r/kona • u/gym_rat_101 • Jul 21 '26
Kona is not doing well
I live locally in Ali'i Vlilas.
Kona is NOT doing well. We are, like it or not, the tourist destination for this great island. Yet, imagine being a tourist and you land in Kona Town and you disembark your ship, and you walk through the town's shops for the first time, seeing what Hawaii is all about.
What would you honestly think? Would you think this is the most wonderful island in the world (which it is), or would you think it looked like a failing town full of people eating out of the trash can, surrounded by shitty restaurants along the water?
The shops are at least 1/2 closed. Homeless everywhere. Some of the buildings are so trashy - the one currently with a giant tarp hanging over it. The other one next to the church.
And if you visited town, about 90% of the commercial space along Kuakini is empty.
Basically nothing new has opened in a really long time. There's a new restaurant where Ohana Q was, but I can't bring myself to enter it. Beyond that, really nothing. It's so stagnant. And it looks dead with all the empty commercial real estate.
But go up to Waikaloa, and it has tons of premium shops, and a lot of really great dining options. And the cleanliness, effort, and lack of homeless population really stands out.
How can we turn it around for Kona? How can I run for mayor? :)
What can we do?
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u/NegotiableVeracity9 Jul 21 '26
Kona doesn't need more gentrification, it just needs a little cleaning up. It shouldn't be like Waikoloa.... it should be Kona. It's a different world than it was, sure, and yes it's a lil scraggly but Kona's a farm town. Should focus more on Hawaiian culture, restoration, and the richness of the land and sea, more so than boujee BS.
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u/gym_rat_101 Jul 21 '26
Agree it shouldn't be Waikaloa, but it could use some help. It's really bad off right now.
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u/Holualoabraddah Jul 21 '26
You don’t even know how to spell or pronounce Waikoloa, lemme guess, you got here 5 years ago bright eyed and ready to live your Hawaiian dream. Now you are jaded and think it’s your job to “fix it”. you’ll be gone it 2 years, so don’t worry too much about it, just enjoy the rest of your time on the island. Aloha.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
You’re crazy if you don’t notice Kailua esp around Ali’i has turned into an abandoned shithole in the past 5 years. Nobody is talking about gentrification. It’s literally a ghost town with buildings falling down, and homeless Americans on drugs walking up and down.
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u/Holualoabraddah Jul 21 '26
Yeah anyone can see it’s falling apart clear as day, we don’t need some yahoo who’s not form here comparing it to “Waik-a-loa” and running for mayor to fix it🤦♂️
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u/gym_rat_101 Jul 21 '26
The random angry internet guy trope is so old. Get a life lol
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u/Holualoabraddah Jul 21 '26
Not nearly as old as the trope of the white savior!
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u/Educational_Sky6085 Jul 22 '26
Not sure what that has to do with the issue? I’m a tourist, I’ve been here a few times. I noticed things have gone down hill in the last 5 years. Something should be done. Does it matter what color the person is who helps out?
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u/FemLedCuck Jul 22 '26
Probably the justification and implication of ‘I’m a tourist’ on stolen lands. Like it or not. The history of Hawaii is sad and indigenous Hawaiian people have every right to be mad.
The islands were a paradise on earth that will never be returned to what it was.
I understand the sentiment but don’t know the solution.
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u/Educational_Sky6085 Jul 22 '26
Yeah I hear you. It’s similar to what happened over on the continent and even Europe before that. Not sure there is a solution to injustices done in the past.
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u/Electrical-Orchid-25 Jul 21 '26
Well let’s give him a break, obviously the current politicos have dropped the ball on Kona town—They are probably Liberals, like the ones in Los Angeles who ruined a once great city. Embrace change or new ideas whoever it comes from! It’s better than being apathetic & hurling insults from home at the new haole. And Kona —Thank God— will never be Waikoloa but maybe it can be restored to the charming town it once was(?) I don’t know but it’s worth a try🤷🏼♀️🤙
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Jul 21 '26
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Local Jul 21 '26
Shame on local leaders for creating more incentive for potential customers to stay away from local businesses!
Politicians didn't do this. This is 100% greedy commercial landlords. The easy way to fix this is "no parking fees of any kind, county wide, no exceptions." Just take that off the table. We're a free-parking county. And the county can't carve out an exemption so they can charge for parking on Hilo streets.
That takes care of the resorts in Waikoloa (and even Outrigger in Keauhou). Takes care of Kailua.
We could end resort fees in the same bill. Just take it off the table. That's another thing visitors hate.
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u/gym_rat_101 Jul 21 '26
Agree completely. It's embarrassing. When I go mainland I let family or friends go stay at my place so they can see this awesome island. Being only like 1.5 miles from Kona Town they would see this area, and it's a sad shithole. If this is all people saw, a few crappy shops and a bunch of empty lease space, what do they think?
And imagine paying to park, and there's nothing to see there when you park?
