The state of Hawaii is actually an archipelago of five main islands in the central Pacific ocean. Entered into the union as the 50th state in August 1959, Hawaii is a few degrees north of the Equator. This makes it an extremely popular tourist destination. Sometimes, however, you want to get away without being swept away by hoards of tourists paying high prices for burgers and beers. Kona, a district on the big island of Hawaii, lets you get way from that.
The island is served by two international airports, Hilo and Keahole. A number of major airlines fly into and out of Keahole. Passengers arrive from destinations such as Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco in California. The district is also accessible by air from Portland OR, Seattle/Tacoma WA, Denver CO, and Phoenix AZ. Keahole Airport also receives seasonal traffic from Anchorage, AL and the Canadian city of Vancouver BC.
Externally, the airport gives the impression that it could just as easily be a shopping mall, chalet hotel, or night club. Don't let the quaint charm fool you, the customs officers are fiercely determined not to allow any foreign produce disrupt the ecology of the small island. It has all the other passenger services you would expect at any other air terminal.
The local area definitely feels more like a suburban neighborhood than it does a tourist resort. The bright lights, crowds, and noise are out there somewhere if you want to go looking for them but they are not in your face. There is all the accommodation you could ask for and all the amenities your heart could desire. At one restaurant in particular, diners can sip cocktails or mocktails on the coast of Kailua Bay and observe body-boarders being tossed in the surf or humpback whales swimming with other humpback whales.
The dormant volcano, Mauna Kea, is also within comfortable driving distance. One million years old, and rising 14,000 feet above sea level, it is taller than Everest and the tallest peak in the state. The Mauna Kea Observatory is the biggest such facility on the planet.
If you are feeling adventurous and can find someone offering this activity, there is nothing in the world like parasailing. This involves getting hitched into a parachute and being towed by a speed boat as you ascend higher and higher into the atmosphere. The average distance above sea level is 800 feet, although the brave can signal being taken to 1,200 feet. The best feeling of the experience is being allowed to free fall. The ride is over all too soon.
Not everybody has the guts for a tummy-tickling experience a quarter of a mile above the surface of the sea. If your are looking for a more gentle seaborne experience, there is no shortage of boat trips on the island. Try raft cruising, discover dolphins, or cruise on a whitewater raft.
The great thing about staying in Kona is that you have all the necessary facilities for sustaining life and leisure without the extortionate prices you find in a typical tourist trap. A lot of the available accommodation comes with patios or balconies, so you can convince yourself that you are a local resident living in an apartment. You get a sense of belonging to the neighborhood while retaining an element of independence.
The island is served by two international airports, Hilo and Keahole. A number of major airlines fly into and out of Keahole. Passengers arrive from destinations such as Los Angeles, San Jose, San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco in California. The district is also accessible by air from Portland OR, Seattle/Tacoma WA, Denver CO, and Phoenix AZ. Keahole Airport also receives seasonal traffic from Anchorage, AL and the Canadian city of Vancouver BC.
Externally, the airport gives the impression that it could just as easily be a shopping mall, chalet hotel, or night club. Don't let the quaint charm fool you, the customs officers are fiercely determined not to allow any foreign produce disrupt the ecology of the small island. It has all the other passenger services you would expect at any other air terminal.
The local area definitely feels more like a suburban neighborhood than it does a tourist resort. The bright lights, crowds, and noise are out there somewhere if you want to go looking for them but they are not in your face. There is all the accommodation you could ask for and all the amenities your heart could desire. At one restaurant in particular, diners can sip cocktails or mocktails on the coast of Kailua Bay and observe body-boarders being tossed in the surf or humpback whales swimming with other humpback whales.
The dormant volcano, Mauna Kea, is also within comfortable driving distance. One million years old, and rising 14,000 feet above sea level, it is taller than Everest and the tallest peak in the state. The Mauna Kea Observatory is the biggest such facility on the planet.
If you are feeling adventurous and can find someone offering this activity, there is nothing in the world like parasailing. This involves getting hitched into a parachute and being towed by a speed boat as you ascend higher and higher into the atmosphere. The average distance above sea level is 800 feet, although the brave can signal being taken to 1,200 feet. The best feeling of the experience is being allowed to free fall. The ride is over all too soon.
Not everybody has the guts for a tummy-tickling experience a quarter of a mile above the surface of the sea. If your are looking for a more gentle seaborne experience, there is no shortage of boat trips on the island. Try raft cruising, discover dolphins, or cruise on a whitewater raft.
The great thing about staying in Kona is that you have all the necessary facilities for sustaining life and leisure without the extortionate prices you find in a typical tourist trap. A lot of the available accommodation comes with patios or balconies, so you can convince yourself that you are a local resident living in an apartment. You get a sense of belonging to the neighborhood while retaining an element of independence.
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