Vida Mia Heads to Kona for Ironman

Ironman takes place every year in Kona. This year it will be held on October 11th, 2025. This is an iconic race that brings in the best of the best athletes from around the world. The race is 140.6 miles long and it features a swim in Kailua Bay, a bike route along the Queen Ka'ahumanu Highway and a marathon finish to Al'ii Drive.

If you are planning to be on the Big Island this fall and want to relax on the historic yacht, Vdia Mia, now is the time to step aboard a living legend. Vida Mia, a rare, 61-foot classic wooden yacht, returns to Kona for the first time in more than forty years, offering an experience that transcends time and place. Meticulously restored in celebration of her centennial, she is one of the few remaining vessels of her kind in the world, a floating masterpiece of history and craftsmanship.

Built in 1929 by Stephens Brothers Boat Builders, Vida Mia has been lovingly revitalized through the Maritime Preservation Trust, a nationally renowned apprenticeship program dedicated to preserving the vanishing art of wooden boatbuilding. Today, the very instructors and apprentices who restored her now serve as her captain and crew, guiding each voyage with unmatched knowledge and care.

This storied yacht has graced Hollywood screens from ferrying guests to Four Seasons Resort Maui in HBO’s The White Lotus, to appearing alongside legends Kirk Douglas and Katharine Ross in The Final Countdown, and with Goldie Hawn and Amy Schumer in Snatched. Beyond her cinematic fame, Vida Mia holds a cherished place in Hawaiʻi’s collective memory. Since the 1960s, generations of island families have celebrated milestones, romances, and gatherings aboard her teak decks.

The Vida Mia offers more than a cruise—it is an immersion into Hawaiʻi’s maritime heritage and cinematic past. Her polished teak interiors, original details, and the soft creak of her wooden beams create an ambiance of understated luxury rarely encountered today. Her name, translating to “my dream life,” captures the essence of what she offers: a singular setting for intimate gatherings, unforgettable celebrations, or a moment of quiet indulgence on the Kona seas.

Vida Mia will be available in Kona for a limited three-week engagement. Multi-day charters and media requests may be considered on a case-by-case basis.