Kohala Coast - Waikoloa hotels

Hilo
Sugar was once king in Hilo. Now, the town is known for its bay, shops, and farmers market that teems with exotic fruit. Swaying hips abound at Hilo’s Merrie Monarch Festival, a week-long hula contest held after Easter. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park is nearby. There, Kilauea is the hottest attraction as one of the world’s most active volcanoes. At its helm is Pele, the Hawaiian volcano goddess.

Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona is the epicenter of shopping and recreation on Hawaii’s western shore. Big-game fishers delight off its waters, while shoppers reel in deals along Alii Drive. The Kailua-Kona area is a hiker’s paradise because many of its best beaches are accessible only by foot. Inland, the scent of coffee permeates the air as plantations harvest precious Kona beans. Nearby coffee farms open for tours.

Keauhou
Keauhou is Kailua-Kona’s more tranquil cousin located to its south. Manta rays and the occasional dolphin swim by its languid shores. Nearby, Kealakekua Bay is home to a marine preserve where coral and fish thrive. The bay is popular with snorkelers, divers, and kayakers. Capt. James Cook, the first European to reach present-day Hawaii, was killed during a skirmish in this bay in 1779.

Kohala Coast - Waikoloa
Luxury resorts, sprawling golf courses, and white sands line the Kohala Coast – Waikoloa. Hawaii’s sunniest coast is a must-go for beachgoers. It is also known as the cradle to King Kamehameha, Hawaii’s greatest king. His influence can be seen at the nearby Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, where visitors can see the temple of war he built before unifying the Hawaiian Islands.

Kohala Coast - Waikoloa
Luxury resorts, sprawling golf courses, and white sands line the Kohala Coast – Waikoloa. Hawaii’s sunniest coast is a must-go for beachgoers. It is also known as the cradle to King Kamehameha, Hawaii’s greatest king. His influence can be seen at the nearby Pu’ukohola Heiau National Historic Site, where visitors can see the temple of war he built before unifying the Hawaiian Islands.

Kona Coast
Located on the sunny western side of the Big Island, the Kona Coast is home to a cluster of resorts, golf courses, beaches, and public parks. Its principal locales include Waikoloa-Kohala Coast, Kailua, and Keauhou. The waters off the Kona Coast afford big-game fishing, scuba diving, snorkeling, and surfing. On land, charming towns beckon with the aloha spirit.

Volcano
Home to fewer than 2,300 people, Volcano is on the border of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and near the northeast rim of Kilauea's Halema'uma'u summit caldera.