Exploring Hawaii's Kona Coast

The Big Island of Hawaii is home to the most diverse landscape in Hawaii's island chain, from lava beds to rainforests, snow-covered peaks to sun-splashed beaches.

The island's Kona region offers diversity of a different kind, with opportunities that will please history buffs, coffee connoisseurs, animal enthusiasts and beach bums alike.

Kona coast

The Big Island encompasses 4,038 square miles. Kona is one of the island's seven regions, and covers 60 miles of the western coast.

History

Captain James Cook first landed in Hawaii at what is now called Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park. The park has a monument to Cook, who first made contact with the native Hawaiians here and was later killed by them at nearly the same spot. Other national historic parks in the Kona region include Kaloko-Honokohau National History Park, a 1,160-acre plot that has ancient petroglyphs and historic temples, and Puuhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park, a 180-acre park that was once a sacred place of refuge. Kailua-Kona Town, once home to King Kamehameha in the early 1800s, has many historic markers, including Hulihee Palace and Mokuaikaua Church.

Kona Cuisine

There are dozens of restaurants in the Kona region with a variety of cuisine, including fresh seafood from the nearby waters of the Pacific Ocean. But the highlight in Kona's food and beverage department is the pure Kona coffee that is grown nowhere else in the world. Kona coffee is rich and smooth, and the elements in the Kona region are perfect for growing the rare beans; the high elevation, volcanic soil and consistent cloud cover make for ideal growing conditions. As such, there are hundreds of coffee farms in the Kona region, many of which are open for tours and samples.

Kona Beaches

Hawaii's Kona coast is home to many white-sand beaches and a number of ocean-related activities. The waters here are relatively calm, clear and full of marine life, creating a perfect setting for snorkeling and scuba diving. If you don't want to get in the water to mingle with marine animals, there are a handful of companies that offer boat tours to view manta rays, dolphins and whales up close, and charters that conduct guided sport-fishing trips. The Kona coast is also an excellent place to learn to surf, owing to the calm waters and available surf schools. For a more relaxing ocean adventure, hop aboard a dinner or sunset cruise.

More Kona Activities

There are many activities in the Kona region that don't involve the beach and ocean. Travel up the nearby 14,000-foot-high summit of Mauna Kea, which has several observatories and is a popular place for stargazing at night. Cruise through Kona's towns, which have an array of shops, galleries and restaurants. If you're on the Big Island in October, check out the annual Ironman World Championship, an exclusive long-distance triathlon that begins in Kailua-Kona and attracts many of the top athletes in the world.