Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
THE BIG ISLAND IN BRIEF
The Kona Coast
One Hawaiian word everyone
seems to know is Kona, probably
because it's synonymous with great
coffee and big fish—both of which
are found in abundance along this
70-mile-long stretch of black
lava-covered coast.
A collection of tiny communities
devoted to farming and fishing along
the sunbaked leeward side of the
island, the Kona coast has an amaz-
ingly diverse geography and climate
for such a compact area. The ocean-
front town of
Kailua-Kona,
a
quaint fishing village that now
caters more to tourists than boat
captains, is its commercial center.
Kona
means “leeward side” in
Hawaiian—and that means full-on
summer sun every day of the year.
This is an affordable vacation spot
for a family; an ample selection of
mid-priced condo units, peppered
with a few older hotels and B&Bs,
lines the shore, which is mostly
rocky lava reef, interrupted by an
occasional pocket beach. Here, too,
stand two world-class resorts: Kona
Village, the site of one of the best
luau in the islands; and one of
Hawaii's luxury retreats, the Four
Seasons at Hualalai.
Away from the bright lights of the
town of Kailua lies the rural
south
Kona coast,
home to coffee farmers,
macadamia-nut growers, and people
escaping to the country. There aren't
a lot of accommodations options for
families here, but there are lots of
day excursions, like to
Kealakekua,
a marine-life preserve that's the
island's best snorkeling spot (and
the place where Capt. James Cook
met his demise), or to
Honaunau,
where a national historic park
recalls the days of Old Hawaii.
The Kohala Coast
This is where the Lear jet-set
escapes to play in world-class
beachfront hotels set like jewels in
the golden sand. But you don't have
to be a billionaire to visit the
Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, and Mauna
Kea resorts: The fabulous beaches
and abundant historic sites are open
to the public, with parking and
other facilities provided by the
resorts, including restaurants, golf
courses, and shopping.
North Kohala
Once sugar cane was king in this
knobby peninsula jutting out to the
north. Today,
Hawi
's quaint, 3-
block-long strip of sun-faded, false-
fronted buildings and 1920s
vintage shops lives on as a minor
tourist stop in one of Hawaii's most
scenic rural regions.
Waimea (Kamuela)
This old upcountry cow town on
the northern road between the
coasts is set in lovely country: rolling
green pastures, wide-open spaces
dotted by
puu
(hills), and real cow-
pokes who ride mammoth
Parker
Ranch,
Hawaii's largest working
ranch. The town is also headquar-
ters for the
Keck Telescope,
the
largest and most powerful in the
world, bringing world-class, starry-
eyed astronomers to town. Waimea
is home to several affordable restau-
rants and terrific shops.
The Hamakua Coast
This emerald coast, a 52-mile
stretch from Honokaa to Hilo on
the island's windward northeast
side, was once planted with sugar
cane; it now blooms with flowers,
macadamia nuts, papayas, and euca-
lyptus trees. Resort-free and virtu-
ally without beaches, the Hamakua
coast still has a few major destina-
tions, such as spectacular
Waipio
Valley,
a picture-perfect valley with
impossibly steep sides, taro patches,
a green riot of wild plants, and a
winding stream leading to a broad,
