United States
Kona occupies the sun-drenched western coast of Hawaii's Big Island, a volcanic landscape of black lava fields, turquoise bays, and coffee farms that produces some of the most sought-after beans on earth. The Kona Coast is the dry, sunny side of the island — sheltered from the prevailing trade winds by the massive bulk of Mauna Kea and Mauna Loa, which together form the backbone of the largest island in the Hawaiian chain. Ancient Hawaiian royalty chose this coast for their residence, and the town of Kailua-Kona, nestled along Kailua Bay, retains the ruins of their heiau (temples) and fishponds alongside the modern reality of surf shops, oceanfront restaurants, and the world-famous Ironman triathlon that finishes on Ali'i Drive each October.
The history of Kona is inseparable from the broader story of Hawaii. Kamehameha the Great, the warrior king who unified the Hawaiian Islands, spent his final years at Kamakahonu, a compound on the bay that now lies within the grounds of the King Kamehameha Hotel. Hulihe'e Palace, a nineteenth-century royal vacation home on Ali'i Drive, preserves the personal effects of Hawaiian royalty, while the reconstructed Ahu'ena Heiau — a temple dedicated to the god Lono — stands at the water's edge as a reminder of the spiritual traditions that governed Hawaiian life for centuries before European contact. Kealakekua Bay, a marine sanctuary south of town, is the site where Captain James Cook was killed in 1779 during a confrontation with Hawaiian warriors — a pivotal event in Pacific history.
The cuisine of the Kona Coast draws from both the ocean and the volcanic slopes above. Kona coffee, grown in the volcanic soil of the Hualalai and Mauna Loa slopes at elevations between 200 and 800 metres, is among the world's most expensive and distinctive — a smooth, low-acid brew that coffee connoisseurs consider the benchmark for Hawaiian production. Farm tours and tastings along the Kona Coffee Belt are a highlight of any visit. Seafood dominates the dining scene: ahi poke (cubed raw yellowfin tuna dressed with soy sauce, sesame oil, and sea salt), grilled mahi-mahi, and the traditional luau feast — featuring kalua pig slow-roasted in an underground imu oven — connect every meal to the island's cultural traditions.
The marine life off the Kona Coast is extraordinary. Manta ray night dives — among the most highly rated wildlife encounters on the planet — take place just offshore, where divers and snorkellers float in the darkness as giant oceanic manta rays, attracted by plankton drawn to underwater lights, glide beneath them with wingspans exceeding four metres. Kealakekua Bay's calm, clear waters offer superb snorkelling among spinner dolphins, sea turtles, and tropical reef fish. During winter months (December through April), humpback whales migrate to these warm Hawaiian waters to breed and calve, and whale-watching excursions from Kona harbour offer front-row seats to breaching, tail-slapping, and underwater singing.
Kona is a port of call for Cunard, Holland America Line, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Princess Cruises on their Hawaii and Pacific itineraries. Ships anchor in Kailua Bay and tender passengers to the pier on Ali'i Drive, from which the town's historic sites, restaurants, and shops are within walking distance. The best time to visit is April through November for dry, sunny conditions, though winter brings whale season and the possibility of witnessing the spectacular humpback displays that make the Kona Coast one of the world's great wildlife destinations.