The Kona Coast Resort Story
The Kona Coast Resort is unlike any other resort on the Big Island. It contains a mixture
of privately owned units (extremely large luxury condominiums) and many somewhat smaller
units (but still quite large!) which are sold as timeshares. Both timeshare owners and
full-time owners share equally in the extensive amenities available at this fine resort.
The Kona Coast Resort was built in the 1980s, originally as a "fee simple" luxury
condominium complex. Phase I, which comprises buildings #1 to #12, contained a variety of
1-Bed, 2-Bed, and 3-Bed units. Each luxury unit is exceptionally large and spacious and
comes with a garage! The 1-Bed units are 1100 sq. ft while the 2-Bed units are over 1500
sq ft! In addition, each unit has a huge lanai - over 340 sq ft! Recessed lighting,
extensive wood trim, and built-in microwave and thermal ovens are some of the features
which distinguish these units as luxury condominiums and set them apart from most other
condominium complexes in the Kona-Keauhou area.
After selling only 44 of these units (to 44 lucky owners!), the management decided to
convert the rest of the units to timeshares. In the late 1980s Phase II was completed
with the construction of 16 additional buildings, comprising 195 timeshare units. Phase
II units, while newer than Phase I units, are not nearly as large because they were
designed as timeshare units, not as fee simple luxury condominiums.
Vacation Rental Units at the Kona Coast Resort
Among the 44 privately owned units in Phase I, only about 20 units are offered as vacation
rentals. These units, located in buildings # 1 to #12, vary widely in quality and upkeep.
Also, as shown in the map above, the buildings in which these units are located are in
different parts of the resort, with different orientations and elevations, so they will
have different views from their lanais. Generally, preferred units are the units located
on the ends of each building. These units are called "end-units", and have an additional
set of windows along one of the exterior walls. This can be advantageous because the
extra windows facilitate the circulation of fresh air within the unit. Especially
preferred are the 2-bed end-units because they have exceptionally large windows lining the
exterior wall.
A note about 2-bed units: Some of the top floor 1-bed units at the Kona Coast Resort have
attics that the owner converted to a loft with a bedroom. This technically makes the unit
a 2-bed unit but the floor plan is different than that of a true 2-bed unit. In a true
2-bed unit all rooms are located on the same level - there are no stairs to contend with.
In addition, in all true 2-bed units the master bedroom is located directly adjacent to
the lanai. We believe this is a huge advantage and is the primary reason why we
purchased a true 2-bed unit rather than a 1-bed unit with a loft. In 1-bed units the
master bedroom is in the back of the unit, typically facing the parking lot, which is much
less pleasant than a master bedroom which fronts the lanai and is separated from the lanai
by an entire wall of full length glass windows and sliding doors!. In true 2-bed units,
like ours, guests can enjoy sleeping in the master bedroom with the glass sliding doors
completely open to the lanai, allowing the fresh Kona breezes to enter the bedroom the
entire night. And since our unit is an ocean view unit, one can even enjoy views of the
ocean directly from the master bedroom!
Views from the Lanais: Views from the lanais of each unit at this resort can also be
quite different. Since the entire resort is built on gently sloping land the buildings
furthest uphill naturally have the best ocean views from the lanai. In the map above this
means that units in buildings 1, 10, 11, and 12 have the best views since they have the
highest elevation and the lanais in these buildings directly face the ocean. In these
buildings the quality of the ocean view also depends on what floor the unit is located.
First floor units generally do not have good ocean views because much of the view will be
blocked by the buildings in front of them. All second floor units in buildings 1, 10, 11,
and 12 have good ocean views, while the third floor units have the best ocean views.
Because of these good ocean views more than 50% of the original privately owned units are
located in buildings #1, 10, 11, and 12. All units at the Kona Coast Resort are numbered
so you can tell what building they are in and what floor the are on. For example, our
2-bed unit is # 12-201, which means it is located in building #12, and is on the 2nd
floor. The remaining privately owned units, scattered throughout buildings # 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, and 8, offer mostly golf course, mountain, resort or garden views from their
lanais. Building #5 faces directly east and guests in the top floor units in this
building enjoy wonderful views of the sun rising over the 16th fairway of the Kona Country
Club golf course each morning. Our 1-Bed unit, unit 5-203 is a delightful top floor (2nd
floor) unit in building #5 with great golf course, mountain and sunrise views.
