There are real estate bargains to be had almost everywhere, and that applies to Hawaii as well as the Mainland. Hawaii seems to be a major target for people from the US and other countries to purchase homes. The Big Island of Hawaii actually offers more land area than the other islands combined, and there are some very nice areas of widely divergent weather and geography. Here’s a link to a discussion that contrasts differences in climate, water temperature and other factors between Hawaii and California.

On the rainy side is the historical town of Hilo. There is a reason that this area feels so tropical; it rains nearly every day. The county of Hawaii has its primary government offices in Hilo. There are many qualified real estate agents in Hilo who can help you look at Big Island real estate in that area.

On the west side of the island is the Kona District. The incoming rain clouds lose much of their energy and water as they pass over the inactive volcanoes that separate Kona from Hilo. That explains why the leeward side at Kona gets so much less rainfall. Most people seem to be inclined to the dry side, since there is more sunshine on average in Kona than in Hilo.

Kona and Kohala offer a great deal of Hawaii land with terrific ocean views and coffee orchards around 1,000 feet elevation. The last few years have hit Hawaii real estate very hard and it is possible to find some terrific deals on residential land. There is an atmosphere about the Big Island that is different than the other islands. If you are thinking about buying land for a retirement or vacation home, take a look at Kona and the Big Island.