This seaside town — once a favorite retreat for Hawaiian royalty — is known as a go-to area for shopping, dinning and learning about Hawaii’s cultural past. Among the historic sites is Hulihee Palace. Many of the artifacts there are tied to the era of King David Kalakaua, who ascended to the crown in 1874 and reigned until his death in 1891. Two years later, the Kingdom of Hawaii was overthrown and more than a half-century later, Hawaii became the 50th state in the union 1959. Kailua-Kona is also known as a sports mecca for triathletes. Over the weekend, nearly 2,000 competitors took part in the 34th Ironman Triathlon World Championship, which includes a 2.4-mile swim from Kailua Pier, a 112-mile bike ride along the rugged Kohala Coast, and a 26.2-mile marathon run in the Kailua-Kona area.




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