Kona - Slice of Paradise

10/05/2026

🌺 𝐈𝐑𝐎𝐍𝐌𝐀𝐍 𝐢𝐬 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐚!

If you are visiting Kailua-Kona around 𝐎𝐜𝐭𝐨𝐛𝐞𝐫 𝟏𝟎, you are arriving just as nearly 3,000 athletes prepare to test the limits of human endurance.

An IRONMAN means 𝟐.𝟒 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐰𝐢𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝟏𝟏𝟐 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐜𝐲𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝟐𝟔.𝟐 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐧𝐢𝐧𝐠, all in one race. For some athletes, simply reaching the finish line becomes an extraordinary battle of determination against exhaustion and physical limits.

One example is 𝐉𝐮𝐥𝐢𝐚 𝐌𝐨𝐬𝐬, whose IRONMAN journey demonstrates just how far determination can take the human body and mind. Stories like hers are a big part of what makes watching this race so inspiring.

After experimenting with different locations and formats, including splitting the World Championship between 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐢𝐜𝐞, the event is now back in its iconic 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞-𝐝𝐚𝐲 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐚 𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭, bringing the world's best athletes together on the Big Island.

And what a place to race! The course combines 𝐊𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐮𝐚 𝐁𝐚𝐲, 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐮𝐠𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐥𝐚𝐯𝐚 𝐟𝐢𝐞𝐥𝐝𝐬, 𝐝𝐫𝐚𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐡𝐞𝐚𝐭, 𝐰𝐢𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐇𝐚𝐰𝐚𝐢𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐬𝐜𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐲. There may be tougher courses, but few are more spectacular.

Of course, there is a price for all this excitement. 𝐓𝐫𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐨𝐭𝐢𝐜, with major road closures and thousands of athletes, spectators and support crews moving around the island. If you are visiting, plan ahead, allow extra time, and embrace the unusual atmosphere.

For Kona, however, IRONMAN is also big business. Thousands of athletes and visitors fill 𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐞𝐥𝐬, 𝐯𝐚𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐬, 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐚𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐬𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫 𝐥𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬𝐞𝐬, bringing a significant economic boost to the community.

So if you are in Kona on October 10, don't just work around the race.

𝐆𝐨 𝐰𝐚𝐭𝐜𝐡 𝐢𝐭. 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐞𝐫 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐬. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐡 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐩𝐮𝐬𝐡 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐚𝐫 𝐛𝐞𝐲𝐨𝐧𝐝 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐩𝐡𝐲𝐬𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞.

09/02/2026

𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐐𝐮𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐋𝐢𝐥𝐢ʻ𝐮𝐨𝐤𝐚𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐢 𝐂𝐚𝐧𝐨𝐞 𝐑𝐚𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐊𝐨𝐧𝐚

𝑺𝒆𝒑𝒕𝒆𝒎𝒃𝒆𝒓 𝟑-𝟕,𝟐𝟎𝟐𝟔

If you are visiting Kona this week, look out on the water. The Queen Liliʻuokalani Canoe Race brings outrigger canoe paddlers from Hawaiʻi and around the world to the Big Island for one of the world’s major long-distance outrigger canoe events.

It is more than a race. The Hawaiian outrigger canoe, or waʻa, is deeply connected to the islands’ ocean-going heritage, and the event celebrates paddling, teamwork, endurance and Hawaiian canoe culture.

Saturday, September 5 is the big 18-mile race, connecting Kailua Bay and Hōnaunau Bay. Other races take place around Kailua Pier on Thursday, Sunday and Monday.

So while you are enjoying Kona, take some time to visit the waterfront and watch the crews prepare, race and return to Kailua Bay. It is a great opportunity to experience a part of Hawaiʻi that goes far beyond the beaches and resorts.

