Visitors to the Big Island of Hawaii, largest of the Hawaiian chain, are familiar with the imposing volcano, Mauna Loa, soaring 13,680 feet above sea level. A few miles north is Mauna Kea, even loftier at 13,796 feet. The western slopes of these mountains comprise the district known as Kona, from which Hawaiis unique Kona coffee takes its name. Sheltered by these towering mountains and from the prevailing northeast trade winds, Kona is unusually calm, fanned by wispy off-shore breezes, rather then gusty blasts. The long flanks of the mountains drop off into the blue Pacific. It is somewhat dry at the lower levels, but turns green above the 1,200 foot elevation where the porous volcano soil along with ample water, has created lush vegetation. This combination has given Kona a character all of its own, a languid, timeless, tropical serenity. Above the elevations where Kona starts to turn green, a magnificent coffee has been grown for more than 150 years.