Kona is an unincorporated community in Mitchell County, North Carolina, United States.

[4] The community of Kona is named after the chemical make-up of feldspar; K for potassium, O for oxygen, and Na for sodium.

[1] Founded in 1916, Kona became the original starting point for the Black Mountain Railway (later owned by Yancey Railroad) and where it connected to the South and Western Railroad (later owned by Clinchfield Railroad); it had daily roundtrip passenger and mixed train service to Murchison, via Burnsville.

CSX, successor of the Clinchfield Railroad, continues rail service through the area.

[5][6][7] The Kona Post Office operated from 1916 to 1953, when it was replaced with rural letter carrier service from Bakersville.