Ancient History

• An active volcano rose out of the ocean some millions of years ago from a bed of lava under the sea. Several centuries later, it fully emerged to form what is known today as the big island of Hawaii.
  
  

First Human Settlers

• The first human settlers to Kona, Hawaii, arrived between the years 400 and 800, using only the guidance of stars and ocean currents; they are believed to have hailed from the Marquesas Islands in the South Pacific.
  
  

Agricultural Development

• During the island's feudal period, Tahitian Polynesians arrived, bringing tools, animals and fruit for farming. It's believed that sometimes they did battle over the land.
  
  

Captain James Cook

• In the middle of a Hawaiian celebration during 1778, Captain James Cook arrived and was treated like a god. But when he left, his ship was battered by a storm, and he had to return to the island for repairs. He was then executed for being a mere human.
  
  

Kona's Cash Crops

• Coffee became a major cash crop in Kona during the early 1800s; when demand waned, they discovered that sugar cane was also an excellent source of income.
  
  

Present Industry

• Today, Kona's gourmet coffee production, though minuscule when compared to the rest of the world, yields some of the finest coffee produced anywhere.