Kailua-Kona is also known as Kailua and Kona Town.  The community was established in 1795 by King Kamehameha the Great, who was the King of the Big Island before he set out to unite the state.  With 19,173, has the second most number of people next to Hilo on the Big Island of Hawaii.  Actually, down from the 2010 census of 11,975.  The volcanic eruption that began in 1983 still continues, bringing voggy weather, resulting in a compromised economy and not so high real estate prices. This town is dry and hot because ventilation is low.  Kona is the city with highest record low in the USA at 56F. Home of the Ironman World Triathlon since 1981.   However, beginning this year , while the women will continue to have their championship in Kailua-Kona on September 14, the men will go to Nice, France on October 2023.  They will flip in 2024, with women in Nice on September 24 and men in Kona on October 26.  Read my story on  how I almost killed it .  No kidding. Also has the annual Kona Coffee

  We are this morning moored off Kailua-Kona, Big Island.   Yesterday was Lahaina.  I've walked through this town on numerous occasions, and drove past it more times than I can remember for golfing and stays in Kapalua and Kaanapali.  My remembrance was a hot and dusty sugar mill town, with an adjacent Pioneer Sugar Company. Well, yesterday, Day 51 of my cruise, might well have been the best yet, with only one more day to go in Kona.  Yes, I now use the term magical in reference to Lahaina.  Why?  Keep reading. A surprise to me is, by census standards, Lahaina is a widespread city, which includes Kaanapali and Kapalua.   All told, the area has a population of only 12,027.  However, this number jumps to 40,000 when you count tourists during the  high season , which is now--January to April--when the whales are most prominent.  Lele was an ancient name for Lahaina, which was the royal capital on the Maui high chief or king. King Kamehameha the Great conquered Maui and made Lahaina th