Kona Coffee Country, and the Coastal Town of Kona Provide Many Exciting Activities
During your visit to Kailua-Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii you can tour a wonderful variety of Kona Coffee farms and estates, and also see many other interesting attractions including historic churches and sacred Hawaiian sites.
You can also go sport fishing in Kailua, or just stroll along Alii Drive, the main street running for two miles along the Kailua-Kona coast.
Kailua means “Two Seas” and may refer to the offshore ocean currents, which can be quite challenging. Kona means “leeward,” and is added on to the town’s name in order to designate the town’s district, and also to help distinguish the towns on Maui and Oahu that are also named Kailua.
Also see: The Top Ten Coffees in the World
Kailua-Kona is a historic Hawaiian town with history and culture at every turn, and is also world renowned for its spectacular sport fishing opportunities. If you take a fishing charter offshore of Kailua-Kona there is a chance you could catch a Pacific blue marlin weighing more than 1,000 pounds - a Grander!
Every August in Kailua-Kona is the annual Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament which attracts fishing lovers from all around the world.
On display in the lobby of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel in Kailua-Kona Town are large marlin from the Billfish Tournament - including a 1,166 pound marlin caught in 1993 and a 1,062 pound fish caught in 1986 - they were weighed in at Kailua Pier. An 1,805-pound marlin was caught in 1970 off of Oahu.
Many Hawaii Island (Big Island) fishing charters leave from Kailua Pier and from Honokohau Harbor.
Other fish sought by Kailua-Kona anglers include swordfish and spearfish as well as the delicious ahi (yellowfin tuna), which is nearly everyone’s favorite fish for eating. Pole and line fishermen enjoy the area between Kailua Pier and Hulihee Palace.
Also on display at King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel are Hawaiian cultural exhibits and beautiful portraits of Hawaiian royalty, inlcuding a wonderful portrait of King Kamehameha by Herb Kane. The hotel offers historical tours that include the sacred areas just outside the hotel.
Kamakahonu Beach
Between Kailua Pier and the King Kamehameha Hotel on Kailua Bay is a lovely white-sand beach called Kamakahonu Beach.
Affectionately known as King Kam Beach, the water here is usually very calm, which makes it popular for young kids who like to play in the water. Snorkelers enjoy the area just outside of the cove, in the inner bay, and trees provide shady areas along the beach.
Other watersports at King Kam Beach include SNUBA and scuba diving, with local companies providing instruction for novices. The central location of Kamakahonu Beach, so close to Kailua-Kona town, makes this a favorite beach of visitors and locals alike.
Climate of Kailua-Kona
The temperature of Kailua-Kona usually ranges around 74° Fahrenheit, yet it may reach the high 80s in summer, and can dip as low as the mid 60s during winter.
The weather of Kailua-Kona Town is almost always warm and sunny. The town is on the leeward side of the island, which is relatively dry compared to the eastern (windward) side of the Big Island.
Kailua-Kona is located on the southwest slopes of Hualalai Volcano - which is more than 8,000 feet tall, blocking the main force of the tradewinds.
Kailua-Kona’s annual rainfall is only about ten inches, with clouds and rain showers being more commmon over the mountain slopes, such as the foothill elevations where Kona Coffee is grown.
Mokuaikaua Church and Hulihee Palace
Two very historic sites to visit in Kailua are Mokuaikaua Church and Hulihee Palace.
Hawaii’s first Christian Church, Mokuaikaua Church is located along the Kailua-Kona waterfront on Alii Drive. The land for the church was given to the area’s first missionaries by King Kamehameha I.
Four thousand people helped to build this beautiful lava rock church, and Queen Ka’ahumanu was in attendance at the dedication.
A fire in 1835 destroyed the original Mokuaikaua Church, but it was immediately rebuilt using coral mortar and stones. Also built was a steeple rising to 112 feet. Mokuaikaua Church remains an active Kailua-Kona church today.
Built in 1838, Hulihee Palace is located just across the street from Moku’aikaua Church. This formidable structure was built by John Adams Kuakini, the island’s second governor who was the brother of Queen Kaahumanu. Hulihee Palace originally served as Kuakini’s home.
When Kuakini died he gave the home to his adopted son William Pitt Leleiohoku, who later left the church to his wife, Princess Ruth Keelikolani who used it as a retreat for the royal family. Princess Ruth was the great granddaughter of King Kamehameha I.
The Princess passed away in 1883 and the church became the property of Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.
The next year it was purchased by King Kalakaua and his wife Queen Kapiolani, who used it as a summer palace and renamed it Hikulani Hale, which means “Seventh Ruler House,” referring to the fact that Kalakaua was the seventh ruler of the Hawaiian Kingdom since King Kamehameha I united all of the Hawaiian Islands.
Prince Kuhio, the nephew and adopted son of Queen Kapiolani, later became the owner of Hulihee Palace. Kuhio was named as heir presumptive to the throne by Queen Liliuokalani after she became Hawaii’s monarch in 1891.
Originally built of lava rock and coral mortar (similar to Mokuaikaua Church), Hulihee Palace was plastered over in 1885 under the direction of King Kalakaua because he wanted the building to have a more refined appearance. Also used in the construction of Hulihee Palace was native woods such as koa and ohia lehua.
