Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kailua-Kona is a census-designated place located in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, in the North Kona District of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It is the center of commerce and of the tourist industry on West Hawaiʻi. It is famous in the sports world as the site of the Hawaiʻi Ironman Triathlon and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. The town's post office is designated Kailua-Kona to differentiate it from the larger, Kailua located on windward Oʻahu, although it is referred to as "Kona" in everyday speech. Many place names in the Hawaiian Islands are repeated on several islands, but the two Kailuas are the only confusing conflict in this regard. The city is served by Kona International Airport. Kailua-Kona was the closest major settlement to the epicenter of the 2006 Hawaiʻi Earthquake.

Kailua-Kona Bay, Jan. 2007

History

Kailua-Kona was established by King Kamehameha I to be his seat of government (he originally was the chief of Kona, before unifying more and more of the archipelago under his rule), and the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. (The capital was later moved to Lāhainā, then, to Honolulu.) Royal fishponds at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park were the hub of unified Hawaiian culture. The town then functioned as a retreat of the Hawaiian royal family. Up until the late 1900’s, Kailua-Kona was primary a small fishing village.^[1] More recently, this region has undergone a real estate and construction boom fueled by tourism and investment.

Geography

Kailua-Kona is located at 19°38'60" North, 155°59'39" West (19.649973, -155.994028)¹, along the shoreline of Kailua Bay and up the southern slope of Hualālai volcano. There are no major rivers or streams in Kailua-Kona or on the Kona side of Hawaii.^[2]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 103.0 km² (39.8 mi²). 91.9 km² (35.5 mi²) of it is land and 11.0 km² (4.3 mi²) of it is water. The total area is 10.71% water.

The Kailua-Kona postal code is 96740. Other communities located in this zip code include: Kalaoa, Kealakehe, Kahaluʻu, and Keauhou.

Climate

The coldest month in Kona is February and the average high in February is 80 F while the average low is 64 F. August is the warmest month and the average high is 87 F while the average low is 69 F. Humidity is between 50% and 80%. The temperature change between night and day is greater than the temperature change between winter and summer. Mornings are typically clear while thermal clouds created in the day raises the temperature during the day.^[3]

Vog can cover parts of the Kona coast from time to time depending on the activity of the Kilauea and the island winds. Kailua-Kona is located in the lee of the Hualalai Volcano sheltering the town from wind and rain.^[4]

Demographics

As of the census² of 2000, there were 9,870 people, 3,537 households, and 2,429 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 107.3/km² (278.0/mi²). There were 4,322 housing units at an average density of 47.0/km² (121.7/mi²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 38.65% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 18.28% Asian, 13.16% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 27.07% from two or more races. 10.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,537 households out of which 35.0% have children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.26.

In the CDP the population was spread out with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the CDP was $40,874, and the median income for a family was $46,657. Males had a median income of $30,353 versus $26,471 for females. The per capita income for the CDP was $20,624. 10.8% of the population and 6.5% of families were below the poverty line. Out of the total population, 11.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Points of interest

• Sadie Seymour Botanical Gardens
• Huliheʻe Palace. The residence of members of the Hawaiian royal family until 1914.
• Mokuaikaua Church, Hawaiʻi's first Christian church built in 1820.
• Kona Brewing Company, a microbrewery in town
• Kona Hawaii Temple, Hawaii's 2nd Temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon)
• Historic Kona Inn [1].
• Ahuʻena Heiau
• Kamakahonu Beach
• Kahaluʻu Beach Park
• White Sands Beach
• St. Peter’s Catholic Church, commonly known as the "Little Blue Church".
• Aliʻi Drive, Kailua-Kona’s oceanfront downtown street starting at Kailua Pier.

Gallery

Oceanfront south of Huliheʻe Palace.	Typical Kona coast.	Kamakahonu Beach and Kailua Pier.	Ahuʻena Heiau, sacred ground.
Aliʻi Drive outside Huliheʻe Palace.	Oceanfront side of Huliheʻe Palace.	Huliheʻe Palace sign, typical of all historical landmark signs in Hawaiʻi.	Mokuaikaua Church.
Little Blue Church.	Recent Development on Aliʻi Drive.

References

External links

Coordinates: 19.649973° N 155.994028° W

Municipalities and communities of Hawaii County, Hawaii
County seat: Hilo
Census-designated places	Ainaloa | Captain Cook | Eden Roc | Fern Acres | Fern Forest | Halaʻula | Hawaiian Acres | Hawaiian Beaches | Hawaiian Ocean View | Hawaiian Paradise Park | Hāwī | Hilo | Hōlualoa | Honalo | Hōnaunau-Nāpoʻopoʻo | Honokaʻa | Honomū | Kahaluʻu-Keauhou | Kailua-Kona | Kalaoa | Kapaʻau | Keaʻau | Kealakekua | Kukuihaele | Kurtistown | Laupāhoehoe | Leilani Estates | Mountain View | Nāʻālehu | Nānāwale Estates | Orchidlands Estates | Paʻauilo | Pāhala | Pāhoa | Pāpaʻikou | Pepeʻekeo | Paukaʻa | Puakō | Volcano | Waikoloa Village | Waimea | Wainaku
Unincorporated towns	Ahualoa | Hakalau | Keokea | Waiohinu

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