Kona, Hawaii

The city of Kailua-Kona, or simply called Kona, is a seaside town located at the bottom of the Hualalai Volcano. In ancient times, this area was considered the premier place to live due to the excellent weather and good water. The Hawaiian royalty called this place home, and later missionaries built churches and residences turning the tiny fishing village into a small seaport. Today visitors still enjoy the warm weather and the many outdoor recreational activities. Surfing, fishing, diving, boating, snorkeling and swimming are all popular sports, as are hiking, biking, and caving. There are also many important cultural sites in the town and impressive National Parks.

Climate

The average high in the winter is 27° C while the average low is 18° C. The average high in the summer is 29° C while the average low is 20° C, August being the warmest month. The humidity is generally quite overall, sometimes up to 80%. Vog (volcanic smog) can cover parts of the Kona coast from time to time depending on the activity of the Kilauea and the island winds.

Attractions & Sights

Kona and the surroundings have many attractions to spend you days at: Here are some of them: – Hulihe’e Palace was the residence of members of the Hawaiian royal family until 1914. – Mokuaikaua Church, Hawaii’s first Christian church built in 1820. – Kona Brewing Company, the local microbrewery – Kona Hawaii Temple, Hawaii’s 2nd Temple of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints – Historic Kona Inn – St. Peter’s Catholic Church – Alii Drive, Kona’s oceanfront downtown street. – Coffee plantation excursions (see the Specialties & Characteristics section) There are many botanical gardens on the island to explore: Hawaii Tropical Botanical Garden in Pāpa’ikou, Pua Mau Place Arboretum and Botanical Garden in Kawaihae, Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens in Kona, Hilo Botanical Gardens in Hilo, World Botanical Gardens near Hilo, and Nani Mau Gardens in Hilo. Mauna Kea is a far drive but oh so worth it. At 3 962 m above see level, this is the largest mountain in the world and is a dormant volcano. This center for astronomy has several astronomical observatories located on its summit. Observatory facilities are normally closed to the public. And if you do not take a tour and plan to drive on your own, a 4WD is essential. The Hilton Resort Waikoloa is home of the popular Dolphin Quest Hawaii where you can have the opportunity to swim with Atlantic bottlenose dolphins in their lagoon. The Pu’uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park is a great place to visit if you’re interested in learning about Hawaiian heritage. This ancient sanctuary today offers tours, traditional craft and daily life re-enactments. Turtles are often found in the royal fishpond. The Parker Ranch Museum in Waimea offers self guided tours, horseback, pony and wagon rides, and ranch store. Learn the story of the Parker family and about the traditional Hawaiian cowboy – the paniolo.