A note about top floor units and lofts: The lanais on the top floor units at the Kona
Coast Resort are more exposed to the sun compared with those on the 2nd or 1st floors.
Since the sun in Hawaii is so intense, and since heat rises, the top floor units
(especially 3rd floor units) will tend to be the most difficult to keep cool. This can be
a problem in the summer months. Several years ago in August friends of ours stayed in one
of the 3rd floor, 1-bed units (with finished loft), and even with the continuous use of
central AC the loft bedroom could not be cooled adequately, so their children had to sleep
in the living room instead. These top floor units, especially those in buildings 1, 10,
11, and 12 have very good ocean views, but with these views comes additional heat that can
be a problem in Hawaii. After vacationing in our 2-bed unit, a shaded 2nd floor end-unit
in building #12, for over 7 years, we now realize that we are very fortunate to own one of
the nicest, most comfortable units at the Kona Coast Resort. We enjoy good ocean views
and beautiful sunsets from our lanai, yet our unit is shaded, has many windows, and is
easy to keep cool.
Central AC: Many vacation rental condos in the Kona-Keauhou area do not have central AC.
We think this is a big mistake. The first thing we did after buying our 2-bed condo in
2002 was to have a high quality central AC unit installed. We did this out of concern for
our future guests. Even though our unit gets fantastic air circulation, there are still
days when the AC may be needed. Our new condo, unit 5-203, is shaded from direct
sunlight for most of the day, which allows it to stay cooler than most units at this
resort. However, it also comes with a high quality central AC unit, for days when the
Kona breezes aren't active.
Our advice to all visitors to the Kona-Keauhou area: Only rent condos that have central
AC. You may not always need to use it, but when the trade winds stop, many condos can
become uncomfortably hot without it. When renting 1-bed units with finished lofts central
AC will likely be needed in all but the coolest winter months. It's just not worth the
gamble to stay in a condo without central AC and risk ruining your vacation!
The Kona Coast Resort is unlike any other resort on the Big Island. It contains a mixture
of privately owned units (extremely large luxury condominiums) and many somewhat smaller
units (but still quite large!) which are sold as timeshares. Both timeshare owners and
full-time owners share equally in the extensive amenities available at this fine resort.
The Kona Coast Resort was built in the 1980s, originally as a "fee simple" luxury
condominium complex. Phase I, which comprises buildings #1 to #12, contained a variety of
1-Bed, 2-Bed, and 3-Bed units. Each luxury unit is exceptionally large and spacious and
comes with a garage! The 1-Bed units are 1100 sq. ft while the 2-Bed units are over 1500
sq ft! In addition, each unit has a huge lanai - over 340 sq ft! Recessed lighting,
extensive wood trim, and built-in microwave and thermal ovens are some of the features
which distinguish these units as luxury condominiums and set them apart from most other
condominium complexes in the Kona-Keauhou area.
After selling only 44 of these units (to 44 lucky owners!), the management decided to
convert the rest of the units to timeshares. In the late 1980s Phase II was completed
with the construction of 16 additional buildings, comprising 195 timeshare units. Phase
II units, while newer than Phase I units, are not nearly as large because they were
designed as timeshare units, not as fee simple luxury condominiums.
Vacation Rental Units at the Kona Coast Resort
Among the 44 privately owned units in Phase I, only about 20 units are offered as vacation
rentals. These units, located in buildings # 1 to #12, vary widely in quality and upkeep.
Also, as shown in the map above, the buildings in which these units are located are in
different parts of the resort, with different orientations and elevations, so they will
have different views from their lanais. Generally, preferred units are the units located
on the ends of each building. These units are called "end-units", and have an additional
set of windows along one of the exterior walls. This can be advantageous because the
extra windows facilitate the circulation of fresh air within the unit. Especially
preferred are the 2-bed end-units because they have exceptionally large windows lining the
exterior wall.
A note about 2-bed units: Some of the top floor 1-bed units at the Kona Coast Resort have
attics that the owner converted to a loft with a bedroom. This technically makes the unit
a 2-bed unit but the floor plan is different than that of a true 2-bed unit. In a true
2-bed unit all rooms are located on the same level - there are no stairs to contend with.
