What are the BEST Neighborhoods on the Kona Side of the Island...and Why? (Kailua: to rent, homes)

[kaileio]

We are moving to Kona June 1st, and we are wanting to rent for the first few months until we figure out where we want to settle permanently.

Which Neighborhoods do you love and can recommend, and why?

I would love to know such things as safety, proximity to the Beach, the climate, the neighbors, does the neighborhood have a community pool or recreation area. Is it gated or in a secluded area with great neighbors? How far are you from town and from Costco.

Are there any trade offs for living in the neighborhood that you love, like maybe far off the beach, but have wonderful views of the ocean, or have wonderfully large homes, but there is quite a bit of wind year round.

Any price range can be explored.

I would just like to know where you think the best, or nicest areas of the Kona side are.

Thank You in advance for your input!

[terracore]

The only place on the Kona side I would recommend is Captain Cook, and it's quite a drive from "Kona". There are other areas on that side of the island that are nice like Waimea, Hawi etc but they aren't really in commuting distance if thats what you need to do. But you are inquiring about something largely a personal preference. Most of Kona is dry and barren. The big island has a lot of ocean views but few beaches.

[mdand3boys]

Best?
What can you afford? Million dollar + home?
Ten million dollar + home?

[kaileio]

Originally Posted by mdand3boys

Best?
What can you afford? Million dollar + home?
Ten million dollar + home?

That is a good question, I am open to all possibilities on the Kona Side regardless of the price of the home. To be more specific, I would love a 4-6+ bedroom home with a pool or on the beach with 3000+ Square feet of living space and an equal sized lanai with either a 2nd private entrance or a separate Ohana.

I am sure I can find a suitable home wherever I look. I am really interested in knowing what neighborhoods all of you already on the Big Island would recommend, have seen or actually live in that you LOVE. I know that Kona is so diverse, and I am just looking for your experience!

terracore:
It is interesting that you say Captain Cook, as I have spent a lot of my time focused on that area, so maybe I am on the right track!

Commuting to Kona is not necessarily a concern, as we would probably only need to go a couple of times a week for shopping etc.

Thanks for your ideas so far!

[Ford Beebe]

Originally Posted by terracore

The only place on the Kona side I would recommend is Captain Cook, and it's quite a drive from "Kona". There are other areas on that side of the island that are nice like Waimea, Hawi etc but they aren't really in commuting distance if thats what you need to do. But you are inquiring about something largely a personal preference. Most of Kona is dry and barren. The big island has a lot of ocean views but few beaches.

I would argue most of Kona is green and lush, especially south of Makala.

[Ford Beebe]

Originally Posted by kaileio

That is a good question, I am open to all possibilities on the Kona Side regardless of the price of the home. To be more specific, I would love a 4-6+ bedroom home with a pool or on the beach with 3000+ Square feet of living space and an equal sized lanai with either a 2nd private entrance or a separate Ohana.

I am sure I can find a suitable home wherever I look. I am really interested in knowing what neighborhoods all of you already on the Big Island would recommend, have seen or actually live in that you LOVE. I know that Kona is so diverse, and I am just looking for your experience!

terracore:
It is interesting that you say Captain Cook, as I have spent a lot of my time focused on that area, so maybe I am on the right track!

Commuting to Kona is not necessarily a concern, as we would probably only need to go a couple of times a week for shopping etc.

Thanks for your ideas so far!

There are some nice neighborhoods mauka of the highway off of Lako, and in Keauhou.

[OpenD]

Originally Posted by terracore

Most of Kona is dry and barren.

Originally Posted by Ford Beebe

I would argue most of Kona is green and lush, especially south of Makala.

And I would argue that most of what you see as green and lush in Kona is the result of artificial watering.

Terracore is correct. Officially the rainfall in Kailua-Kona averages about 10 inches of rain a year, less than 1/3 of the average rainfall on the mainland, and less than 1/10 the rainfall on the Puna side. There is a ribbon along the coast, about mid-slope, which has historically caught somewhat more rain than the land mauka or makai, and this is where many of the Kona coffee plantations were planted. But they've been suffering in recent years as rainfalls have diminished, perhaps as a result of increased volcanic activity, and both the reduced quality of Kona coffee and the increased cost of its production have resulted from the need to increase irrigation.

If you want to dig into the subject factually, this is a fairly good site to start, the rainfall atlas from the University of Hawai'i at Manoa:

http://rainfall.geography.hawaii.edu/rainfall.html

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by OpenD

And I would argue that most of what you see as green and lush in Kona is the result of artificial watering.

Terracore is correct. Officially the rainfall in Kailua-Kona averages about 10 inches of rain a year, less than 1/3 of the average rainfall on the mainland, and less than 1/10 the rainfall on the Puna side.

+1 - you just have to land at the airport in Kona and you realize it is like landing on the moon. The lush areas are at the resorts on the Kona side where they water like crazy!

[Ford Beebe]

Actually, OpenD, there is a range of rainfall within Kona itself, and is based on rainfall totals that I have studied in the past.

It;s a bit absurd to suggest ALL the green is a result of artificial watering.

[Ford Beebe]

whtviper, the airport is 7 miles north of Kona and north of the Makala reference.