Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Kailua-Kona Kailua-Kona (Hawaii County)
FIPS code		15-23000
GNIS feature ID	365355

Kailua-Kona is an

.

Kailua-Kona was the closest major settlement to the epicenter of the 2006 Kiholo Bay earthquake.

Kailua-Kona's boundaries were altered significantly for the

CDP, while the western portion of Holualoa became part of Kailua-Kona.

History

This section does not cite any sources. Please help improve this section by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kailua-Kona, Hawaii" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

The community was established by King

.

^: 58 In the late 20th and early 21st centuries, the region has undergone a real estate and construction boom fueled by tourism and investment.

In 2014, the Pālamanui Community Forest preserve was created in Kailua-Kona with a goal of preserving and protecting the native trees of Hawai’i.^[4]

Geography

Kailua-Kona is located at 19°39′0″N 155°59′39″W / 19.65000°N 155.99417°W / 19.65000; -155.99417 (19.649973, −155.994028),^[5] along the shoreline of Kailua Bay and up the southern slope of Hualālai volcano. There are no major rivers or streams in Kailua-Kona or on the Kona side of Hawaii.^[3]: 26

According to the United States Census Bureau, the Town has a total area of 39.9 square miles (103.3 km²), of which 35.6 square miles (92.3 km²) are land and 4.2 square miles (11.0 km²), or 10.67%, are water.^[6]

Kailua-Kona is bordered to the north by

is 96740 (post office boxes – 96745).

Climate

Kailua-Kona has a tropical, semi-arid climate (Köppen BSh) with warm temperatures year-round, typical of its latitude in the tropics. It is the warmest place in the United States of America in January on average. The coolest month is February, with an average high temperature of 81.2 °F (27.3 °C), while the warmest is August, with an average high of 86.9 °F (30.5 °C). In addition to being the warmest place in the United States in January, it is also the city with the highest record low in the United States with an all-time low temperature of 56 °F (13 °C). Humidity is generally between 50% and 70%.^{[citation needed]} Kailua-Kona is generally dry, with an average annual precipitation of 18.93 inches (481 mm). Mornings are typically clear, while thermal clouds created in the day raise the temperature during the day.^[3]: 26

^: 58

Demographics

Historical population

Census	Pop.	Note	%±
2000	9,893		—
2010	11,975		21.0%
2020	19,713		64.6%
U.S. Decennial Census[9]

2000 Census data

As of the

of any race.

There were 3,537 households, out of which 35.0% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 49.6% were married couples living together, 13.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 31.3% were non-families. 22.6% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.2% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.78 and the average family size was 3.26.

In Kailua-Kona the population was spread out, with 27.3% under the age of 18, 9.0% from 18 to 24, 28.8% from 25 to 44, 24.9% from 45 to 64, and 10.0% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 36 years. For every 100 females, there were 98.8 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 95.8 males.

The median income for a household in the city was $40,874, and the median income for a family was $46,657. Males had a median income of $30,353 versus $26,471 for females. The

. Out of the total population, 11.9% of those under the age of 18 and 3.9% of those 65 and older were living below the poverty line.

Economy

Kailua-Kona saw an economic downturn during the 2008 national financial crisis but in the early 2010s has seen significant growth and economic development.^[11] Tourism also saw a downturn in the late 2000s but has since seen some resurgence.^[12] Visitor air arrivals alone increased about 160% from 2010 to 2017.^[13]

The

Since the early 2000s the Kona side had seen significant amounts of vog from Puʻu ʻŌʻō and Kīlauea, but that changed in May 2018 when Kilauea largely ceased its emissions. Kailua-Kona's air is clearer than it has been in decades.^[17]

Attractions and events

This section needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. Find sources: "Kailua-Kona, Hawaii" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (February 2024) (Learn how and when to remove this template message)

Kailua-Kona is the host of the annual Ironman World Championship triathlon,^[18] the annual Kona Coffee Festival, and the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament.

This byway features archaeological sites that have survived for hundreds of years.

North of the pier is the

The Historic Kona Inn and other shops are on the street.

Churches on the drive include

location.

Boat tours that allow tourists to swim with dolphins, watch whales, and fish in the ocean usually depart from Honokohau Harbor.

Media

Kailua-Kona is served by television station KLEI and by the newspaper West Hawaii Today, which is owned by Canadian publisher Black Press Media (Black Press Group Ltd.)—also known simply as Black Press—whose headquarters are in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada.^[22]

Education

The

The University of the Nations, a Youth With A Mission training center, is in Kailua-Kona.^[24]

Notable residents

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kailua-Kona, Hawaii.

Wikivoyage has a travel guide for Kailua-Kona.

• Konaweb, community web site
• Kona Historical Society
• Hawaii Scenic Byways
• Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce
• North Kona shoreline access map at Hawaiʻi County web site
• Photosphere of Kailua-Kona by Gerald Besson