Located on Hawaii’s Big Island, Kailua-Kona, usually called simply, “Kona” by locals, is truly a little piece of paradise. This sunny, seaside town is a beautiful place full of friendly people, beautiful white sand beaches, warm blue oceans, and plenty to see and do. For those looking to find their next home in The Aloha State, Kona would be a great place to call home.
A Look at Kona's History
The city of Kailua-Kona was initially founded in 1812 by King Kamehameha I of Hawaii as his primary seat of government. Eventually, King Kamehameha I unified many of the Hawaiian islands, and ultimately, Kailua-Kona became the first capital of the Kingdom of Hawaii, although it was later replaced by Lahaina and eventually Honululu, which still serves as Hawaii's capital today. Throughout its history, Kona has been not only an important seat of government, but also an important agricultural producer, and also a city with a thriving tourist industry. All of those things remain true about Kona today. Today, it’s a city with a diverse, welcoming community, plenty to see and do, and an abundance of outdoor beauty to enjoy, for visitors and residents alike.
A Few Fun Facts About Kona
Read more fun facts about Kona here.
Kona’s LGBTQ Community
Kona is a city that loves and supports its LGBTQ community with a variety of resources, including:
PFLAG Kona/Big Island is the city’s local chapter of the national PFLAG organization, which is the largest grassroots organization of its kind in the country. PFLAG is well-known for its mission of supporting LGBTQ people, friends, family, and allies across the country in a wide variety of ways. With 500 chapters and more than 200,000 members in the United States, PFLAG plays a critical role in providing advocacy, support, and resources to the LGBTQ community.
Hawaii Island Pride is a community-based organization committed to serving the LGBTQ community in the greater Kona area. The mission of Hawaii Island Pride is to create events celebrating diversity on the Big Island while educating the public on important issues. Throughout the year, the group provides resources, organizes events, and creates opportunities to build the community. It’s a great way to get connected and become involved.
What's the Weather Like in Kona?
Those who live in Kona can expect the weather typical of paradise – warm sea breezes, plenty of rain, and an abundance of sunshine, with fairly mild temperatures year-round. The summer season typically lasts from May to October, when maximum temperatures usually range from 85-90º on average. Winter usually lasts from October to April, with maximum daytime temperatures ranging from 79 to 83ºF. Year-round, residents and visitors alike can count on plenty of favorable weather to enjoy the stunning beauty of the area!
Can’t-Miss Events in Kona
Hawaii Island Pride is the area's annual pride celebration of the LGBTQ community. It's a great way to celebrate, connect to the community – and have fun! You'll definitely want to put this event on your calendar each year.
Kona Pride is definitely one celebration that you’ll want to be sure to put on your calendar each year. This annual celebration features pool parties, drag bingo brunch, dancing, family-friendly activities, plenty of vendors, and much more. It’s a great way to celebrate all that the LGBTQ community adds to the Kona area!
The Best Neighborhoods in Kona
Unlike some larger towns that have one primarily gay neighborhood, Kona’s LGBTQ community tends to be a bit more spread out across that area of the Island. This isn’t a bad thing though – it simply means that there are many wonderful neighborhoods in town to choose from. You will discover that the majority of the restaurants, bars, community groups, and other accommodations on the island are very LGBTQ-friendly.
As a result, where you choose to live will largely depend upon personal preference and the style and price of home you prefer. Truly, every home in Kona is a piece of paradise, and an experienced gay realtor who loves the community can help you find your own perfect place.
The median list price of homes currently for sale in the Kona area is approximately $660,500.
Arts and Entertainment
For almost 100 years, the Kona Community Players have been providing excellent performing art to entertain residents and visitors alike on the Big Island. Their mission is to educate, inspire, and enrich the audience through high-quality productions of all kinds – and it is a mission they achieve well!
The Aloha Theatre is another local community theatre group known for its wonderful productions of both musicals and plays. Typically, the season consists of five or six shows, and each one is excellent! The historic theatre is also beautiful and well worth a visit in and of itself.
Parks and Recreation
Hawaii Volcanoes National Park
Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park is a stunning, dramatic, and dazzling natural landscape spanning more than 300,000 acres. Designated as an International Biosphere Reserve and a UNESCO World Heritage site, the park is full of gorgeous vistas, beautiful trails, and plenty to see and do, not to mention being home to many unique and threatened plant and animal species.
For many years now, Kehena Beach, with its stunningly beautiful black sands, has been known as one of the de facto gay beaches on the Big Island. It’s a perfect spot to soak up some sun, splash in the sea, or lounge on the sand with friends on a beautiful afternoon in Kona.
Kona Nightlife
My Bar Kona is a very popular LGBTQ bar, and always a good time. It draws big crowds, has friendly bartenders, and is a welcoming spot where you can have fun with old friends, or make some new ones!
The Mask-Querade is a smaller, yet still lively LGBTQ bar is known for being very popular with locals, and for offering excellent karaoke, strong drinks, and friendly crowds.
Contact a Kona Gay Realtor Today
If you're ready to make a move to Kona, at www.gayrealestate.com, we're here to help you take the first step toward finding an agent who knows and loves the community, and who can help you find a home and a neighborhood you'll love. We're proud to have a network of excellent realtors in Kona, and we would love to help connect you with the right one. Contact a Kona gay realtor today for a free, no-obligation consultation!
