Kailua, HI 17 Apartments for Rent

Since 1981 the Ironman World Championship has started and ended at Kailua, Hawaii.

Not to be confused with the super-sized Kailua city on Oahu Island, the historical, coastal town of Kailua in Hawaii County maintains its unique identity by using the name Kailua-Kona. Similar to when George W. Bush stressed his middle initial in his run for presidency and that "W" became his unintended nickname, Kailua-Kona often gets shortened by locals to Kona. It has served as the seat of King Kamehameha I's government and a capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii. This census designated place packs a history of palaces, fishing and coffee.

Moving to Kailua-Kona

Before learning the lyrics to "Mele Kalikimaka" and stockpiling floral print shirts, consider the many factors involved to moving to Kailua. Those moving from the mainland need to decide if the cost of shipping cars and furniture is worth it, or if they can downsize or find furnished apartments for rent. Most find a car is a necessity for getting around, but the Hele On bus does offer free public transportation. For natives, moving to Kailua is less of a major life change, and more about finding housing that is right for them. Vog sounds so much scarier than London's infamous smog, but is a similar type of air pollution caused by volcanic gases reacting with oxygen and moisture in the air. When choosing where to live you should spend some time in Kailua-Kona to makes sure that when settling on a location vog and commute options are ideal for your lifestyle.

Neighborhoods of Kailua-Kona

It is much easier to make sense of Kailua-Kona in terms of its East and West than neighborhoods. These two areas differ vastly in terms of geographical features and population density.

Eastern Kailua-Kona: Extending from the water to Highway 180, this section of the town is the most population dense and features more shopping and dining due to its location on Kailua Bay. The Kailua Pier marks the start of Ali'i Drive that winds along the water and this area is referred to as downtown. It is the hub of most of the dining, shopping and entertainment options. Waterfront living in the neighborhood of Hulihee Palace and Halawai Park is attractive to many, and this area features rental houses and apartments for rent.

Western Kailua-Kona: To the west of Highway 180 the area becomes more remote as the largest presences here are Kona Memorial Park and Honua'ula Forest Reserve. There is still some shopping and dining but it's more akin to that of typical small-town living. If the lack of resorts and the abundance of nature make you happier than a teenage girl at a Justin Bieber concert than this is your ideal place to find a home for rent in Kailua.

Living in Kailua-Kona

Maintaining an active lifestyle of fishing, surfing and swimming is easily done in Kailua's island climate, and there are many options to stay connected to the local community. The Ironman World Championship draws big crowds to this small town as does the Kona Coffee Festival and Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. Residents enjoy delicious Hawaiian cuisine along with a diverse dining scene which includes pizza, sushi, Korean BBQ, Thai and coffee shops. Free concerts at Halawai County Pavilion, art galleries and live performances put on by the Aloha Performing Arts Company ensure that Kailua-Kona residents have plenty of entertainment options. Living in Kailua-Kona can be the laid back island living of hammocks and cocktails or a cultural, city experience that happens to have incredible scenery.