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KONA TODA Y <br />2. KONA TODAY <br />2.1 UNIQUE OR VALUED <br />CHARACTERISTICS <br />-� <br />�M,'II'��ltll i,a:u'u '1'1111 <br />Pu'uhonua o Honaunau National Historic Park. <br />When people say "Keep Kona, Kona", they mean many things: <br />CHAPTER 2 <br />Preserving rich cultural features. In ancient Hawaii, Kona was the most densely populated area in <br />the Hawaiian Islands (about 20,000 inhabitants at its peak). Kona was also a favorite area of <br />residence for Hawai`i's chiefs. Ancient Hawaiian life was based around the ahupua'a, a section of <br />the land that extended from the mountain to the sea. Settlement generally occurred in three main <br />zones: the narrow and coastal strip consisting of small fishing villages near the shore, particularly <br />around fishponds and bays; the barren middle zone comprised of lava fields, which supported <br />temporary use, including natural caves used by travelers between the coast and uplands; and the <br />agricultural uplands, which supported scattered settlements where dryland taro and sweet potatoes <br />were extensively cultivated, along with other crops. Today's challenge is to respect and appreciate <br />this past while learning the ancestor's lessons of living sustainably with the land. <br />Preserving Kona coffee, rural villages, and lifestyle. World <br />renowned "Kona Coffee" is the signature product of Kona. <br />Initially introduced to Hawaii in the early 1800's, coffee thrives <br />in the rich volcanic soils and unique climate of Kona on the <br />sheltered leeward slopes of Mauna Loa and Hualalai, roughly <br />between the elevations of 700 to 2,000 feet, along a 15 -mile <br />long "coffee belt" extending from Kailua to Honaunau. The <br />history of Kona coffee has been preserved with efforts such as <br />the Kona Heritage Corridor. Historically, rural villages evolved <br />in support of the agricultural lifestyle, and they are valued by <br />the residents of Kona today as a link with their past and path to <br />their future. This lifestyle persists through today's thriving <br />coffee industry and is valued by visitors to the Kona area who <br />help to support the growth of diversified agriculture. <br />KONA CDP 2-1 <br />