Alli Cove Condos (Kailua: rentals, HOA fees, landscaping)

[mommyofmanykids]

Any thoughts on possibly living in this community? Is it noisy? Convenient? Which schools? Is the beach (Hon'l) decent for kids? Are the association fees high?

[CyberCity]

Check with the Alii Cove resident manager or association president for info on schools, fees, nearby "safe for children" beaches, etc.

Many may not realize that today’s Bodyboard was created in Kailua-Kona, at Wai‘aha, a place commonly referred to as “Honl’s” (after the name of the family that used to live there.) Wai‘aha (“Gathering Water,”) a little strip of white sand beach, just on the outskirts of Kailua Village, is now a County Beach Park. It is a popular surf spot, especially with bodyboarders.....In 2006, the Hawai‘i County acquired the property fronting the beach and it is now part of the County beach park system. Parking for users is also mauka of Ali‘i Drive and was provided by a developer as a condition of a rezoning.

Here are pictures (with comments) of Honl's Beach Park.

And this.

I've never been swimming there, but I've heard it is rocky and can havestrong currents.

[mommyofmanykids]

Thank you Doesn't seem like a good beach for kids

[trailtramp]

Anybody here live in Alii Cove now? Curious as to what the monthly HOA fees are now. We sold almost 5 years ago and it seemed like they were skyrocketing higher.

Thinking of buying again but seems like many of the developments have really had steep HOA increases.

[willowkim]

Gorgeous complex with a lovely saltwater pool. Right on Alii, so there is some road noise, but it depends how far up the unit is that you live in. We came this close to renting there... a beautiful 2BD ground floor unit with a small yard. Granite counters, super clean, wonderful landscaping.

Then I had a total stranger come up to me while I was shopping at Ross with a friend and talking about how I hoped we got approved for this great condo at Alii Cove. She saw my daughter and told me point blank, "You don't want to live there with kids. We have been there 4 years and are trying to sell and get out." She had older kids, 9 and 11 I think, and told me the population there was 90% or more retirees who want peace and quiet all the time. She had issues with complaints about her kids even if they rode their bikes out in back of the condo, when they went to the pool... everywhere.

I spoke directly to the manager of the complex about it. He hemmed and hawed a bit, obviously not wanting to put off a prospective renter, and told me that there were more families than 3-4 years ago. But it was pretty clear that is wasn't a family-oriented complex.

Alii Lani is by far the most family-friendly complex that we looked at, and Kona Surf & Racquet is friendly too (but not many long term rentals there). Alii Lani is more tightly packed though, smaller units and tighter parking. But we met a nice family in the 10 minutes we sat at the pool talking over the rental unit we saw there. It definitely has the more budget-friendly rentals as well.

I have a friend who lives at Kona Sea Ridge and has had people give her grief when her 4-year-old gets too excited at the pool. It really bothers me as a parent that retirees think they "own" these complexes and they have a some kind of right to not be "bothered" by children. It's so selfish.

[CyberCity]

Originally Posted by willowkim

I have a friend who lives at Kona Sea Ridge and has had people give her grief when her 4-year-old gets too excited at the pool. It really bothers me as a parent that retirees think they "own" these complexes and they have a some kind of right to not be "bothered" by children. It's so selfish.

Another example of why to not rent/buy sight unseen, because the make up of the residents is important.

While retirees and everyone else have the right to seek quiet should that be their desire, if they live in a condo then the rules will dictate just how quiet (or not) it is. Being knowledgeable about the rules before renting/buying is important, both for those who want quiet, as well as those who have happy noisy playing children.

I've found it more of a problem of "owners" vs "short term renters" that causes conflict, not so much an age thing.

[mommyofmanykids]

Great to know, thank you Willow Kim!

[mommyofmanykids]

Anyone have any comments about Alii Park Place, Na Hale O Keauhou, or the Kaulana at Kona complexes?

[mommyofmanykids]

(I noticed they all had seemingly nice units available in the $1,200-2,000 per month range - for a 3 bedroom.)

[Shorty1952]

If you can get a 3-bedroom at Na Hale O Keauhou for $2000 per month, go for it. On VRBO, the going rate for a 3-bedroom at that complex is $1200-$2000 PER WEEK.