If you've ever heard the word "Kona" before, it was most likely on the menu at a trendy cafe: After all, this area of fertile volcanic soil and high mountain elevations is Hawaii's renowned coffee country.
In funky, artsy farming villages like Holualoa, planters grow some of the rarest and most expensive varieties of beans in the world. In more recent years, these lush slopes have also attracted cacao producers and a burgeoning artisanal chocolate movement. It's appropriate that both the area's crops are caffeinated: You'll need an energy boost from that cup of joe if you want to possibly squeeze in all of the diverse activities Kona has to offer.
Though the scenic beaches in this area aren't especially well-known for surfing, there's plenty happening underwater, from snorkeling among teeming coral reefs to diving with enormous manta rays to reeling in a (really) big one — including the elusive "grander", Pacific blue marlins that weigh in at over 1,000 pounds! Once you get out of the water, you'll find soaring waterfalls, quaint mountain towns, working plantations, and the 1838 Hulihe'e Palace, the former summer vacation home of Hawaiian royalty and one of just three royal palaces in the United States. Better make that two cups of coffee — at least!
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Before the crush of summer tourists hits full force, spring is an excellent time to check off the bucket-list adventure of seeing lava in its fascinating, flowing state. Well worth the 94-mile drive from Kailua-Kona, Volcanoes National Park boasts two active volcanoes, Kilauea and Mauna Loa, which put on spectacular shows — especially if you catch a glimpse of the molten, red-hot stuff sizzling as it slides into the cool sea. How close you get to the lava depends on your guide, road closures, and your willingness to hike along craggy, sharp lava rock. But even if the lava isn't cooperating on the day of your visit, the park's beautiful trails, ancient petroglyphs, and palm-lined beaches ensure an unforgettable experience.
Anglers from all over the world flock to the Kona Coast for big-game fishing in the calm, deep waters just offshore. While fishing is top-notch throughout the year, the summer months are prime for snagging prize species such as yellowfin tuna or the elusive "grander" — Pacific blue marlins weighing in at more than 1,000 pounds. In August, teams of professional anglers come to Kona for the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament, also known as the "Grandfather of all Big-Game Fishing Tournaments."
Peak harvest season runs from late September to early November in the Kona coffee belt, so it's the ideal time to head to Holualoa, a funky little village in the heart of coffee country, nestled on the slopes of Hualalai Volcano. Coffee geeks are always buzzing about the java from Hula Daddy Coffee, which grows organic beans and offers tours of its orchard and roasting room. But even if you're not a caffeine addict, you'll dig Holualoa's quaint shops, art galleries, and brightly painted, tin-roofed plantation shacks.
Rugged lava rock makes up the majority of the Kona coastline, but there are several sandy stretches near Kailua-Kona that are great for a relaxing day in the sun. And then there's the beach at La'aloa Bay, which amazingly skirts both sides. Also known as Magic Sands Beach or Disappearing Sands Beach, this spot gets its name from an awesomely strange phenomenon, whereby its gorgeous white sands may be completely swept out to sea when rough surf hits, exposing a layer of jagged black rock underneath. The magic trick happens most often in the wintertime, but don't worry: The sand always somehow reappears, bringing with it the bodyboarders and surfers who love this stretch of shore.