Kona District, Hawaii

Description

In the Hawaiian language, kona means leeward or dry side of the island, as opposed to ko‘olau which means windward or the wet side of the island. In the times of Ancient Hawaiʻi, Kona was the name of the leeward district on each major island. In Hawai‘i, the Pacific anticyclone provides moist prevailing northeasterly winds to the Hawaiian islands, resulting in rain when the winds contact the windward landmass of the islands – the winds subsequently lose their moisture and travel on to the leeward (or kona) side of the island. When this pattern reverses, it can produce a Kona storm from the west. Kona has cognates with the same meaning in other Polynesian languages. In Tongan, the equivalent cognate would be tonga; for windward, the associated cognate would be tokelau.

Kona is the home of the Ironman World Championship Triathlon, which is held each year in October in Kailua-Kona. The Kealakekua Bay State Historical Park marks the place where Captain James Cook was killed in 1779. Puʻuhonua o Hōnaunau National Historical Park and Honokohau Settlement and Kaloko-Honokohau National Historical Park are in Kona.

The volcanic slopes of Hualālai and Mauna Loa in the Kona district provide an ideal microclimate for growing coffee. Kona coffee is considered one of the premium specialty coffees of the world.

Kona is the home of one of the main bases of the international Christian mission organization YWAM, and the University of the Nations, first founded there.

In popular culture

• The region served as the basis of the Beach Boys' song "Kona Coast" from their 1978 album M.I.U. Album.
• Asteroid 284891 Kona, discovered by astronomers at the ESA Optical Ground Station in 2009, was named after the Hawaiian district. The official was published by the Minor Planet Center on 16 January 2014 (M.P.C. 86717).

Transportation

Kona International Airport is in North Kona.

Gallery

File:KealakekuaBay.JPG|Kealakekua Bay File:Sunset in Kona or a real sunset over sea.jpg|Sunset in Kona File:HonaunauBoatHouse.JPG|Canoe Hale at Honaunau Bay File:Plymouth Rock Kailua Kona Big island, Hawaii (45553296344).jpg|Plymouth Rock, Kailua Kona, Big island, Hawaii File:Kona Dog Beach Big island Hawaii (45553363314).jpg|Kona Dog Beach, Big island, Hawaii

References

References

1. "CoffeeReview.com".
2. Geography Division. (April 11, 2021). "2020 CENSUS - CENSUS BLOCK MAP: North Kona CCD, HI". [[U.S. Census Bureau]].