Big Islandkona Coast

Kailua-Kona

The name Kona is used to refer to the Kona district on the island of Hawaii (Big Island). It is kind of like a county. The name is also used to refer to the largest town in the district, Kailua-Kona. On Kailua-Kona (I'll continue to refer to it as simply "Kona"), you can find the Kona International Airport, which many travelers use as their entrance and exit onto Big Island.

Kona is a fascinating and diverse city, best known for its delicious coffee and huge fresh catches. You will find an interesting black-sand beach (stretching 70 miles!), several fishing and farming communities, lush tropical forests, and consistently sun-soaked days. In the mountains Hualalai and Mauna Loa, coffee farmers cultivate the famous Kona coffee which is actually a variety of coffee beans that have become one of the most popular and sought-out coffee in the whole world. The excellent taste is probably due to the sunny mornings, rainy afternoons and mild night-time temperatures. Visitors to Kona can actually visit the Kona coffee farm: look for the Kona Blue Sky Coffee Company in the town of Holualoa, about ten minutes north of Kona. You can buy the coffee here from the actual farmers and you can see where all the farming takes place. There is also the Kona Joe Coffee Farm and Chocolate Company which offers free guided tours where you will see coffee fields and a live demonstration.

While in Kona, you will definitely want to check out the Kona Coast. There are sevearl guided walking tours that will take you to all the historic and natural sights along the Kona Coast. You can also explore the coast and its role in coffee cultivation aboard the Coffee Country Driving Tour. Kona boasts several great beaches, aong them are Kamakahonu Beach and the Kahalu'u Beach Park. The sun always seems to be shining in Kona (literally) so these beaches should always be a great and sun-soaked day excursion.

Other spots on Kona that are not to be missed include the Hulihe'e Palace, which was the living quarters for the Hawaiian royal family until 1914. The palace has now been turned into a great museum complete with furniture and other interesting artifacts once owned by the royal family. You should also check out the Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens off the Kuakini Highway. This is an expertly designed botanical garden created by the famous landscape architect Scott Seymore. The garden is split up into 11 tiers, each one representing the geographic region from which its plants are taken from.

If you are here for it, you should also definitely look out for the Ironman World Triathlon Championship. The Ironman Triathlon is a yearly triathlon race that is one of the most grueling and challenging triathlon courses in the world. The race usually takes place some time in October.

The best places to go eating in Kona (and there are many!) include Masturtium Cafe with excellent healthy gourmet food, the Coffeeshack (a type of deli-cafe), the Big Island Grill (for excellent American-style dishes), O's bistro for creative noodle dishes, or Pahu i'a for a beautiful oceanfront setting and excellent Pacific cuisine.