The Kona Coast, located on the eastern side of the Big Island of Hawaii, is one of the world's foremost travel destinations and a place unlike any other in the United States. From the beautiful beaches to the unique coffee, this place has a lot to offer travelers.
Enjoy the beach
"Kona" means "dry," or the dryer side of the island, in the Hawaiian language. Relative to the western and northern parts of the island, it gets a lot less rain and a lot less wind, so storms are fewer and the weather reliably better---all good news for those who want to enjoy its perfect beach weather. Parasailing---a perennial favorite of visitors to Hawaii---is great here if you'd rather relax and enjoy the experience than sweat it out in faster, harsher and more variable winds.
Kailua-Kona
The town of Kailua-Kona (not to be confused with the other Kailua, located on the windward side of Oahu) is located in the northernmost part of the Kona Coast. It's the largest town in the Kona area, and even though its permanent population is less than 10,000, it has several interesting things for travelers to see, especially if you're there at the right time of year.
These include the famous Ironman World Championship triathlon, held here annually in October (although the exact day of the race depends on the weather each year) as well as the Hulihe'e Palace, a former residence of the Hawaiian royal family until 1914, and the Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest church on any of the islands of Hawaii.
A devastating earthquake in 2006 did damage to many parts of Kailua-Kona, but efforts to rebuild damaged buildings and roads have been remarkably successful.
Kona Coffee
Kona coffee, justly considered to be some of the best in the world, is grown only on the slopes of Mount Hualalai and Mount Loa. To legally be able to use the name "Kona" in marketing coffee, the beans must have come from within the boundaries of the North and South Kona Districts. The rich, volcanic nature of the soil here, combined with the providential interplay of sun, wind and a relatively dry climate, combine to make Kona coffee some of the most sought-after (and hence, expensive) types of coffee in the world. If you make it to Kona, you owe it to yourself to at least take a bag home with you. (And have several cups while you're there, of course.)
Tags: Kona Coast, make Kona