A conversation with comedian Kevin Nealon is notable for what is not said as much as for what is.

Low-key and polite, Nealon gives thoughtful, concise answers to questions and waits a long beat after responding to give the other person opportunity to speak. He might even slip in a question or two of his own.

Perhaps his religious upbringing played a part in his good manners and interest in others. Or perhaps it’s more of a facet of Nealon’s adult life: He’s had plenty of experience interviewing others on his show “Hiking With Kevin,” in which he and other celebrities chat on outings in the canyons of Los Angeles.

“Hiking With Kevin” has turned from a one-minute-long video venture, widely shared on Twitter and Instagram, to a weekly 15-minute production on his YouTube channel. On the hikes he’s huffed, puffed and quipped with the likes of Conan O’Brien, Chelsea Handler and Bella Thorne.

“I agreed to meet with you for just a friendly walk, and then it turned into this web series,” said O’Brien, mock-complaining in one recent episode.

“Right now I’m on hiatus (with CBS comedy series ‘Man With a Plan’), so I am just doing my podcast and I’m about to go skiing,” said Nealon, calling in from his home in the Los Angeles area. “But I’m passionate about the weekly hikes that I do.”

And then there’s the matter of the stand-up comedy show dates tonight and tomorrow that Nealon’s performing at Blue Note Hawaii.

If there’s one thing with Nealon that’s been a constant, it’s comedy. Stand-up comedy was his first ambition, and he performs about 25 stand-up shows a year, in addition to his TV gig co-starring with Matt LeBlanc (“Friends”) in “Man With a Plan.”

He doesn’t praise his own work; reviewers will have to be the ones who point out how he is a cool comic, slipping jokes in as he tells stories onstage.

Nealon, who called in ahead of his Blue Note Hawaii gig, comes across as thoughtful and introspective, reflecting on various points in his career.

He became known to most during his days as a cast member on TV variety show “Saturday Night Live,” between 1986 and 1995, and to a new generation of watchers in eight seasons of the outrageous Showtime series “Weeds” between 2005 and 2012.

Beginning in 2016, he’s co-starred as Don Burns, the dimwitted brother and business partner of Matt LeBlanc’s stay-­ at-home dad character, on the comedy “Man With a Plan.” Nealon has also appeared in a stream of movies and in numerous TV cameo roles.

With all that work and time in the public eye, it’s revealing that Nealon says the highlight of his career was his first TV appearance: a stand-up spot on “The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson” in 1984.

“‘The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson’ was the feather in my cap,” he said. “I’ve never achieved that feeling since. I wanted to be a good stand-up comedian. I never wanted to be an actor. I never achieved a natural high like that one on ‘The Tonight Show.’”

Not even in his nine years of performing on “Saturday Night Live,” where he was a steady and reliable cast member?

No, according to Nealon: “‘Weeds’ and ‘SNL’ were also feathers in my cap, but I never got into acting for the sake of acting,” he said.

Nealon, 64, fell into acting by chance.

“I didn’t have the forethought that stand-up in your 40s, 50s and 60s is tough,” he said with a laugh. “In hindsight, maybe I would have thought about producing and writing, looking back.”

Nealon has friend and fellow former “SNL” cast member Dana Carvey to thank for recommending him for the skit show. He was “flown out with 100 other people” to audition.

“I think executive producer Lorne Michaels was looking for chemistry with the cast,” said Nealon, on why he might have been selected.

“Michaels wanted a little bit of this and that,” he said. “I always tried to have uniqueness. There was only about seven or eight of us on the show at the time. The parts of Hans and Franz (with Carvey), Subliminal Man and anchoring ‘Weekend Update’ were some of my favorites. I enjoyed the silliness of Hans and Franz.

“I’ve also enjoyed working in Adam Sandler’s movies,” he noted, which have included “The Wedding Singer” (1998) and “Blended” (2014).

His comedy has evolved over the years. On “SNL” he was known for sweetly trivial routines, such as his portrayal with Dana Carvey of musclebound wrestlers Hans and Franz. As a stand-up comedian, he takes a more observational tone these days.

“When you’re first start out, you’re just discovering your style, and it evolves like a blues guitar player,” he said. “It’s moved from outright silly, in retrospect, to observational or conversational.”

Much like the casual, conversational style of his demeanor on “Hiking With Kevin,” though Nealon’s friendly but goofy attitude has remained consistent over the years.

“I’ve achieved a nice balance now,” he said. “I’m happy doing so many different things. I wrote a book (‘Yes, You’re Pregnant but What About Me?’). There’s stand-up. I act.

“I’ve had an enduring career. I’d like to write a short film and produce it. I’ve also written a feature film.”

And when he can’t be found in the hills of California or on a stand-up stage, he can be found spending time with his family: wife Susan Yeagley and son Gable, 10.

In addition to hiking and golfing, the comedian said he enjoys drawing for his son — funny caricatures, of course.