Quality of life near Kealekekua? (Honolulu, Kailua: for sale, apartment, to rent)

[phf919]

Im going there in the fall/winter for a visit (& to consider a move).....what can I expect from those of you that live near?? My dear friend lives there and has been asking me to come there for a loooooong time now. Im finally in a place to do that soon. Would love any info.....THX!! Aloha!

[phf919]

Nada?? Nobody has any info out there?

[leilaniguy]

Aloha phf919, I live on the other (wet) side of B.I. so I don't know a whole lot about Kealakekua, but have passed through there a few times. It is steep hilly country with lots of small farms, mostly coffee plantations. It is a small town with great ocean views about 10 miles south of Kailua-Kona. Try googling the name, as well as Captain Cook (the town,) which is larger and near Kealakekua. Also try West Hawaii Today, the Kona newspaper, which is available online.

[phf919]

THANK YOU!! Will do! I bought a couple of books on the B.I. but none of them mention Kealekekua. My friend does live near a small farm and coffee plantation. The place I wanted to rent was up in the trees and has an incredible view.....thx for replying!

[citylights]

Aloha - I'm new to this site.
my husband and I are moving to the beautiful Island of Hawaii, which one I'm not sure of yet, which is why I am on this site. My husband will be working in Pearl Harbor, hence I figure we should live in pearl City/Aiea to cut his commute time. Can anyone tell me what is a good area in the latter? I've been checking online for an apartment, and they all seem so small. We currently live in Maryland and have a nice size condo 2beds/2baths 1100 sq. ft at 990.00 monthly. This area is very, very nice and it's gated with CAC, Alarm intrusion, etc. I know the cost of living is much higher in HI, which I don't mind paying the price for decent living. Now that you have a little background, what area close to pearl harbor do any of you think would be suitable for us (based on what i've shared) with rent being no higher than $1800.00?

[leilaniguy]

Aloha citylights. Sorry, you won't get much help here. You need to be on the Honolulu forum. Pearl city and Aiea are suburbs of Honolulu, on the island of Oahu, about 250 miles from this island of Hawaii, where Kealakekua is. I only saw Pearl Harbor once, about 20 years ago. Houses and apts. all over here in Hawaii are generally smaller than on the mainland, but if it has a lanai, that is a big plus, since once you acclimatize, you will probably spend a lot of time there. You might check the online classifieds for the Honolulu Star-Bulletin or Honolulu Advertiser for apts./houses in the area.

[TorgWhiteBeard]

This thread seems to be stale. Hey, Leilani Guy, or anyone in South Kona? Any reflections on "a day in the life in South Kona"? As in, I went to the store, I bought a bottle of inexpensive wine for $50...(you know, loaf of bread, bottle of wine, rack of pork chops, gallon of milk, pack of smokes, filled up the propane, the car, et cetera, and it cost me $?). Just thinking over moving to HI, (and over and over).
Mahalo.

[islandsunshine]

Hmm? OK let me guess this.... ( I haven't been there in 13 months but I will try) inexpensive wine $8, bread $3.50, milk $5-6, meat no clue ( I'm vegan) smokes-I'm guessing $5, propane $14 at Home Depot gas probably 3.20 a gallon. Grocery stores have discount cards for locals so it helps alot. Forget the pork chops and just go fish! If you watch for sales then food isn't as bad as you think. I lived in Guam for 3 years. Now that was bad. $8 for a cantelope with fruit flies swarming around it. LOL

But on the flip side of this....how much is your gas bill in your house, how much are your winter boots, gloves, fall clothes, shoes, etc. In Hawaii you wear the same clothes year round, live in rubber slippers ($4 at longs drug) (flip flops) have no gas bill and even as long as the trade winds are in then you can get by without an air conditioner running.

People care less about what your clothes look like and what kind of a car you are driving.

I posted a message in Kauai retirement. You might want to read that. Good luck!

[Sorcerer68]

I have a weekend house in South Kona (WAY down, Milolii Beach Lots) and we've been actually living in it for the last month prior to our leaving Hawaii this coming Wednesday (for good). Kealakekua Bay is a great place for snorkeling and Kayak. We just did the latter and huge Mana Ray kept swimming under our kayak. I like Kealakekua a lot, it's got a little elevation so it's cooler than down in Kailua. It's still got that funky coffee plantation town look, albeit somewhat gentrified. It's close into Kailua-Kona and the only drawbacks you get in the area are too much traffic for the one road and vog. If I was going to stay on the island, Kealakekua area would be a consideration.