Hulihee Palace was restored in 1927 by The Daughters of Hawaii with the goal of preserving its cultural legacy. Today hula is often performed at Hulihee Palace, with regular performances given at 4 p.m. on the last Sunday of every month.
Fine furniture items are now on display at Hulihee Palace along with many cultural artifacts. Particularly notable is the collection of war spears that belonged to King Kamehameha the Great, the warrior king who was the first to unite all of the Hawaiian Islands under a single ruler. Check out the Hulihee Palace Gift Shop to purchase nice mementos as well as a great selection of books and gifts.
St. Michael’s Church (808-326-7771, 75-5769 Ali’i Drive) was the first Catholic Church in Kona. Today a thatched chapel represents the original church, which was built in 1840.
Alongside the thatched structure on Alii Drive is the newer church, constructed in 1850. In front of the church is a coral grotto shrine comprised of 2,500 coral heads.
Shopping and Dining in Kailua-Kona
Many shopping and dining opportunities await you in the town of Kailua-Kona, making this a favorite area for the passengers of the large cruise ships that often dock here.
The very popular Alii Drive is lined with great shops, and many eateries such as the local favorite Kona Style Fish ‘n Chips which only serves freshly caught local fish, and Huggo’s Restaurant, a great oceanside spot for a nice dinner.
Some of Kailua-Kona’s major shopping centers inlcude the Kona Inn Shopping Village, the Coconut Grove Marketplace, and the Alii Gardens Marketplace.
Further from the coast is the Kona Coast Shopping Center and the Lanihau Center. Other great choices include Jameson’s By the Sea, Quinn’s Almost By the Sea, the Paleo Bar & Grill, and Durty Jakes Cafe & Bar.
2009 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
If you are visiting Kailua-Kona in November make sure and check out the 39th Annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.This two-week long celebration beginning November 16 celebrates all things Kona Coffee.
The 2009 Kona Coffee Festival has something for everyone including coffee tastings, art shows, musical entertainment and dancing, professional coffee judging, a coffee-picking contest, and even a beauty pageant to crown Miss Kona Coffee for 2009. There is a Kona Coffee Picking contest.
Guided tours of Kona coffee farms and estates will be offered by both the Kona Historical Society and the Kona Coffee Council. A Kona Coffee Recipe contest features professional chefs, and lots of cultural foods will be available throughout the Festival at various venues.
Hawaii’s oldest festival, the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival opens with an International Lantern Parade and ends with the Kamehameha Schools Kona Coffee Grand Parade which begins at the Royal Kona Resort and travels to Makaeo County Pavilion.
See our full article and list of events about the 2009 Kona Coffee Cultural Festival.
Another boast of this amazing Big Island town of Kailua-Kona is the Ironman Triathlon. This international event brings the world’s best athletes together every October to battle for the coveted title of “Ironman.”
The grueling endurance test includes a 2.4 miles swim beginning near Kailua Pier, a 112-mile bike race north to Hawi and back, and then a 26.2 mile full marathon through Kailua Kona.
Competitors head to the finish line down Alii Drive where as many as 25,000 people cheer them on. The winners of this race of all races are declared the Ironman and Ironwoman.
Kailua-Kona History
In ancient times the Kailua-Kona area was considered the best place to live on the Big Island due to the region’s excellent weather. This is one of the reasons that Kailua-Kona was the home of King Kamehameha, the powerful Hawaiian ruler who united all the islands. He ran his kingdom from Kailua-Kona from 1812 until he died in 1819.
At the north end of Kailua Bay across from Kailua Pier is Ahuena Heiau (808-329-2911; 75-5660 Palani Road), a sacred Hawaiian place that was restored nearly 200 years ago by King Kamehameha. The heiau (sacred place) is located near Kamehameha’s former royal residence called Kamakahonu (The Turtle Eye) - this is where “King Kamehameha the Great” lived out his final days.
Ahuena Heiau was a luakini heiau - a place where human sacrifices were offered in ancient times. King Kamehameha I restored Ahuena Heiau and lived nearby from 1812 until he died in 1819.
Ahuena Heiau was also the place where a very important event in Hawaii’s history occurred. This is the site of the breaking of the kapu (prohibition) of men and women eating together took place. This was done by the son of King Kamehameha I, Kalaninui Iolani Liholiho, who became king of Hawaii on May 20, 1819.
Just months after he assumed the throne, King Kamehameha II ate in public with the dowager queens Kaahumanu and Keopuolani at Ahuena Heiau.
This defiant act against Hawaiian tradition did not result in any retribution from the gods, and so from this time on it was not longer prohibited for men and women to eat together, and this eventually led to the whole Hawaiian kapu (taboo) system being overturned.
The land where Ahuena Heiau is located is now part of the grounds of the King Kamehameha Kona Beach Hotel. There is a thatched structure now on the site to represent the ancient heiau (sacred place), and it also includes kii, or carved statues of sacred images, showing how the heiau may have looked in ancient times.
Once you have enjoyed your time in Kailua Town you can head up to Kona Coffee Country and visit some of the wonderful Kona coffee estates.
See our many articles that talk about the Kona coffee farms and farmers of this region, some fifth-generation descendants of the original Kona coffee farmers. The world’s best coffee is grown here along the Kona Coffee Belt!
And don’t forget to check out the Kona Coffee Cultural Festival!
To read about Kona Coffee Farms see Kona Coffee Farms, Tours, and Coffeehouses.