Kona's scenic spots recommended by a writer who has been to Hawaii more than 100 times

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Text and photos: Eiichi Imai

Kona, a resort located on the west side of the Big Island of Hawaii

It is commonly called "The Big Island" because it is the largest island in the Hawaiian archipelago. Hawaii Island is a diverse island, with 10 climate zones on one island. Hilo, a port town on the east side of the island, is commonly known as "the town where it rains 270 days a year." Behind the town is a tropical rainforest, with many beautiful waterfalls. Mauna Kea, the highest peak in Hawaii, can be seen from Hilo, and snow falls near the summit, shining white in winter. Mauna Kea means "white mountain" in Hawaiian. On the other hand, Kona (also called Kona Coast) on the west side of the island is a sunny area with many comfortable resort hotels along the sea. Kona is not a cluster of buildings like Waikiki, but it is a true "vacation spot" with world-class hotels, luxury resorts, and golf courses scattered throughout. In this article, we will introduce 5 recommended spots to visit while staying at a resort hotel in Kona.

The world of ancient Hawaii unfolds on the coast

Pu'uhonua O Honaunau National Historical Park

The name of this beautiful place is "Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historical Park." There are many wonderful national parks in the Hawaiian Islands, but this national park on the coast of South Kona, Hawaii Island, is described in an American travel guidebook as "breathtakingly beautiful" (no dissent. I think that's true). This area is home to a huge heiau (ancient Hawaiian temple ruins) and various historical heritage sites. Based on these, this is a truly beautiful seaside historical park.

This place is said to have strong mana. "Mana" is a Hawaiian word that includes the meanings of "soul (of all things)," "spirit," "origin," and "power," and is considered very important in Hawaiian culture. Like the "eight million gods" in Japan, Hawaii has the idea that "everything, including trees, stones, and flowers, has mana."

It is said that long ago, this place was a place where people who had committed a crime or had problems could "escape to - a refuge for the mind and body." By coming here and spending a certain amount of time, people could reset both their mind and body and return to their original world. Yes, this was a "healing place" in ancient Hawaii. It was a place of healing.

I don't know if this land still has a special power. But whenever I go to this beach, I feel calm and relaxed. I always want to stay there as long as possible. I recommend going early in the morning or in the evening. There are always a few honu (sea turtles) taking a leisurely nap on the small beach in the park.

A luxury resort located at the foot of the "Mountain of Shyness"

Four Seasons Resort Hualala'i

Hualalai is the third highest mountain in Hawaii. Hualalai means "shy" in Hawaiian, and if you stay in North Kona on the Big Island of Hawaii, you will understand why it was named that way. Almost every day, clouds begin to gather in the sky above the mountain around noon, and soon the area around the summit is completely covered by the clouds. It was named "Hualalai" because it is "a shy mountain that almost always hides its face."

Four Seasons Resort Hualalai, the finest resort in North Kona, Hawaii, is located at the foot of Mount Hualalai, as its name suggests. One of the highlights of this finest resort is the golf course designed by Jack Nicklaus, the greatest golfer of all time. Even if you don't play golf, it's worth a stroll to see it. If you love golf, you should definitely stay and enjoy playing. Early morning, when the peak of Hualalai appears clearly and the morning sun casts stripes of light and shadow on the green, is truly a magic hour.

Just before the 17th hole, which opens out to the sea, there is a place where an ancient fishpond has been restored. A fishpond is a seaside "fish tank." Throughout Hawaii, there are many indigenous ruins, sacred places, and traces of past life. In recent years, a movement has been underway to revive and restore ancient fishponds all over Hawaii. The "Hawaiian Renaissance" (a movement to revive the culture of native Hawaiians), which sprung up across Hawaii in the early 1970s, is now making a big wave again.

