Na Hale O Keauhou Resort and Kona

Hi,

My fiance and I are heading to Kona on Oct 6th! He is competing in the Ironman on the 13th and we are getting married on the 16th while we are there. We are renting a condo at Na Hale O Keauhou and we were just wondering if it is necessary to rent a car or if we would be ok with just walking to our destinations. We are unsure of just how far everything is? Does anyone know if we are within walking distance to restaurants, shops, grocery stores, etc?

Also...does anyone have a recommendation as to where we should go for our after wedding meal. We will have about 16 people. We would like to stay in Kona to eat...somewhere on the water!

Thanks!

Na Hale O Keauhou Resort and Kona

Aloha,

Na Hale O%26#39;Keauhou is 5.5 miles south of Kona on Alii Dri in Keauhou. You are within walking distance of the Keauhou Shopping center and its stores/restaurants, but that is it. If you want to go into Kona or anywhere else for that matter, you are going to need a car.

On the restaurant front, one nearby idea may be to eat at the Grill at Kanaloa which is near your condo and right on the water with beautiful views.

Na Hale O Keauhou Resort and Kona

The grill is now owned by Jamesons and has had a rather uneven history since Edwards went out of business .

For dinner the water.. well thats cuts the field down quite a bit

Huggos in Kona.... open air bistro atmosphere excellent food $$$$

Don the Beachcomber....open air and enclosed... good food larger in hotel $$$

Bubba Gumps.......open air on the water... like a TGIF ok food $$$

Jamesons ,,, small inside and outside dining...ok food outstanding view and location.. $$$$

Outrigger dining room at Outrigger hotel..... really good view over pool to sea and from bar even better. $$$ ( eat there and its an excellent vlaue also near your condo. good parking and full service hotel and catering for a reasonable price

Hooters........are you kidding.. I put it in because it is on water.

Sheraton..... could proably set you a deal for you but its restauraunt is not on water and no view of it. $$$$ good catering dept.

based on your party size of 16, and on the water or water front

considering parking, access etc I would choose Don the beachcomber for overall service and value.... its a compromise.

between Outrigger and Dons..... your choice look at both of them

Good luck and get a car as all the island cars will be rented for the week or more. Those that come available go for crazy prices like $100 a day. If you dont get the car... you wont have the option of getting one for the day.......

Aloha,

With the exception of Hugo%26#39;s the none of the restaurants in Kona/Keauhou have any real claim to culinary class. There claim to fame is the oceanfront location and view. Finding a restaurant with parking is a key as well as proximity to where you will be staying. Since you are going to be here during Ironman, I would try to look away from downtown Kona if possible. During that period, Kona is going to be a zoo. Hence due to location, and distance from Kona, I thought of the Grill. I have eaten there many times. Not great, but not bad either, oceanfront dining. Your major issue with the Grill might actually be finding guest parking at Kanaloa for a party of 16.

The problem with that restaurant there (and all the others preceeding it) is exactly what you posted. It%26#39;s an ocean front restaurant but it actually is a poolside restaurant. Ed Frady (the original owner of Edward%26#39;s) went bankrupt because he was charging ocean fron prices in a poolside restaurant. John Lasko, the owner of the restaurant after Ed, gave up and moved Edward%26#39;s to the Waterfront Plaza where Sushi El Fuego is now, but the damage was already down and he ended up closing it. Jameson%26#39;s took it over and they might last longer since they have two other restaurants, but I don%26#39;t expect them to end up differently.

I would suggest the Kona Inn for your dinner. It has a lovely sunset view with a lawn in front of the restaurant that would be nice for photos. We always have our ';special'; meals there.

We will be there volunteering at Ironman. Good luck to your fiance!

I have a suggestion. The locals can tell me if this is not feasible or is a bad idea. The Sheraton bar, The Blue Crystal Lounge is open-air and on the water. They have a large open deck just off the bar area. This deck is on the water with spectacular views of sunset. There should be plenty of parking at the Sheraton. I was thinking you could see about renting that area of the bar and having a dinner catered there. Have no idea about prices but the fancy Sheraton restaurant (the Kai) has no view and is too stuffy and pricey for me. I only suggest this because it gets you away from Kona town, there is parking, and the setting is lovely.

Aloha and Congrats!

I would suggest renting a car, although during the peak of Ironman parking will be very difficult if not impossible in town and walking might be the best way to go.

You will be very near the Keauhou Shopping center which has a nice market and a few places to eat. Getting into Kailua-Kona will be a 5 mile walk.

Don the Beachcomber is located in the Royal Kona Resort, I would vote for there or Huggos if you want to stay in Kona. Both are on the ocean and would be able to handle a party of your size. As you know Ironman is on Oct 13 and on Oct 16 things will be just starting to settle back down, I find most competitors come earlier and leave soon after, that said it is still the peak of peak for Kailu-Kona and I would suggest you making your reservations soon, even now!

Sunny, I dont think the Blue crystal could be set up for dinner because of kitchen access.... its on a different level.

Good Idea..... but might be spendy Huggos is expensive ( 140 for 2 on the average from My experience.

Now, for bang for the buck.. 40% LESS than Huggos or Dons.. Id check out the Outrigger, hotel..( you can have a dinner. for 2 for under $80.. excellent food and for a location you could get a dinner set up in the bar, which like Sheraton is over the water.. except this has surf, a tropical lagoon and turtles-fish visable... its open air, out of the hub-bub of kona which for a week either side of the 13th will be a zoo... parking and people .

Outrigger is out of the fray and has a tropical setting better than any hotel in Kona/Keauhou and.. after consideration...... thats my pick..... practical and reeking withe more atmosphere than any in Kona

The Blue Crystal Lounge can be rented for special occasions and catered lunch, but not for dinner. However, both the ';Wedding Lawn'; and the ';Photo Garden'; on the North side of the hotel are available for dinner parties.