched in March 2022.
How long is the Kona brewery tour?
The Kona brewery tour lasts 60 minutes, including the shuttle ride from the Growler Shack at the Kona Pub to the brewhouse and the tasting at the Thirsty Gecko tasting room. Guests are asked to arrive 15 minutes early, so plan for about an hour and a quarter in total.
Can children or non-drinkers take the Kona Brewing tour?
Children under 15 cannot take the Kona Brewing tour. Guests aged 15 to 20 can join for the full $25 price but do not receive beer samples, which are limited to guests 21 and over. Non-drinking adults can join and skip the tasting; the pub restaurant is open to all ages.
Where does the Kona Brewing brewery tour start?
The Kona Brewing brewery tour starts at the Growler Shack at the entrance to the Kona Pub, 74-5612 Pawai Place, Kailua-Kona, HI 96740. A complimentary shuttle then takes the group down the street to the brewhouse at 74-5588 Pawai Place, which opened for tours in 2022.
What days and times does the Kona brewery tour run?
The Kona brewery tour runs seven days a week between 12 pm and 5 pm, by appointment only, according to the operator's website as of October 2026. Walk-ins are not accepted, so book a slot online in advance. The Kona Pub itself is open daily from 11 am to 9 pm without a reservation.
Is the beer on the Kona brewery tour brewed in Hawaii?
Beer poured on the Kona brewery tour comes from the Pawai Place brewhouse in Kailua-Kona, but the tour acknowledges that much Kona-branded beer sold on the mainland and in Hawaii is brewed outside the state, according to a May 2022 Substack account. The tour also covers a past class-action lawsuit over brewing location.
Contact
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TripReviewAll is an independent review site and does not operate this tour. For changes to an existing booking, contact Kona Brewing Company directly.