Hawaii is a rare state in the US where two languages are official languages. Yes, Hawaiian and English. In public areas such as airports, public announcements always begin with Hawaiian, followed by English (this is required by law). Public schools have a proper curriculum for learning not only the Hawaiian language, but also ancient traditional culture such as hula and Hawaiian music. The strong will of the people to "cherish Hawaii's ancient culture and traditions" is the engine behind the revival and restoration of the ancient fishponds.

A beautiful fishpond glistens in the morning sun, and the shy mountain ridges stand out on its surface.

A must-see when visiting Kona: the beautiful coffee belt

Kona Coffee Belt and Coffee Shack

From the beach in Kona, going up the mountainside of Hualalai, you will come across an old road. State Route 180. It is a country road that is fun to drive on leisurely. Before Route 11 on the ocean side was built, Route 180 was the main road in Kona. Now this road is called "Kona Heritage Drive" and is introduced in major American guidebooks as "one of the most beautiful driving courses in Hawaii."

Along Route 180, there are many coffee farms and coffee bean shops operated directly by the farms, and when you drive with the windows down, you can smell the unique aroma of roasting beans. Japan's "UCC" and "Doutor Coffee" also have their coffee farms and shops in this area. This area, which includes villages such as Holualoa, Keauhou, Honalo, and Kealakekua, is known as the "Kona Coffee Belt." Coffee-loving travelers from around the world drive through the coffee belt, leisurely touring the coffee farms and shops, just like touring wineries in the south of France.

The weather is good around here in the morning, but in the afternoon, clouds gather on the top of Hualalai and it always becomes cloudy (it's a shy mountain). And it almost always rains at night. This moist climate makes for delicious coffee. The mineral-rich volcanic soil, the Hawaiian sun, and the fog, wind, and rain of Hualalai produce delicious Kona coffee.

The Coffee Shack is a long-established cafe located in this coffee belt. If you sit outside, you can enjoy delicious Kona coffee while looking out at the blue waters of Kealakekua Bay, which is said to be the most beautiful sea in Hawaii. Of course, the food is also delicious. There is a small coffee plantation in front of the store, and if you walk a little, you can see the coffee cherries up close.

Aloha Theater: A historic movie theater with a cafe

Aloha Theatre

Kona is a fun area to drive in. If you head south on the main road, Route 11, from the old Route 180, you will see coffee plantations and their directly managed stores one after another, and eventually you will come across long-established restaurants and hotels run by Japanese immigrants, such as "Teshima Shokudo" and "Manago Hotel."

The Aloha Theater is located in the town of Kainaliu. Along with the Honokaa Theater, where the movie "Honokaa Boy" was set, it is a beautiful old movie theater that is still in use today. The first floor of this theater was originally a cafe where you could have delicious Kona coffee and breakfast, but after several ownership changes, it is now unfortunately closed (although when I asked a local, he said, "It will open again soon!").

Even if the cafes and restaurants are closed, it's still worth visiting this beautiful and unique building, and in fact, even now many tourists are taking commemorative photos in front of the building to take a picture (or several) for Instagram.

Watch the sunset in Kailua-Kona with a spectacular view of the evening

Kailua-Kona

In the 19th century, Kailua-Kona was apparently the most beloved retreat for the Hawaiian royal family. Today, it is a port town in the center of Kona, the largest resort area on the Big Island. There are many restaurants and souvenir shops throughout Kailua-Kona, as there are many hotels and resorts of all sizes in the area. However, compared to Waikiki on Oahu, it is a much smaller and quieter port town. The atmosphere is somewhat similar to that of Lahaina, the center of Maui, perhaps because they are both on the west side of the island.

In the evening, locals and tourists gather in groups near the pier and enjoy watching the sunset. It's a wonderful way to spend time relaxing.

The town of Kailua-Kona is bathed in a beautiful orange color at dusk. The small seaside port town, the rows of palm trees, everything is bathed in orange by the setting sun.

*Some content was updated on July 26, 2019.

To the Big Island, the largest island in the Hawaiian Islands