Kona Makai Condos for Sale

Kona Makai is a specific oceanfront condominium complex on Ali‘i Drive in Kailua-Kona, situated along the historic four-mile resort condo corridor between Kailua Bay and Keauhou. The complex consists of low-rise oceanfront units with direct sunset exposure, a saltwater pool, BBQ areas, and the walkable Ali‘i Drive village character that distinguishes Kailua-Kona condo ownership from gated resort condo product on the Kohala Coast. Kona Makai is one of several established oceanfront complexes in this corridor, alongside Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, Casa De Emdeko, Alii Villas, Kanaloa at Kona, and Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club.

Kona Makai Market Snapshot

The 2026 Kona Makai condo market trades at a median sale price near $725K, with one-bedroom oceanfront units typically $500K–$750K and larger two-bedroom layouts reaching $800K–$1.2M per Hawaii Information Service MLS data as of May 2026.

Kona Makai inventory typically turns at 45–90 days on market when priced to recent comps. Pricing depends heavily on floor, view orientation, and renovation level — units with direct oceanfront views and recent interior updates command meaningful premiums over inland-facing or original-finish inventory. Short-term rental performance is strong for the complex as a whole, supported by the walkable Ali‘i Drive village location and direct oceanfront views.

A Brief History of Kona Makai

Kona Makai was developed in the 1970s–80s era of Ali‘i Drive condo construction, when much of the four-mile oceanfront corridor between Kailua Bay and Keauhou was built out as resort-zoned condominium product. The original development era produced a series of similar low-rise oceanfront complexes — Kona Makai, Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, Casa De Emdeko, Alii Villas — that together define what most buyers picture when they think of Kailua-Kona condo ownership. Most complexes including Kona Makai have undergone multiple rounds of common-area renovation since original construction.

What Schools Serve Kona Makai

Kona Makai sits within the Kealakehe complex of the Hawaii Department of Education, with public assignment to Kealakehe Elementary, Kealakehe Intermediate, and Kealakehe High in Kailua-Kona (Hawaii DOE, 2025–2026).

Most Kona Makai owners use units as second homes or short-term rental properties rather than full-time residences, so school assignment is less commonly a primary buyer factor than for single-family neighborhoods.

Neighborhood Character and Daily Life

Daily life around Kona Makai is structured around walkable Ali‘i Drive — the Kailua Village restaurants, Hulihe‘e Palace, Mokuaikaua Church, the pier, and the Sunday farmers market are all within a 10–15 minute walk.

What stands out about Kona Makai compared with Kohala Coast resort condos is the walkability and the historic Kona village context. Owners can walk to dinner at Kona Inn or Huggo’s, browse Ali‘i Drive shopping, snorkel at Kahalu‘u Beach Park nearby, and engage with the historic Kailua-Kona town fabric — none of which is available at the gated, car-dependent Kohala Coast resort condos. The trade-off is a smaller amenity program at the complex level (no resort hotel, no golf course on-site, no club membership), which means lower HOA fees but also more limited shared amenities.

Architecture and the Built Environment

Kona Makai units typically run 600–1,200 square feet for one-bedroom layouts and 900–1,400 square feet for two-bedroom layouts. The complex’s 1970s–80s original construction has been substantially updated through unit-level renovation programs over the decades; recently renovated units feature contemporary kitchens, walk-in showers, and modern finishes. Architecture is straightforward low-rise contemporary Hawaiian — open lanais oriented to sunset, salt-air-resistant material palettes, and shared building systems consistent with the original development era.

Where Kona Makai Sits

Kona Makai sits at approximately 19.6125° N, 155.9747° W on Hawaii Island. The map below centers on the community.

Commute and Connectivity

Kona Makai sits about 15 minutes south of Kona International Airport (KOA) via Ali‘i Drive and Kuakini Highway. Kailua-Kona village is a 10–15 minute walk along the oceanfront sidewalk. The Kahalu‘u Beach corridor for snorkeling is 5 minutes south by car. Keauhou Shopping Center is 10 minutes south for everyday provisioning beyond the Kailua Village core.

Adjacent Communities

Kona Makai sits in the Ali‘i Drive condo corridor of Kailua-Kona alongside Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, Casa De Emdeko, Alii Villas, and other established 1970s–80s oceanfront complexes. The broader Keauhou resort and residential community sits 5 miles south. Comparable resort condo product on the Kohala Coast lives at Mauna Lani and Waikoloa Beach Resort.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do Kona Makai condos cost in 2026?

The 2026 Kona Makai median sale price runs near $725K, with one-bedroom oceanfront units typically $500K–$750K and larger two-bedroom layouts reaching $800K–$1.2M per Hawaii Information Service MLS data as of May 2026. Pricing varies meaningfully by floor, view orientation, and renovation level.

Can I short-term rent at Kona Makai?

Yes — Kona Makai and the broader Ali‘i Drive oceanfront condo corridor are zoned to permit short-term vacation rentals under Hawaii County resort code, and most units in the complex operate as vacation rentals or have STR eligibility. Verify current HOA rental program rules and Hawaii County permitting per unit during due diligence.

How does Kona Makai compare to Kona By The Sea and Kona Reef?

All three are established 1970s–80s oceanfront condo complexes on Ali‘i Drive with similar walkable village context. The complexes differ on unit count, amenity scale, HOA fee level, and renovation history. Direct unit-by-unit comparison usually comes down to floor, view orientation, recent finish quality, and specific HOA fee per square foot — request a comparable analysis during due diligence.

What HOA fees apply at Kona Makai?

Kona Makai HOA fees typically cover building exterior, pool and common-area maintenance, master insurance, landscaping, and shared utilities. The complex’s oceanfront exposure adds to master insurance and salt-air maintenance reserves. Exact fee levels should be requested per unit and modeled into total carry alongside property taxes and any rental management fees.

Is Kona Makai a good rental investment?

Kona Makai’s walkable Ali‘i Drive location, oceanfront views, and direct sunset exposure produce strong rental demand. Actual yield depends on unit finish quality, view orientation, management approach, and seasonality. Buyers focused on rental income should request specific historical performance data per unit during due diligence and model HOA fees, management fees, and Hawaii County transient accommodations tax into net yield calculations.

Talk to KE Team Hawaii About Kona Makai

KE Team Hawaii — Kai Ioh and Emil Knysh of Compass — represents buyers and sellers at Kona Makai and across the Ali‘i Drive oceanfront condo corridor. Reach out for unit-level rental performance comparisons and side-by-side analysis across Kona Makai, Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, and similar complexes. Start a conversation or browse live featured properties.