Condominium Complexes in Kona

Kailua-Kona is located on the West, or leeward, side of the Big Island of Hawaii. It is just South of the famed Kohala Coast and built around small Kailua Bay. There are not many hotels in Kona, but there are plenty of condos. Some of the condos are inexpensive, some are not, but all in all, with a pool, great views, full kitchens, and good locations, they can oftentimes be a better deal than the hotels.

Downtown Kailua-Kona can be thought of to start at Kailua Pier, at the North end of Alii Drive. Alii Drive is 7 miles long, and the first 5 miles of it are all oceanfront. If we start here at Kailua Pier and head towards the dead end past Kona Country Club Golf Course, we count about 30 condo complexes on or across the street from the ocean. Most of these will not be on a beach but instead situated on lava rock ocean-fronts.

I’ll start with the first condo we would come to heading from the pier, south along Alii Drive and tell you a little about each condominium that is close enough to be considered easy walking distance to downtown, which turns out to be the first 5 of them.

1. Kona Islander Inn
Kona Islander Inn is located directly in downtown Kailua-Kona, just across the street from a small, rocky bay that is not generally advisable for ocean access. Walking tourists and street traffic could be a little loud for the most oceanfront buildings day and night. The Islander Inn is called a condominium because the units are individually owned, however there is no kitchen – only a coffee maker, microwave, and small fridge. Unit quality can vary widely. This is a relatively inexpensive condo.

2. Kona Alii
The Kona Alii is a condo in a high-rise building, still right in Kailua-Kona, and across the street from the same rocky bay as Kona Islander Inn. Again, traffic and foot noise can be present. Most units are quite nice with full kitchens and washers and dryers. Price range from high-end inexpensive to moderate.

3. Hale Kona Kai
These condos are right on the water, with no grounds to speak of except a swimming pool. There is no immediate ocean access, however properties just above and below the condos have a small coral beach and a tide pool lagoon. Several units have wraparound lanais – most units have full kitchens, full ocean views, and good reputations. Hale Kona Kai is about a quarter to half mile walk to all the good shops in town, and an easy mile to the pier. Prices are moderate, and really good for what you get usually.

4. Kona Reef
The Kona Reef is just past Hale Kona Kai, so still very close to town. Again, there is no direct ocean access. The buildings near the road can be noisy. These units seem to all be just average. No one hates them, no one really raves about them either. Prices are moderate to too expensive.

5. Sea Village
The Sea Village resort is kind of pushing the ‘easy walking’ distance: it’s a little over one half a mile to get to the outskirts of town, and a full mile to get right into downtown, but it’s a nice walk. After dark it can be a little intimidating, since there are no sidewalks, but during the day you get to look at the ocean and little pockets of surfers between million dollar properties. Sea Village is pretty average, but it’s got most of what a condo should (no air conditioning in many units unfortunately) and some good views. Prices are moderate.

Well, that’s everything within the first mile and a half of Alii Drive. Since condos are generally individually owned units in a larger complex, be sure to check on these things if they are important to you. Does the unit have air conditioning, is parking free, is there a cleaning fee, and what is the general quality an cleanliness of the unit (try to see pictures).