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The Kealakehe Advantage: Mauka Living, Town Convenience

Why Locals Love Living Up the Hill

At La’ilani Apartments, you get the best of both worlds: the convenience of living in Kailua-Kona without the intense heat and noise of Ali’i Drive.

Located in the Kealakehe neighborhood at an elevation of approximately 500 feet, our community sits in what locals call the “Goldilocks Zone.” We are high enough to catch the cooling mauka breezes and enjoy sweeping ocean views, but low enough to avoid the heavy afternoon rains of the upper coffee belt.

Here is why our location at 74-984 Manawale’a Street is the perfect launchpad for your daily life.

1.The "Waverider" School District

A major perk for families is our incredible proximity to the Kealakehe school complex. You can wave goodbye to long morning commutes.

  • Kealakehe High School (Grades 9-12):
    • Distance: < 0.5 miles (Walking distance).
    • The Benefit: We are located directly mauka (mountain-side) of the high school campus. Many of our student residents simply walk down the hill to class, saving parents precious time in the morning rush. Being this close means easy access to Friday night football games and school events.
  • Kealakehe Intermediate School (Grades 6-8):
    • Distance: ~1 mile.
    • The Benefit: Located on Onipaa St, it’s just a 3-minute drive away. The proximity allows for a quick drop-off before heading down to the highway for work.
  • Kealakehe Elementary School (Grades K-5):
    • Distance: ~1.2 miles.
    • The Benefit: Easily accessible via Kealakehe Parkway, keeping your younger children close to home.
  • Kealakehe High School (Grades 9-12):
    • Distance: < 0.5 miles (Walking distance).
    • The Benefit: We are located directly mauka (mountain-side) of the high school campus. Many of our student residents simply walk down the hill to class, saving parents precious time in the morning rush. Being this close means easy access to Friday night football games and school events.
  • Kealakehe Intermediate School (Grades 6-8):
    • Distance: ~1 mile.
    • The Benefit: Located on Onipaa St, it’s just a 3-minute drive away. The proximity allows for a quick drop-off before heading down to the highway for work.
  • Kealakehe Elementary School (Grades K-5):
    • Distance: ~1.2 miles.
    • The Benefit: Easily accessible via Kealakehe Parkway, keeping your younger children close to home.

2.The "10-Minute Circle" of Essentials

Everything you need is a short drive down the hill. We are centrally located between the major shopping hubs of Kona, meaning you spend less time in traffic and more time at home.

  • Costco & Home Depot:
    • 8 Minutes via Hina Lani St.
    • Living at La’ilani means you have a “back door” route to Costco via Hina Lani Street, avoiding the heavy traffic on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. This is crucial for affordable bulk shopping.
  • Kona Coast Shopping Center:
    • 10 Minutes Away.
    • Home to KTA Super Stores, the local favorite for poke, produce, and island staples. You’ll also find affordable dining options and services here.
  • Target & Safeway:
    • 10 Minutes Away.
    • Located on Henry Street and Makala Blvd, these hubs offer groceries, housewares, and a 24-hour pharmacy.
  • Medical Care:
    • We are minutes away from Kaiser Permanente Kona Medical Office and urgent care facilities, ensuring peace of mind for your family’s health.
  • Costco & Home Depot:
    • 8 Minutes via Hina Lani St.
    • Living at La’ilani means you have a “back door” route to Costco via Hina Lani Street, avoiding the heavy traffic on Queen Ka’ahumanu Highway. This is crucial for affordable bulk shopping.
  • Kona Coast Shopping Center:
    • 10 Minutes Away.
    • Home to KTA Super Stores, the local favorite for poke, produce, and island staples. You’ll also find affordable dining options and services here.
  • Target & Safeway:
    • 10 Minutes Away.
    • Located on Henry Street and Makala Blvd, these hubs offer groceries, housewares, and a 24-hour pharmacy.
  • Medical Care:
    • We are minutes away from Kaiser Permanente Kona Medical Office and urgent care facilities, ensuring peace of mind for your family’s health.

3.Public Transportation & Walkability

Don’t have a car? No problem. The county infrastructure around Kealakehe has improved significantly, connecting you to the rest of the island.

