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North Kona
Centered around the main business hub of Kailua-Kona, North Kona spans nearly 36-miles along the Big Island’s leeward coast, covering the area between Hokulia to Waikoloa Beach Resort and extending into the upper slopes of Hualalai Mountain. Kona real estate features many incredibly unique homes and properties located within numerous diverse climate zones. You will find lush tropical climates, sunny beaches, exclusive luxury estates, golf course communities, oceanfront homes, residential neighborhoods, coffee farms, and everything in-between.
Rich in Hawaiian history, Kona was once a favorite gathering spot for the Ali‘i (Hawaiian Royalty) and is home to many significant historical landmarks and archeological sites. In fact, King Kamehameha actually spent his final years in Kailua-Kona.
In the 1800’s, the Kona real estate market began to take shape as several small Kona communities emerged alongside the agricultural industry. The area primarily consisted of farming the slopes of Hualalai Mountain and utilizing Kailua (Kailua-Kona) as a shipping port for sugar, coffee, and cattle.
Back then, the vast majority of Kona’s population lived in the “crop-friendly” elevations along Old Mamalahoa Highway, also known as the “coffee belt” between 700-ft and 3,200-ft. This remained unchanged until the early 1970’s when tourism began to take over – fueling a boom in development and population at the lower elevations near Kona’s ocean activities and beaches. This is generally where you will find the bulk of Kona real estate for sale today.
Currently, with a population of nearly 45,000 residents, vibrant commerce, and a robust Kona real estate market, North Kona is the driving force behind the Big Island’s expanding economy.