Kailua Kona Real Estate Blog

Best Places to Live on the Big Island – Westside of the

Island of Hawaii

They don’t call it the Big Island for nothing.  We have over 300 miles of shoreline on the Island and all the other Hawaiian islands combined can fit in the area of the Big Island.

 I am going to be talking about what I think are the 4 best places to live on the westside of the Big Island  

 With the Island being so large, where do you start? How do you find the right community? How do you know it will be right for you and your family? Where are the doctors and vetenarieans? Where are the hospitals? Are the schools good?

 What are your must haves? Can I afford to buy a home?  These, are all things to consider seriously

 The West side of the Big Island also known as the Kona side It is considered the dry side of the island because it does not rain as often as the Hilo side of the island and is more trendy

.  Another reason why it is so popular is because of the white sand beaches, golf, shopping and dining experiences.

It is by far the most popular side of the Big Island since it is home to some world renown resorts like the Four Seasons at Hualailai and the Auberge at Mauna Lani. When choosing where to relocate on the Westside, there are four main towns to consider.

 Kona

There are plenty of opportunities when looking for a small town life with a Hawaiian feel in Kona. Kailua Kona is the main town on the West side of the Island, also known as Kona town. Roughly there are about 20,000 people that call this area home. Kona sits on the mountain side of Hualalai and you will find  plenty of natural diversity because of the elevation, location and weather patterns.

Besides Kona itself, one of my favorite communities is Holualoa. A peaceful and tranquil small town that is home to loads of coffee farms, art galleries and coffee shops. The annual Kona Coffee festival takes place here in the fall each year.  Being situated about 1500 feet above sea level, this small town has outstanding panoramic views of the ocean, not to mention a little cooler climate

 A few favorite communities in the area are,

1.     Kona Vistas, which  is centrally located with an elevation between 400-800 feet. Residences enjoy stunning ocean views, community tennis and pavilion for hosting private events, a convenient location within 3 miles of downtown Kona and 20 minutes to the airport

Looking for more of a custom home or gated community. Well places like Hokulia and Keauhou Estates offer the best custom-built homes with sweeping views of the coastline. Many with private swimming pools, large living spaces and oversized lanai’s  Not to mention, Hokulia is a private golfing community with an Jack Nicklaus signature 18 hole golf course to enjoy.

Waikoloa & Waikoloa Village

The Waikoloa Village area is centrally located on the westside of the island and is close to just about everything.   You are within a 20 to 30 minute drive up and down the coast to most all the popular beaches, shopping and restaurants. The Village is a small community with several restaurants, shops, gas stations and continues to grow commercially.  The composition of the community is mostly single family homes and condominiums.  The Village offers a community center and swimming pool for everyone living there to enjoy plus an 18 hole golf course.

It is a very dry area of the island and it does get a significant amount of wind year round.   Yes this place can be quite breezy, but the winds keep the air clear and cools your home.  With the winds, you also get dust, so you need to keep that in mind.

 Now the Wailkoloa Beach Resort area is situated on the coastline only 6 miles from Waikoloa Village and offers mostly condominium and townhome living.   Since there are two resort hotels within the community, it is primarily occupied by tourist.

If you like resort style living this could be a great place for you, since it offers 2 golf courses, loads of restaurants and shops in 2 different plazas, beach access within walking distance, and did I say some great petroglyphs to explore. 

My favorite place to eat is the Lava Lava beach club in the Waikoloa Beach Resort because the food is out-standing and you are right on the beach with your dining experience.

Even with their remoteness, these towns have some of the most relaxed feelings on the Island. It is about enjoying the laidback life and nature around you.

Waimea

Located inland and at an elevation of about 2,600 feet above sea level,  Waimea is a bustling town filled with grocery stores, lots of great restaurants, art galleries, local gift stores, and much more.

Recognized for its rolling green hills, Waimea is a nature-lovers paradise, but year-round residents and vacationers can also enjoy the multitude of shops the community has to offer. . While Waimea is located inland, close to the private, luxury communities like  Kohala by the Sea and Kamuela, it is but a short drive away to some of the most beautiful beach spots the island has to offer. 

Waimea has two parts a wet side and a dry side.  The dry side boast ocean and sunset views and the wet side get a sizable amount of rain, 65 inches per year on average and can get a bit chilly in Waimea based upon the elevation, winds along with the rain.

Waimea s about 50 minutes to Kona, 20 minutes to beaches, 45 minutes to Hilo and has some world class restaurants in town like Merriman’s and the Fish and the Hog.

Waimea is also home to the world famous Parker Ranch

 Rounding out my 4 best places to live on the westside of the island of Hawaii is Captain Cook.

Captain Cook is known for its lush greenery and stunning ocean views, Captain Cook is a small town located about 15 miles south of Kona. As a historic community, there are many landmarks in the area, for it was named after the first European explorer—Captain James Cook—who was killed here shortly after his arrival.  Captain Cook attracts many for its great location and gorgeous, hilly properties that overlook the ocean, not to mention Captain Cook is about 1200 feet above sea level and enjoy cool tropical breezes year round along with some tranquil daily rains.

 Those searching for a Big Island home that encompasses privacy and tranquility should look to Captain Cook.  My favorite community is Kona Paradise and views from these homes are spectacular.   If you are considering Captain Cook as a option to reside, keep in mind most homes are on catchment water and there are very few condominiums here to purchase.

Hope this information was helpful in assistance you with a snap shot of my 5 best places to live on the westside of the Big Island.   There are others, however these are most affordable