View source: County of Hawaii Mass Transit)

  • Hele-On Bus Access:
    • Nearest Stop: Route 2 (Blue Line) stops at Ane Keohokalole Hwy @ Manawaela St, directly across from the High School. This is a short, safe walk from our entrance.
    • Cross-Island Transit: Route 1 (Hilo to Kona) stops nearby at Kealakaa St, connecting you to Hilo if you have family on the other side of the island.
    • Note: The Hele-On bus is currently fare-free (subject to county updates), making it an economical way to get to work at the resorts or in town.
  • The Ane Keohokalole Corridor:
    • This newer highway features wide sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes. It is popular with runners, cyclists, and residents who prefer to commute or exercise without worrying about narrow shoulders.
  • Hele-On Bus Access:
    • Nearest Stop: Route 2 (Blue Line) stops at Ane Keohokalole Hwy @ Manawaela St, directly across from the High School. This is a short, safe walk from our entrance.
    • Cross-Island Transit: Route 1 (Hilo to Kona) stops nearby at Kealakaa St, connecting you to Hilo if you have family on the other side of the island.
    • Note: The Hele-On bus is currently fare-free (subject to county updates), making it an economical way to get to work at the resorts or in town.
  • The Ane Keohokalole Corridor:
    • This newer highway features wide sidewalks and dedicated bike lanes. It is popular with runners, cyclists, and residents who prefer to commute or exercise without worrying about narrow shoulders.

4. Recreation & Weekend Fun

Living at La’ilani means your weekend starts the moment you clock out. You don’t have to drive far to find “pau hana” relaxation.

By W Nowicki – Own work, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=6637754

  • Kealakehe Regional Park:
    • Right Down the Road.
    • This 6.7-acre community hub is the center of sports in the area. It features softball fields, basketball courts, and wide-open spaces for jogging or letting the kids run off energy.
  • Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area (“Old A’s”):
    • 10 Minute Drive.
    • This is the locals’ favorite beach park. It features a mile-long stretch of beach for sunbathing, pavilions for weekend BBQs, a walking path on the old runway, and the Kona Community Aquatic Center (public pool) and gym.
  • La’iopua Community Center:
    • A growing cultural hub right in our backyard, offering programs, community meetings, and events that strengthen the neighborhood bond.
  • Kealakehe Regional Park:
    • Right Down the Road.
    • This 6.7-acre community hub is the center of sports in the area. It features softball fields, basketball courts, and wide-open spaces for jogging or letting the kids run off energy.
  • Old Kona Airport State Recreation Area (“Old A’s”):
    • 10 Minute Drive.
    • This is the locals’ favorite beach park. It features a mile-long stretch of beach for sunbathing, pavilions for weekend BBQs, a walking path on the old runway, and the Kona Community Aquatic Center (public pool) and gym.
  • La’iopua Community Center:
    • A growing cultural hub right in our backyard, offering programs, community meetings, and events that strengthen the neighborhood bond.

What Neighbors Are Saying

Actual reviews focusing on our location.

Verified Resident
"Convenient Location" "It's close to everything so I like it. Close to the grocery store, town, the airport, work, and the school." — Read full review on RentCafe
Verified Resident
"Love Living at La'i Lani..." "It's pretty quiet and the neighbors are very nice. Beautiful Sunset/Ocean view." — Read full review on RentCafe
Verified Resident
"Good for Kids" "Good place to live and good for the kids... needs better maintenance and more parking, but overall a good community." — Read full review on RentCafe

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Yes. Elevation makes a huge difference in Hawaii. Because we are located at ~500 feet elevation on the slopes of Hualālai, we enjoy cooler temperatures and more reliable trade winds than properties at sea level on Ali’i Drive. Most residents find this natural cooling significantly more comfortable and cost-effective.

Since we are next to Kealakehe High School, there is naturally more traffic on Ane Keohokalole Hwy during drop-off (7:30 AM – 8:00 AM) and pick-up times (2:00 PM – 3:00 PM). However, because La’ilani has easy access to Hina Lani Street, many residents can bypass the main school congestion completely when heading to Costco or the airport.

While we have ocean views, the beach is not within walking distance due to the elevation and distance (about 3 miles downhill). However, it is a very short 10-minute drive to Old Kona Airport Beach Park or Honokōhau Harbor.

Generally, the Kealakehe hillside is a quiet residential area. You may hear the high school band practicing or announcements during Friday night football games, but many residents consider this a perk of the “community feel” rather than a disturbance. The neighborhood quiets down significantly in the evenings.

Area Map

See how close we are to the schools and shops.

Getting Here: Directions

From Kona International Airport (KOA):

  1. Head south on Queen Ka’ahumanu Hwy (Hwy 19).
  2. Turn Left onto Kealakehe Parkway.
  3. Turn Left onto Ane Keohokalole Hwy.
  4. Turn Right onto Manawale’a Street.
  5. Follow the road up; La’ilani Apartments will be on your left.


From Downtown Kailua-Kona:

  1. Take Palani Road mauka (up the hill).
  2. Turn Left onto Ane Keohokalole Hwy (by Kealakehe High School).
  3. Turn Right onto Manawale’a Street.