Kailua Kona — Condominiums
Kohala & Kona Coast
Walkable oceanfront condo living on Hawaii Island’s sunny Kona Coast
Kailua-Kona is the Big Island’s west-side resort town and the epicenter of its condominium market, stretching roughly four miles along historic Alii Drive from the pier at Kailua Bay south through Keauhou. The coastline is lined with low-rise, oceanfront condo complexes built largely between the 1970s and 1990s, offering everything from studio lock-offs to three-bedroom penthouse units. Buyers come for the dry, sunny climate (Kona averages 270-plus sunny days per year), the walkable village, and some of the most attainable oceanfront price points in all of Hawaii.
The condo inventory here is unusually diverse for a Hawaiian town its size. Shoppers can choose between direct-oceanfront high-rises such as Kona By The Sea and Kona Reef, mid-size garden complexes like Casa De Emdeko and Alii Villas, and larger resort-style developments including Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club and Kanaloa at Kona. Many complexes permit legal short-term vacation rentals, making Kailua-Kona one of Hawaii’s most active second-home and investor condo markets heading into 2026.
Market Snapshot
Kailua Kona — Condominiums — 2026
Median Price
$725,000
Price Range
$375,000 – $3.5M+
Price / Sq Ft
$850 – $1,400
Avg Days on Market
75 days
YoY Change
-2% to flat
Inventory Trend
Rising — condo inventory up notably year-over-year
Property Types
Oceanfront low-rise and mid-rise complexes, garden-style condos, resort-zoned townhome units, and a limited number of oceanfront penthouses
Based on 2025–2026 Hawaii Information Service (HIS) MLS data for Kailua-Kona / North Kona
Lifestyle
What it's like to live in Kailua Kona — Condominiums
Dining
- Huggo’s — longtime oceanfront restaurant on the rocks serving fresh Kona-caught fish and steaks with live music at sunset
- Kona Inn Restaurant — open-air dining on the historic Kona Inn lawn, arguably the best sunset view in town over Kailua Bay
- Daylight Mind Coffee Company — oceanfront third-wave Kona coffee roaster and all-day cafe right on Alii Drive
- Umeke’s Fish Market Bar & Grill — locals’ favorite for award-winning poke bowls and fresh ahi plates near the pier
Outdoors
- Kamakahonu Beach — calm keiki-friendly swimming cove right at the Kailua Pier
- Magic Sands (La‘aloa) Beach — small white-sand beach with bodyboarding and sunset views off Alii Drive
- Kahalu‘u Beach Park — the island’s most accessible snorkeling spot, famed for green sea turtles
- Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area — walking paths, tidepools, and tennis courts on a former runway
Culture & Heritage
- Hulihe‘e Palace — restored 1838 royal vacation home and museum on Alii Drive
- Moku‘aikaua Church — Hawaii’s first Christian church (1820), a town landmark
- Kailua Village Farmers Market and the annual Kona Coffee Cultural Festival
Schools
- Kahakai Elementary School
- Kealakehe Intermediate School
- Kealakehe High School
- Hawaii Preparatory Academy (private, nearby Waimea)
Shopping & Transit
Walkable boutique shopping along Alii Drive and at Coconut Grove Marketplace, plus big-box and grocery options at Crossroads and Kona Commons a few minutes uphill.
Alii Drive village is highly walkable end-to-end, and Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport (KOA) is about 10–15 minutes north by car.
Housing Stock
What you can buy in Kailua Kona — Condominiums
Kailua-Kona’s condo stock is dominated by oceanfront and ocean-view complexes of roughly 40 to 200 units, most built between 1970 and 1995. Best-known names include Casa De Emdeko, Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, Alii Villas, Sea Village, Kona Bali Kai, Kanaloa at Kona, and Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club. Floor plans run from compact studios under 500 sq ft to true three-bedroom oceanfront townhouse units exceeding 1,800 sq ft.
Entry Point
Entry-level pricing starts around $375,000–$500,000 and typically buys a renovated 1-bedroom or studio with ocean or partial-ocean views in a mid-sized complex such as Casa De Emdeko, Kona Reef, or Sea Village, often with legal vacation-rental zoning.
