Flower gardens, banana plantations and other agricultural endeavors are plentiful in the Kurtistown region which is one of the Big Island’s most productive farming areas. The town sits at 620 feet (190 m) above sea level.
Historically Kurtistown has always been a banana producing area even while other areas of the Big Island focused on growing coffee or sugarcane. Small businesses in Kurtistown include the J. Hara store and a service station, and there is also a post office. The town is home to about 1,200 people.
Botanical gardens include Royal Palm Enterprises and Linda’s Place of Hawaii. The Fuku-Bonsai Cultural Center & Hawaii State Bonsai Repository in Kurtistown is a working bonsai nursery that also includes a Micro-Lobster Museum. The Center provides bonsai workshops and there are several hundred bonsai on display and for sale.
Kurtistown is located along Hwy. 11 near Keaau, about 20 miles from Hawaii Volcanoes National Park and 10 miles from Hilo.