Kona City Life

At the heart of Kailua Kona is Historic Kailua Village. This is a beautiful little downtown area, near the Kailua pier. It offers great dining and shopping opportunities with a good dose of local flavor and historical sights such as the Hulihe’e Palace and the iconic Mokuaikaua Church, the oldest Christian Church in Hawaii.

Dining in Kailua Kona is diverse and varied as the geography of the western side of the Big Island. Hole-in-the-wall treasures and casual Hawaiian-style fare abound, but fine dining is available too. World-class chefs have made the area home and luxury resorts keep them competitive – great news for those with sophisticated tastes.

If you want to stay in or near Kona, there are a wide variety of lodging options available. You may enjoy the amenities of the larger resorts like the King K Marriott, Royal Kona Resort, or the Sheraton. There are a wide array of smaller hotels, bed and breakfasts, and condos throughout the area. The area is also full of affordable vacation rentals, making a Hawaiian adventure on a budget more feasible.

Kona Hawaii History

Kona has a fascinating history, both natural and human. First discovered by Polynesian explorers between 100-600 A.D., the Kona coast was among the most welcoming early settlements for native Hawaiians. Moderate weather, fertile fields, and calm waters made for easier living. Most of the ancient Ali’i (or chiefs) called Kona home. Because of the extent of history centered around Kona Hawaii, there are several historic sites and state or national parks to explore in the area. Kaloko Honokohau National Historic Park to the north and Pu`uhonua O Hōnaunau National Park to the south are both worth a visit.

In the 15th century, Umi-a-Liloa united the Big Island’s numerous groups under a single rule, moving his seat of power from the Waipi’o Valley to Kona, establishing a tradition for generations of rulers to come. In fact, the most celebrated Hawaiian royalty, King Kamehameha I, moved his court to Kamakahonu in Northern Kona in 1812 after unifying the Hawaiian people under one rule and establishing the Kingdom of Hawaii in 1795.

The British explorer, Captain James Cook made the first European contact with Hawaii Island in 1979, just south of Kona Hawaii at Kealakekua Bay. After a month of festivities and trade with the islanders, Captain Cook would ultimately meet his demise in a quarrel with the local Hawaiians. On the site where Cook was killed a memorial obelisk, now known as the Captain Cook Monument, was built in 1874 in his memory. This has become a popular and iconic attraction for those snorkeling in Kealakekua Bay.

Present Day Kona Hawaii

Today, Kona Hawaii is home to an international airport, numerous historic and natural attractions, luxurious resorts, fine dining, black sand and white sand beaches, and world-renowned coffee. Approximately 1.2 million tourists visit the Kona side of the island each year and two-thirds of those visitors are returning to explore more of what the Big Island has to offer.

The geographic diversity of Kona Hawaii is striking; world-class beaches appear within a stone’s throw of soaring mountain slopes and epic lava fields. You will also notice that with such a large and diverse region it has been divided into the districts (moku) of North Kona and South Kona. The term “Kona” is sometimes used to refer to the largest town in the area, Kailua Kona, but there are actually many towns in the district, including Kealakekua, Keauhou, Holualoa, Hōnaunau and Honalo.

Al fresco island dining, world-renowned breweries, delicious poke, and incredible coffee are just a few of the dining attractions visitors to Kona enjoy, and this paired with the easy access to beaches, shopping, and historic sites keep them coming back season after season.

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