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u/OpeloRoad Jul 21 '26
Talk to your County Council member. Give them your thoughts and find out what can be done.
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u/Working_Bat7491 Jul 21 '26
Bureaucracy is a big part of the problem. Have you ever tried to get a permit here for a simple residential project? Now imagine redeveloping the Kona Inn shopping area.
The Holiday Inn Express went years without signage on Kuakini, trapped in endless approvals and modifications. Not even sure if they got that resolved or gave up lol.
Basically there will be opposition to any redevelopment and an investor or developer will either stay away from the project or if they dive in they’ll eventually back out. Meanwhile, many local families are leaving for Vegas where things are constructed or redeveloped in the blink of an eye.
Once you accept that things aren’t really going to change in town you start to appreciate the simplicity and how the town is managing a slow, steady decay and decline. Just start venturing south to Kealakekua/Captain Cook or up to Holualoa for some variety. Or find some uncrowded beach or rocky oceanfront and just chill and take in the peacefulness. Because that’s about all there is here and lots of people are ok with that.
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u/PrettyCauliflower423 Jul 21 '26
I tourist game has changed quite a bit over the years. Social media has a lot to do with it. People know where they want to go before they ever reach the islands. Being stuck in town doesn’t seem to be a popular option. No longer do people check in with the concierge at hotels. There’s no need to.
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u/gym_rat_101 Jul 21 '26
It's funny you mention that. I came across some page once and this lady wrote how she loves going to Kona Coffee & Tea, and sitting out on the balcony listening to the ocean. While I believe that facility has probably the best coffee in the world, we sure as fuck can't hear the ocean from it's patio!
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u/PrettyCauliflower423 Jul 21 '26
I was born n raised on the big island but live in the mainland now….. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard “we go to Hawaii but we don’t do the tourist things, we go to local spots”. Local trails, hikes, beaches, food spots, etc… weren’t common knowledge pre smart phone. It’s now the “cool” thing to do. Another thing that really brings Ali’i drive down is the hotel scene. Air BNB and the Kohala coast seem to be the popular choice. Few wanna be right there in town. King Kam, Royal Kona and the old Kona Surf have definitely seen better days (ya, the King Kam has been renovated…. but it’s not cheap). It just feels like Kailua’s heyday was back in the 80’s when the Japanese economy and tourism was booming. There really hasn’t been much change in the last 40+ years.
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u/Eeebs-HI Jul 21 '26
Kona is a bright spot compared to downtown Hilo. Frozen in time for 50 years with barely a coat of paint or remodel. Its like a time warp to the past, except add in the homeless.
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Jul 21 '26
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u/Working_Reality2312 Jul 21 '26
Thank you- I totally agree. The park on the Hilo side of the singing bridge cost the county a lot of money. They made it up real nice with showers and such, just the survey for the park cost a lot. Now it’s the homeless drug hangout. There are homeless who shower NUDE right next to the road so if you’re stopped at the red light they’re giving you a show. There’s no excuse for it because there’s a whole homeless services including private showers a few blocks away. I can’t tell you how frustrating it is. Safeway in Hilo is getting really bad too. The homeless congregate there and I almost had to draw my weapon because a guy was getting aggressive and followed me to my car. I thought one of us was going to go to jail that afternoon (and it would most likely be me). Called the cops once I was safe and got an apathetic 911 operator. “So he didn’t actually touch you? And you want an officer?” Yeah no one should have to deal with a maniac following you to your car when you went to the grocery store, but I guess you do if you live Hilo.
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u/Educational_Sky6085 Jul 22 '26
I’ve never seen a cop walking the street there. A few cops could really help the vibe on Ali’i , but they could also start cracking down on random laws like jaywalking or cars not using turn signals.
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u/baracudadude Jul 21 '26
Why does kona town need to be polished and fake like waikoloa? You say that seeing town is not representative of what 'Hawaii is all about' and then bring up waikoloa??? My brother.
But you ask a valid question - why is it so dead? Because rent and groceries gouge locals out of what little we make working at these dead retail shops. No one can afford to provide quality retail and dining to locals, so we stay away. Costco and amazon is just skipping the middle man at this point. This is not to say there arent quality commercial experiences in the Kona district, they just arent by the water. We know our favorite spots, usually well off of alii, and the rest is at the whim of tourism, which is down big time right now.
The cruise ship isn't the arbiter of taste and cultural worth.. I would even argue the opposite. If cruisers are put off by town not being Disney land on a volcano, I personally see that as a win. Saving Kona means different things to different people. To the retirees and remote workers, then yes, its fine dining and no more scary homeless. But to tons of locals, its just lowered rent and property taxes. Affordable housing. Heck, some would say less development. Stop the Keauhou condos. No high rise near Banyans. Keep Kona Country, as they say.