In addition, in all true 2-bed units the master bedroom is located directly adjacent to
the lanai. We believe this is a huge advantage and is the primary reason why we
purchased a true 2-bed unit rather than a 1-bed unit with a loft. In 1-bed units the
master bedroom is in the back of the unit, typically facing the parking lot, which is much
less pleasant than a master bedroom which fronts the lanai and is separated from the lanai
by an entire wall of full length glass windows and sliding doors!. In true 2-bed units,
like ours, guests can enjoy sleeping in the master bedroom with the glass sliding doors
completely open to the lanai, allowing the fresh Kona breezes to enter the bedroom the
entire night. And since our unit is an ocean view unit, one can even enjoy views of the
ocean directly from the master bedroom!
Views from the Lanais: Views from the lanais of each unit at this resort can also be
quite different. Since the entire resort is built on gently sloping land the buildings
furthest uphill naturally have the best ocean views from the lanai. In the map above this
means that units in buildings 1, 10, 11, and 12 have the best views since they have the
highest elevation and the lanais in these buildings directly face the ocean. In these
buildings the quality of the ocean view also depends on what floor the unit is located.
First floor units generally do not have good ocean views because much of the view will be
blocked by the buildings in front of them. All second floor units in buildings 1, 10, 11,
and 12 have good ocean views, while the third floor units have the best ocean views.
Because of these good ocean views more than 50% of the original privately owned units are
located in buildings #1, 10, 11, and 12. All units at the Kona Coast Resort are numbered
so you can tell what building they are in and what floor the are on. For example, our
2-bed unit is # 12-201, which means it is located in building #12, and is on the 2nd
floor. The remaining privately owned units, scattered throughout buildings # 2, 3, 4, 5,
6, 7, and 8, offer mostly golf course, mountain, resort or garden views from their
lanais. Building #5 faces directly east and guests in the top floor units in this
building enjoy wonderful views of the sun rising over the 16th fairway of the Kona Country
Club golf course each morning. Our 1-Bed unit, unit 5-203 is a delightful top floor (2nd
floor) unit in building #5 with great golf course, mountain and sunrise views.
A note about top floor units and lofts: The lanais on the top floor units at the Kona
Coast Resort are more exposed to the sun compared with those on the 2nd or 1st floors.
Since the sun in Hawaii is so intense, and since heat rises, the top floor units
(especially 3rd floor units) will tend to be the most difficult to keep cool. This can be
a problem in the summer months. Several years ago in August friends of ours stayed in one
of the 3rd floor, 1-bed units (with finished loft), and even with the continuous use of
central AC the loft bedroom could not be cooled adequately, so their children had to sleep
in the living room instead. These top floor units, especially those in buildings 1, 10,
11, and 12 have very good ocean views, but with these views comes additional heat that can
be a problem in Hawaii. After vacationing in our 2-bed unit, a shaded 2nd floor end-unit
in building #12, for over 7 years, we now realize that we are very fortunate to own one of
the nicest, most comfortable units at the Kona Coast Resort. We enjoy good ocean views
and beautiful sunsets from our lanai, yet our unit is shaded, has many windows, and is
easy to keep cool.
Central AC: Many vacation rental condos in the Kona-Keauhou area do not have central AC.
We think this is a big mistake. The first thing we did after buying our 2-bed condo in
2002 was to have a high quality central AC unit installed. We did this out of concern for
our future guests. Even though our unit gets fantastic air circulation, there are still
days when the AC may be needed. Our new condo, unit 5-203, is shaded from direct
sunlight for most of the day, which allows it to stay cooler than most units at this
resort. However, it also comes with a high quality central AC unit, for days when the
Kona breezes aren't active.
Our advice to all visitors to the Kona-Keauhou area: Only rent condos that have central
AC. You may not always need to use it, but when the trade winds stop, many condos can
become uncomfortably hot without it. When renting 1-bed units with finished lofts central
AC will likely be needed in all but the coolest winter months. It's just not worth the
gamble to stay in a condo without central AC and risk ruining your vacation!
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| The Kona Coast Resort - Resort Map |
Entrance to Kona Coast Resort