Luxury Tier
Luxury Kailua-Kona condos run from roughly $1.5M to $3.5M+ and deliver direct-oceanfront 2–3 bedroom units and rare top-floor penthouses at buildings like Kona By The Sea, Alii Cove, Kanaloa at Kona, and Keauhou Resort, with whitewater views, lanais over the surf, and full resort amenities.
Typical buyer: Kailua-Kona condos attract mainland second-home buyers, vacation-rental investors drawn to the legal STR zoning, and retirees trading stairs for single-level oceanfront living. The market also serves snowbirds from the Pacific Northwest and California who split time between Kona and home and want a lock-and-leave unit within walking distance of restaurants and the pier.
Your guide to Kailua Kona — Condominiums
Explore Kailua Kona — Condominiums with Kai & Emil
Kai Ioh and Emil Knysh have represented buyers and sellers across every corner of the Big Island since 2018 — ranked top 1.5% nationwide by Wall Street Journal Real Trends.
Nearby Areas
Explore the rest of the coast
Kailua Kona Single Family Homes
Hillside and oceanfront houses in Kailua-Kona proper, from Holualoa coffee country down to Keauhou.
View Area →Oceanfront
Curated selection of direct-oceanfront homes and condos across the Big Island’s Kona and Kohala coasts.
View Area →Waikoloa Beach Resort
Master-planned Kohala Coast resort with two golf courses, Anaeho‘omalu Bay, and full-amenity condo communities.
View Area →Mauna Lani Resort
Premier Kohala Coast luxury resort with Auberge hotel, championship golf, and high-end oceanfront condos.
View Area →
Frequently Asked
Kailua Kona — Condominiums — questions we hear
- What do Kailua-Kona condos cost in 2026?
- Kailua-Kona condos in 2026 range from roughly $375,000 for an entry-level studio or renovated 1-bedroom in a mid-range complex up to $3.5M+ for direct-oceanfront penthouses at buildings like Kona By The Sea or Kanaloa at Kona. The median sits near $725,000, and prices have been essentially flat to slightly down year-over-year as inventory has rebuilt after the 2021–2023 spike.
- Can I rent my Kailua-Kona condo short-term?
- Yes, in many complexes. Kailua-Kona is one of the most STR-friendly markets in Hawaii because large portions of Alii Drive sit in resort or V (vacation) zoning that pre-dates Hawaii County’s stricter STR rules. Complexes such as Casa De Emdeko, Kona Reef, Kona By The Sea, Sea Village, Kona Bali Kai, and Kanaloa at Kona typically permit legal vacation rentals, but always confirm current county STR registration and individual HOA rules before purchasing.
- Which Kailua-Kona condos are oceanfront?
- True direct-oceanfront complexes along Alii Drive include Kona By The Sea, Kona Reef, Casa De Emdeko, Alii Villas, Sea Village, Kona Bali Kai, Kona Makai, Kona Magic Sands, and White Sands Village. In Keauhou at the south end, Kanaloa at Kona and Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club sit on dramatic lava-rock oceanfront with tidepools and whale-watching lanais.
- What are HOA fees like for Kailua-Kona condos?
- HOA (AOAO) fees in Kailua-Kona typically run from about $700 to $1,400 per month, depending on unit size, building age, and amenities. Fees usually cover exterior insurance (including hurricane), water and sewer, common-area landscaping, pool and hot tub maintenance, and often basic cable. Oceanfront buildings and older complexes facing salt-air maintenance and reserve catch-ups tend to sit at the higher end of the range.
- Is Alii Drive walkable?
- Very. The four-mile stretch of Alii Drive from Kailua Pier south through Magic Sands is one of the most walkable corridors in Hawaii, with continuous sidewalks, a dedicated oceanfront path in the village core, and restaurants, coffee shops, beaches, and farmers markets clustered end-to-end. Most village-area condos are a 5–15 minute walk to dining, the pier, and Kamakahonu Beach.
- What’s the best Kailua-Kona condo for an investor vs. a retiree?
- Investors typically target smaller, fully-furnished vacation-rental-zoned units at complexes like Kona Reef, Casa De Emdeko, Sea Village, or Kona Bali Kai, where nightly rates and occupancy are strongest. Retirees more often choose quieter, low-density complexes with fewer nightly renters — Alii Cove, Alii Villas long-term sections, Kona By The Sea upper floors, or Keauhou properties — prioritizing single-level layouts, elevators, and covered parking.
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