“Twas the night before Ironman, and all throughout Kona, the athletes are hopefully getting a good night’s sleep in preparation for a grueling day ahead.” That right, sports fans, it’s the countdown to the 2012 Ironman World Championship in Kailua-Kona, where the hardiest of body and soul vie to complete a 2.4-mile swim, 112-mile bike …
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Birding enthusiasts will find plenty of unique destinations on the Big Island for observing rare native forest birds as well as other types of feathered friends including the Hawai‘i State bird, the Nene. I‘iwi Bird For serious birders, Hakalau Forest National Wildlife Refuge is home to three species of endangered Hawaiian honeycreepers (akiapola‘au, akepa and …
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It’s the World Cup of outrigger canoe paddling, and it happens every Labor Day weekend (September 1, 2, and 3) right here in Kailua-Kona. The Queen Lili‘uokalani Long Distance Outrigger Canoe Race attracts more than 2,000 outrigger canoe paddlers from around the world to compete in canoe races along the shores of the Kona Coast. …
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It’s the hottest new water sport in America, and the best place to do it is right here in Hawai‘i. Stand-up paddlers appreciate the calm, clear waters of Kona, where there is plenty of opportunity to view marine life from above while exploring the bays and beaches of the Kona coast. If you are a …
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Best of Show by Marcus Castaing This year’s annual Hawai‘i Woodshow produced six winners from the Big Island, highlighted by Best of Show award-winner Marcus Castaing, whose gorgeous koa cabinet features the artful use of the wood’s natural curl. The 20th annual event, which is sponsored by the Hawai‘i Forest Industry Association, took place in Honolulu …
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Okay, it’s not the North Shore of O‘ahu, or even Waikiki for that matter. But Kona does offer a few nice surf spots for beginners and advanced wave riders. What’s more, most of the destinations are just a short drive down the hill from Holualoa Inn. The best place to learn how to surf is …
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It rhymes with Holualoa, but it’s world’s away from our artists’ village here in Kona. Located on the Hamakua Coast 13 miles from Waimea, the rural area of Ahualoa offer visitors a unique destination that’s decidedly off the beaten track. With towering eucalyptus trees that shade the long, windy road mauka of Honoka‘a Town, Ahualoa …
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One of the most popular visitor activities in Kona, snorkeling reveals an underwater world brimming with colorful tropical fish, beautiful coral reefs, crystal-blue waters and a variety of marine life including green sea turtles. The relatively calm waters of the leeward coast provide aquarium-like conditions for observing Hawai‘i’s underwater attractions. One of the best places …
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