
Our Kona retro logo carries Hawaiʻi's hibiscus — the state flower — printed black-and-white with the worn look of an old crate label from the coffee lands. The hibiscus is the shared emblem of every Merlin Classics Hawaiʻi place; what makes this one Kona is the story behind it — the king at Kamakahonu, the palace by the pier, and the coffee ripening on the mountain above the bay.
Kailua-Kona was the capital of the unified Hawaiian Kingdom from 1812 to 1819 — King Kamehameha I lived at Kamakahonu and died there on May 8, 1819.
Why People Visit Kailua-Kona Hawaiʻi
- Tour Puuhonua o Honaunau, sacred refuge with temples and coastal lava platforms.
- Walk Kaloko Honokohau paths, fishponds, petroglyphs, and quiet shoreline coves.
- Visit Hulihee Palace, seaside residence with artifacts and galleries.
- Stroll Alii Drive, palms, seawalls, and ocean viewpoints along the strip.
- Stand by the Kailua Pier, boats and breezes over the turquoise bay.