KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - The Kohala coast - known for pocket-sized, postcard beaches and resorts carved out of a wasteland of lava - has a new distinction.

Waikoloa is now ranked eighth on the list of the top 10 rising destinations in the United States in the TripAdvisor Travelers Choice awards.

The popular travel website bases its rankings on an algorithm that measures how much improvement there has been since last year to travelers reviews of accommodations, dining and other attractions.

The rating essentially offers a ground truth, said Ross Birch, executive director of the Big Island Visitors Bureau. Like most top 10 rankings, it will give momentum to traveler interest in the island, he said, noting Waikoloa beaches also are popular with kamaaina and offer a quality, easily accessible experience to local residents coming over Saddle Road or through Waimea from the windward side.

The popularity of the Waikoloa resort area is reflected in hotel occupancy that has increased year to year, Ross said.

Its on the rise, mainly from the great responses like these from travelers who have already been here, he said.

Even though we have one of the lowest occupancy rates in the state, we have the highest return rate.

Jack Suyderhoud, a professor of business economics at the University of Hawaii at Manoa, said hes heard from within the industry that times are good at West Hawaii resorts, but it is not clear whats driving the buzz in Waikoloa.

Suyderhoud spoke with West Hawaii Today via email from Hanoi, Vietnam, where he has been teaching.

In my talk with tourism folks, including those who are my MBA students here in Vietnam, they believe that word of mouth from sites such as TripAdvisor does have an impact on their sales, either for better or worse, he said.

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Kohala coast on rising destinations list