Kona Gold is a bold sativa with long-lasting effects, born from potent Hawaiian landrace genetics. Hawaii has a long history of cannabis cultivation and it shows in this strain’s powerful aroma and distinctly-shaped flowers. Kona Gold has a modest THC content that has been measured at between 7% and 15%, making it appropriate for newcomers to cannabis. Even for vets, though, this purely sativa strain can help experienced smokers maintain focus, energy, and optimism.

Kona Gold can be recognized by its distinctly sativa structure -- more wispy than bud-like, these flowers grow in elongated formations along their branches. The leaves appear wispy and loose and can easily be torn away from their central stems. These leaves are a mossy shade of green and are twisted through with fewer than average pistils, which range in color from yellow to pale orange. Finally, Kona Gold’s blossoms are covered in translucent white trichomes, giving them a snow appearance and making them difficult to break up without a quality grinder on hand.

When properly cured, Kona Gold’s flowers are unique in their lack of dank or skunky pungency. Instead, these buds smell surprisingly fresh and floral. There are also some fruity, tropical-tinged hints of pineapple and mango. When burnt in a pipe or a joint, Kona Gold gives off a surprisingly smooth smoke that’s generally easily tolerated. This smoke tastes floral and fruity on the exhale.

Kona Gold hits quickly, conferring a pressure and tightness around the eyelids and temples. This feeling is accompanied by an uptick in cerebral thinking -- smokers may notice their thoughts jumping from one the next, in free association. Although some may find this head-focused experience disorienting or overwhelming, in the right set and setting, it can be a great way to enhance focus on a variety of tasks. Kona Gold can help stimulate creativity in freeform brainstorm situations. Alternatively, it may help users to concentrate on finding analytical solutions to problem-oriented work. Kona Gold can also provide an illuminating backdrop for otherwise mundane activities like cleaning the house or running errands. If you’re in a more athletic mood, try toking on some of this strain before going on a run or a hike. Overall, Kona Gold can inspire positivity, making any prior stressors seem temporary or irrelevant. This may help elevate a smoker’s mood on a particularly stressful day. With few discernible physical effects, Kona Gold is not at all likely to leave users couchlocked or drowsy.

Because of its buzzy, active properties, this strain is better suited to daytime than to evening use; if consumed before bed, it’s likely to keep smokers awake and wired.

Kona Gold may have several applications for medical cannabis patients as well. Its strong sense of focus can be a good way for those with attention deficit disorders to sustain focus on a single task. Similarly, its immediacy and alertness may help those with stress and depression to spend their time more presently and consciously. Physiologically speaking, Kona Gold’s anti-inflammatory properties may soothe minor irritations like nausea and headaches. Patients who are prone to panic should consume this strain with caution -- although its THC content is relatively low, it may bring about recursive thinking and paranoia.

Although it has history of cultivation within Hawaii, seeds of Kona Gold are not available for sale online. Instead, hopeful home growers will need to seek out a reliable source of clippings for mature plants of the strain which can be grown as genetically-identical “clones.” Kona Gold can be grown indoors or out; thanks to its hardy landrace genetics, it actually may fare much better than other strains if grown outdoors, where it may have a natural resistance to adverse conditions. This bud’s sativa background suggests that its plants may grow very tall. As such, those growing indoors should be sure to trim back their crops early on in order to train them to fit in limited indoor spaces.

Somewhat difficult to come by outside of Hawaii, Kona Gold should be snatched up if spotted on dispensary shelves. Its crowd-pleasing aroma and purely head-focused high can be a great treat to break out at parties.