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by Lena Hellsten

Most people that are visiting the Big Island of Hawaii stay at the west side of the island, mainly because of the great climate there, with less rain and wind than on the east side. Kailua-Kona is the most popular city in the west for tourists.

In the area around Kona you find a lot of white-sand beaches with calm, gentle waves. The city and its surroundings offers natural beauty that can bring you into a graceful state of calmness.

You'll find Kona at the foot of the volcano Hualalai. It's a city that has a lot of modern tourist attraction as well as numerous historical sites. You will see a lot of hotels and lodging and also a lot of restaurants and bars, yet Kona still has been able to keep its charm and calmness.

Kona is an ancient city and in the early years it was home to numerous Hawaiian kings. When the missionaries came in the 19th century, the expansion continued, with a lot of churches and houses being built. They also turned Kona into the main seaport of the Big Island. In the middle of the sea you find Kailua Pier which gives you a good view over the whole area. This is also a perfect spot to watch the sunset from.

If you like to spend some of your time at a calm beach with white sand, you don't have to go further than to the side of the pier. Kamakahonu Beach is great for swimming and snorkeling and there are also some canoe rentals available here.

Ali'i Drive is the main street of the city and it goes along the seafront side of Kona. Here you find a lot of restaurants, shops and hotels and you'll probably end up here at your stay in Kona.

A lot of people make Kona into their main location at their Big Island stay; it's only a short ride from the airport and it's easy to find daily trips and activities from here. Many boat cruising companies starts off from here and you can do hiking or horse-back riding on the surrounding area

Have fun exploring this city, with its great mixture of modern and ancient. It's the perfect spot for a relaxed yet active Hawaii vacation.

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