King Kamehameha Beach Hotel

Center right shows the wing of the hotel in Kailua-Kona where we stayed. In the garden area to the left of photo is where the imu (underground oven used to roast the pig for the luau) is located. Kailua-Kona was a part of Big Island favored by Hawaiian royalty. In his old age, Kamehameha I spent much time there. An important archaeological site can be seen on the left. It is the rebuilt platform upon which once stood the funerary building where the body of King Kamehameha I was prepared for his royal burial.

The sacred royal Kamakahonu grounds adjacent to our hotel is where King Kamehameha ruled until his death in 1819. In the foreground to the right is the restored Ahuena Heiau, or sacred temple.

At the base of Hualalai volcano, some of the modern town of Kailua-Kona can be seen across Kamakahonu Bay. On the small peninsula to the right is the restored Ahuena Heiau, an exact replica of King Kamehameha's final royal residence where he held internal affairs meetings from 1813 to 1819. It stands upon a platform of black lava stones, much as it appeared during the time of Kamehameha I.

A lanai off your hotel room is a given in Hawaii. The choicest rooms would have an ocean view but we were very satisfied with the mountain-view room that we were assigned (by choice, as it also saved us $$). From our lanai, this is a view of the other of our hotel's two twin towers and a rare view in the hazy distance of the summit of Hualalai. Normally shrouded in clouds each day, this is a volcano that last erupted in 1801 and, averaging an eruption about once every 200 years, it is expected by volcanologists to erupt again at any time! But nobody else in Kailua-Kona seems to be too concerned about that at present. Hualalai rises from sea level to 8,271 ft. Tip for travelers: Note that clothesline with clips to bottom right half of photo. We always take a couple of those with us on trips like this as they really come in handy for drying the wet swimwear, towels, etc. But our hotel also had excellent laundry facilities.

To the right of our lanai, this is the rear courtyard view between the two towers of our hotel and shows a little of the bay area beyond. The King Kamehameha Beach Hotel had just about everything a vacationer could need for a comfortable stay in Kona. Our air-conditioned room was always kept clean and tidy thanks to the daily maid service and there was also the usual cable tv, small refrigerator, and coffee maker (with a fresh package of Kona coffee provided each day). On the ground floor were three restaurants, a poolside tiki bar, and many interesting shops where you could blow all your money the first day if you're not careful! From refrigerator magnets to paintings and sculptures by local artists, there was something for all tastes.