Want to know more about the history of the Hawaiian outrigger canoe? Read our earlier article and find details of the upcoming race:

https://kona-rental.com/index.php/vacation-rental-news/202608-outrigger

Kailua-Kona, Kona, Hawaii, Short Term Vacation Rental, STVR, AirBnB, VRBO, Booking.com, Beach, outrigger canoe

08/05/2026

Have you ever wondered why Hawaiʻi Island is called the 𝐁𝐢𝐠 𝐈𝐬𝐥𝐚𝐧𝐝? It's not just because of its size!

The Big Island is home to 𝟖 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝'𝐬 𝟏𝟑 𝐜𝐥𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐳𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐬. A remarkable diversity can be found on a single island. In just one day, you can travel from tropical rainforests to dry lava deserts, lush valleys, misty cloud forests, sunny beaches, and even alpine landscapes where snow occasionally blankets the summit of Mauna Kea.

This incredible range of climates creates a paradise for nature lovers. Different plants and animals thrive in each climate zone, so every drive offers something new: from towering tropical trees and colorful flowers to unique native birds, sea turtles basking on the shore, and even wild goats on the volcanic slopes.

The weather is just as diverse. If it's raining on one side of the island, there's a good chance you'll find sunshine just a short drive away. Looking for cooler mountain air, a warm beach day, or the perfect snorkeling conditions? The Big Island often lets you choose the weather that suits your plans.

The island is also constantly changing. Active volcanoes continue to create new land, while powerful waves reshape the coastline. A perfect example is Magic Sands Beach, where the beautiful white sand can disappear after large winter surf and then gradually return months later, a reminder that nature is always at work here.

Perhaps the most amazing contrast is the elevation. Within about 40 miles (65 km), you can go from sea level to nearly 14,000 feet (4,207 m) on Mauna Kea. That dramatic change in altitude creates everything from warm tropical beaches to freezing alpine conditions and, on the right winter day, even snow.

Every visit to the Big Island is different. The landscapes, the weather, the wildlife, and even the coastline are constantly evolving, making every journey an adventure.

𝙒𝙝𝙞𝙘𝙝 𝙘𝙡𝙞𝙢𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙯𝙤𝙣𝙚 𝙬𝙤𝙪𝙡𝙙 𝙮𝙤𝙪 𝙚𝙭𝙥𝙡𝙤𝙧𝙚 𝙛𝙞𝙧𝙨𝙩? 🌴🌋❄️🌺🏖️

07/12/2026

While there are many places to see Manta Rays on the Big Island in Hawai'i, you can see them every night at the Mauna Kea resort.
After sunset the resort lights up the sea and attracts the rays close to the shore. They can be seen from a viewing platform without getting wet.

05/20/2025

the number of earthquakes has increased...

Short Term Vacation Rental, STVR, Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, AirBnB, VRBO, Booking.com, By Owner, furnished, long-term, long term, short term, short-term

10/26/2024

Turtles - honu - are in important in Hawaiian culture. They have always been sacred and are also protected by law today.

https://kona-rental.com/index.php/vacation-rental-news/202410-honu-the-importance-of-turtles

Honu - Hawaiian for Turtle, an short summary of the importance of turtles in Hawaiian culture.

10/25/2024

Thinking of the beautiful decorations (Penjors) while in Hawaii.
https://youtube.com/shorts/D9zDF-CDAk0

Penjors are a religious symbol skillfully crafted by Hindus in Bali. The curve of the Penjor is said to resemble the tail of the baron or the top of Mount Ag...

10/08/2024

Tegenungan Waterfall - first movie from Bali. Nice place, maybe a bit touristy but still nice to visit.

https://youtu.be/HbQALZQr5-Y

10/02/2024

Gili Trawangan - impression

Gili Trawangan is the biggest of the Indonesian Gili Islands located in the Lombok Strait. The island can only be reached by boat and is entirely car free. G...

09/15/2024

Enjoyed the sunshine at the Billilla Mansion yesterday. After having driven by there many times I was curious about this place. Interesting story and nicely kept building in the Brighton area.

The Billilla Mansion was built in 1876 by Robert Wright and changed ownership many times over the following ten years. In 1888 the property was eventually pu...