West Hawaii Real Estate Listings of Houses and Homes for Sale in Hawaii County, Hawaii


	West Hawaii Houses for Sale

West Hawaii

As with most tourist destinations, the County of Hawaii offers many activities and attractions for residents and visitors. The Kona-Kohala coast is now becoming one of the most extravagant resort destinations. The area offers premier dining and shopping to service the vacationing population. There are also many opportunities along the coastline for a variety of beach activities, including deep-sea fishing, great snorkeling, scuba diving, surfing and sailing. In the interior of the island, one may tour coffee plantations or explore the lush, mountainous landscape on foot or mountain bike.

A few of West Hawaii’s popular sites are Puuhonua O Honaunau National Historic Park, Kealakekua Bay and Waimea. Puuhonua O Honaunau is a 180-acre facility surrounded by a 10-foot-high stone wall. Originally, the site was the destination of defeated warriors and criminals seeking refuge. Visitors may now walk the facility and enjoy the picnic grounds, fishpond, thatched house and ancient temple and statue, which stand over the buried remains of Hawaiian royalty.

Kealakekua Bay is known as Captain Cook’s point of landing in 1778 and also as the site of his death in 1779. The British Memorial built in 1874 to commemorate the famous explorer’s arrival can be seen across the bay. Kealakekua Bay offers excellent kayaking and snorkeling.

Waimea – Hawaii’s cattle-ranching country – is located in the northwestern part of the island. The region is about 2,600 feet above sea level, so the temperatures are substantially cooler than those at the coastline. In the mid-1800s a Massachusetts sailor named John Parker started the cattle ranch business in this region. He enlisted the help of Mexican cowboys to teach Hawaiians how to rope, ride and breed cattle. Parker Ranch still raises horses and cattle on 225,000 acres of land.

Some sites to see on the other side of the island include Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and Panaewa Rainforest Zoo. Hawaii Volcanoes National Park has over 150 miles of trails available for hiking, camping and backpacking. The world’s most active volcano, Kilauea, the world’s largest volcano, Mauna Loa, and Hawaii’s tallest volcano, Mauna Kea, are all located here. Plus, visitors can see petroglyphs and the Thurston Lava Tube, a landform through which lava can travel without significant cooling.