Kona and beyond
Kailua-Kona is known for having one of the sunniest climates in the world! Ideally located on the west side of Hawai’i ~ the Kona Coast is the island’s favorite visitor playground as the weather is almost always divine! Stoll through the village along the ocean and enjoy Kona’s many fine open-air restaurants, cafes, shops, and art galleries. From five stars to inexpensive and everything in-between including the Kona Farmers Market ~ you will find it ALL in Kona!
Casa de Emdeko’s marvelous ocean front location serves as an excellent home base for all Big Island sightseeing and activities. Various types of ocean recreational activities are always available in Kona and golf is just minutes away in nearby Keauhou.
Just a few miles south of Kona, a favorite snorkel location ~ Kahalu’u Beach Park ~ is absolutely teeming with tropical fish and sea turtles. Kealakekua Bay ~ a center of importance in Hawaiian history and the site of Captain Cook’s death, offers more great snorkeling and a chance to kayak and swim with Hawaiian spinner dolphins.
A few miles farther down the coast lies Pu’uhonua o Honaunau (in South Kona) ~ an ancient place of refuge. This beautiful and sacred site provides a glimpse into Hawai’i’s past, and with incredible snorkeling, you will be sure to see at least a few Humu Humu Nuku Nuku A Pua’a ~ the official State Fish of Hawai’i. For a nourishing breakfast or lunch along Mamalahoa Highway #11 ~ The Coffee Shack in Captain Cook is just right with its open lanai overlooking a giant avocado tree and splendid view of 26 miles of coastline.
South Kona and Ka’u display miles and miles of macadamia nut and coffee orchards. At the southern tip of the island is windswept Ka Lae (in Ka’u) ~ the southernmost point of the entire United States. The view is breathtaking. Especially when you realize this is where the first Polynesians came ashore more than 1500 years ago. The exquisite and very unique Green Sand Beach is nearby.
On the way to the stunningly beautiful Punalu’u Black Sand Beach ~ you can stretch your legs and visit the Punalu’u Bake Shop in Na’alehu for a hearty sandwich, healthy salad, or our favorite: a cup of Ka’u Coffee and a Malasada, a delicious Portuguese doughnut.
For high drama and stark landscapes sweeping all the way to the sea, the Volcano area reigns supreme. Here on the slopes of Mauna Loa is one of the world’s most active volcanoes ~ Kilauea. Volcanoes National Park also shelters many of Hawai’i’s rare endemic plants and birds. The Kilauea Eruption Update provides a daily forecast for viewing live lava flows!
North of Kona: Kua Bay ~ Makalawena ~ Hapuna Beach State Park
East of Kona in Puna: Kapoho Tidepools and Ahalanui (Pele’s Bath)
Hilo is a charming mix of old and new Hawai’i. Once a thriving town bolstered by limitless sugarcane revenues, the demise of the sugar industry in Hawai’i has kept Hilo in a time warp. And that’s the charm. Things move slower here and the local community is tight. Hilo is a strikingly beautiful town. Abundant rains give the flora a healthy sheen that soothes the soul. Enjoy shopping, museums and waterfalls ~ and the Hilo Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays and Saturdays ~ but Hilo is a ghost town on Sundays.
North of Hilo: Hawai’i Tropical Botanical Garden, Akaka Falls, Waipi’o Valley