As the name suggests, the Big Island is big, so where you book your stay can make or ruin your vacation. A beautiful lanai with an ocean view is wonderful. But if getting to the beach means loading everyone into the car for a long drive each morning, you may wish you had looked more closely at the map.
Before you start saving rental listings, think about the kind of vacation you want. Do you want to stay in a resort and chill? Explore as much as possible? Have restaurants nearby or to be away from crowds? Ask yourself these questions first.
Start with the location
If you want sunny beach days, great dining, and resort amenities nearby, we recommend the South Kohala coast. Waikoloa Beach Resort and Mauna Lani are especially convenient for visitors who want time by the ocean without giving up the comforts that make a vacation easy.
The dry Kohala coastline has some of the island’s loveliest sandy beaches, including Hāpuna. At Waikoloa Beach Resort, you have ʻAnaehoʻomalu Bay, often called A-Bay, for beach walks, swimming, and sunset watching. You can spend a whole day near your rental and still feel like you’ve had a proper Hawaii vacation.
Kona has plenty to offer, so plan a visit. But Kailua-Kona is also a town where people live, work, and drive to school. Traffic and parking can take longer than you expect, especially if you’re going through town every day to get somewhere else.
For a vacation centered on sandy beaches, we would choose South Kohala. Staying here puts you near the beaches you’ll likely visit repeatedly, with Kona a 40-minute trip away.
Look beyond the town name on a listing, too. Waikoloa Village and Waikoloa Beach Resort are different places. Check the address, elevation, and drive time to the coast. An ocean view doesn’t necessarily mean you can walk to the water.
Check the weather where you’ll actually stay
Weather changes considerably across the island, sometimes over a surprisingly short distance. Kona’s higher coffee-growing slopes can get afternoon clouds and rain, while the South Kohala resort coast is much drier, with its own warm and sunny microclimate. A house surrounded by thick vegetation may have a very different daily weather pattern than a condo near the beach.
Nobody can promise perfect weather. Kohala gets wind, and rain does happen. Still, if spending as much time as possible outdoors is your priority, this sunny stretch of coast is a good place to base yourself.
Remote rentals need a little more homework. Privacy is lovely, but check how far you’ll drive for dinner, groceries, and your planned activities.
Put your outings on the map
Waikoloa Beach Resort works well for a week that includes beach days and a few longer adventures. Allow roughly 25–30 minutes to Kona International Airport and around 40–50 minutes to central Kailua-Kona, depending on traffic and your exact destination.
Hāpuna is roughly a 15–20-minute drive away. Hilo is a longer outing, around 1½–2 hours via Saddle Road, while Hawaiʻi Volcanoes National Park deserves a full day. Budget about 2–2½ hours each way for the park, then allow time for driving and walking once you’re there. These are planning estimates, so check your specific route before leaving.
Don’t try to see the whole island in one day.
If most of your plans involve the volcano or the east side, spending a night or two there may make sense. For a beach vacation with occasional sightseeing, South Kohala gives you an easy place to come back to.
What does your rental actually include?
A pool? Hot tub? Golf nearby? Kohala Coast resorts offer plenty of choices, but the amenities you get depend on the property you book. Most condo communities in the resorts have excellent pools, hot tubs, fitness centers, and nearby beach access and golf courses.
Read the details and ask about anything you’re counting on. Is beach club access included? Are there extra amenity fees? How far is the pool from the unit?
Inside the rental, think about how your group will use the space. “Sleeps six” might include a sofa bed in the living room. Check the bed arrangements, bathrooms, and stairs, especially when traveling with grandparents or small children. Air conditioning, laundry, and a kitchen can make a big difference during a longer stay.
And check the beach equipment before packing. Chairs, an umbrella, and a cooler are useful to have ready.
Keep dinner and groceries close
Nobody wants to finish a beach day and drive another hour just to pick up food. At Waikoloa Beach Resort, Queens’ Marketplace has groceries at Island Gourmet Markets, casual meals, and sit-down dining. Having those options nearby helps on arrival day, when everyone is tired and hungry.
Check walking distances rather than assuming everything within a resort is a short stroll. A walk that sounds easy on paper can feel very different when you’re carrying groceries in the afternoon sun.
You’ll definitely want a rental car for exploring. Book it alongside your accommodations and check the parking arrangements at your rental.
Know who to call
Your vacation time is precious. You want to enjoy it, not deal with a broken refrigerator or spend the first evening trying to reach someone about a door code.
Read recent reviews for comments about cleanliness, maintenance, and how the host responds when something goes wrong. Check the company’s website and make sure you have a working contact number. Before paying, review the full price, cancellation terms, and check-in instructions.
At Kohala Coast Properties, we offer vacation rentals in Waikoloa Beach Resort, Mauna Lani, and other Kohala Coast locations. Some have ocean views, others overlook golf courses or put you close to shopping and restaurants.
Tell us who’s coming and what matters most to you. If you want a downstairs bedroom, a lanai for breakfast, or a beach you can reach without getting in the car, ask us about those details before you book.