Where to live on Kona side (Kailua, Waimea: condo, hotels, travel)

[Ryan from DC]

My partner and I may be moving there for work. Not sure where I will be working, but he will be near Wiakoloa. We in our early 30's from DC, quazi urbanish. What are the areas to look at for younger people? No kids, so school system is not a problem. Looking for 'hipper' areas. Not so much yuppies run amok, but just kinda artsy, young profesionals. A place where people will get my "I heard it on NPR" shirt. I'm an interior designer and he's in the hospitalty business. He has a car and I have a scooter, of course when we move I will most prob get a car as well. I was thinking somwere between Kona and Wiakoloa, but there does not seem to be much there. We wanted to keep the commute to around 30-45 mins if possible?

[Dreaming of Hawaii]

Ryan, when's the last time you were in Kona? The only way to have a 30-45 minute commute is if you are walking across the street! Kona traffic is horrible all day long and impossible during rush hour. I don't know of any urban, hip areas on the Big Island, but you may want to look at Holualoa. It's a small community with lots of art galleries. Just be prepare for very high housing prices anywhere near Kona.

[Ryan from DC]

Yikes. Perhaps something outside of the Kona area, further up north? Re: Housing prices, DC is the same if not worse. 500K for 1 bd 1 ba condo around here, so we are prepared for that part.

[Ex Goldendale]

Try Waimea.

[ssxa]

Waikoloa is more affordable than either Kona or Waimea and with a fairly "young" database. Hotels are close as are the Kings shops etc. And yeah the Kona traffic is absolutely horrible. If you are in traffic on a weekday afternoon, to go from the airport to town can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour and that is only a couple miles. Don't even try to go past Kailua town and head south. It's twice as bad if not worse. Look at Waikoloa.

[cynmkolohe]

Waikoloa is a personal favorite as well. Access to great beaches in both directions when back on the Hwy. Makes the trip to Waimea easy, so you will probably head up there more often than if you were in Kona. Plenty inventory on the market right now, so prices have come down a bit...

[firecoach]

wow, traffic is that bad huh? I am moving to Kona area for 2 1/2 months and Kealekekua for 1 month.....is there a better time of day to travel, say early am?

[ssxa]

Kona traffic bottlenecks around 3pm until maybe 6 or 7pm or so. If you go to Kealakekua, the traffic is terrible during the same period, but because there is only one road it is compounded. I rarely travel there because of the traffic. Growing up I could get from Kailua to Captain Cook in about 20 minutes or so, during the heavy traffic periods nowadays it would take maybe an hour or more to go the 13 miles or so. A few years ago I could go from my house to Kailua town and back in a half hour, now to pick up my kids from Preschool and the sitter takes me on average a little more than an hour.
I try to travel either early but after school starts, say 9am or so, and get home by 3pm. After that, as a family to go shopping for food or to Walmart etc, we try to go after 7pm at least.

[firecoach]

Ok, so like most cities.....and freeways, etc. it is best to travel not during rush hours even in Kona! I will definately keep that in mind!!! Thx for the info! I guess staying put in Kona for dinner & shopping, etc...is also an idea between 3-7pm......any suggestions for awesome sunset views and a cocktail??

[ssxa]

Huggos on the rocks is nice, but I think for the most part a lot of the restaurants or bars on the ocean side in town have drop dead awesome sunsets and views. Kona Inn, Bubba Gumps, Hard Rock, etc.