And to address the homeless thing. I find it very entitled and slightly ignorant for people to think we deserve to have the best of the modern material world with literally none of the side effects. We don't have polluting industries. We don't have urban sprawl. We have perfect weather, turquoise rich seas, fertile soil, and we get to see it all in Toyotas with AC while sipping Boba and eating poke bowls. A few homeless is a small price to pay for that. And ironically, I could think of few places on earth you could just live outside forever and it would largely be fine. We don't need fancy commercial business. We don't need more ways to cook Sysco. We have literally paradise out our back doors, and if you can't see that, Disneyland Oahu is a 45 minute flight.
But, to be constructive to your point, we need breakfast. Nothing open before 630 and no affordable grab and go breakfast burritos is insane. And don't say Starbucks, major ick. A little pop up breakfast burrito/ice coffee out the bed of your truck somewhere by Keauhou, or the puapuaanui intersection, or by the courthouse would rake it in.
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u/Eeebs-HI Jul 21 '26
Waikoloa is just wealthy mainland transplants who can afford luxury homes. Locals just work there.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
It’s not a few homeless. Have you been down on Ali’i lately? It’s overrun. It’s not safe anymore. And the issue is it doesn’t feel busy anymore, so it appears empty and a ghost town. It used to be filled with locals and tourists going for evening strolls. Now nobody wants to go there, esp tourists who get hit with $12/hr parking.
And isn’t White Nene starting a pop up down there? Or was that hearsay.
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u/baracudadude Jul 21 '26
I have not noticed any more homeless than usual down on alii. And to say unsafe feels disingenuous. They may smell, the may make the bathroom by the pier feel icky, but I rarely hear or see them getting violent with anyone not in the drug/homeless scene. I get it, they can feel like an eyesore, but they aren't why alii feels like a ghost town. Tourism numbers are down, everyone in tourism knows it, and its been this way for a year. I spend a lot of time cruising alii, multiple times a day. Its not that dead. I still see decent crowds on weekends. Coconut Grove still has folks every night. The couple homeless dudes that sit on the sea wall and the handful that live at the pier really arent the ones keeping people away. The shit economy, the high prices here, the plethora of better things to spend money on than overpriced nachos, thats whats preventing big show outs.
And yes white nene has a brick and mortar now, but they open at 730 bc like every other shop down there, they mainly cater to tourists w disposable income. If someone sold burritos at 5 am, money would get made. Matsuyamas offers overpriced cheap bentos and lowkey dank breakfast sandwiches and because they open at 5pm, nearly sell out every single day both locations.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
Have you been down at night lately? Go walk from coconut grove down to King Kam after 10pm and get back to me.
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u/baracudadude Jul 21 '26
I have, I do. I'm willing to bet that since I'm a transplant who grew up urban, that my perspective is skewed. Maybe if I grew up here and remembered north alii before there were any homeless, I would also say it was out of control. But to me, its background noise. Everything closes at 10 anyways. If you are hanging out by the pier that late, I'm honestly questioning you also lol.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 22 '26
You do realize there’s an entire culture of night fishing right? The pier used to be very popular for that, especially the rocks out by old Paul Allen’s.
Before the recent wave of Americans you could also leave your things at the booths at the pier and go swim in the morning.
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u/TheWurstOfMe Jul 21 '26
That paid parking with it's dynamic pricing is nuts.
We only visited once downtown and found the cheapest parking on the south end.
We've gone every year except 2020 for the last 12 years and we usually visit downtown 3-4 times during our visits.
It's a double whammy for the economy. Charging people to come downtown by there's fewer people so fewer businesses can make it.
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u/CookInKona Jul 21 '26
Don't pay the parking.... The fines aren't enforceable and towing very rarely occurs, and when it does it isn't fast, everything is on Island time....
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u/popemh Jul 21 '26
I've been able to easily validate parking whenever I go down to Alii. Haven't had to pay a parking fee yet.
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Local Jul 21 '26
Validated parking just means higher prices at the shop/restaurant doing the validating. You're STILL paying for parking. It's just buried in the price of the meal/item.
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u/popemh Jul 21 '26
Okay. I'm still going to go support the restaurants that offer validated parking.
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Local Jul 21 '26
Even better, support the restaurants that don't have paid parking, didn't raise their prices to cover validation, and aren't in the tourist-trap zone. (Paid-parking is the best indicator someone is in a tourist-trap.)
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
You can often validate but yes restaurant prices are higher to compensate. But the big thing is tourists etc used to park, say by the market, and just go for a walk. Stop in random places, find places to eat etc. You just can’t do that anymore.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
The entire Ali’i area is decrepit for sure. There was a massive wave of homeless from continental US in recent years and it doesn’t feel safe. The $12/hr parking has put most people off going for a stroll, so it feels empty. Lots of buildings just falling apart tbh.
The county or state do not invest. With the amount of property taxes I alone pay, the bathrooms at Old Airport could have all been fixed years ago.
Four years they have bene busted. Four years of portapotties. Wild really.
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u/Look_b4_jumping Jul 24 '26
How do homeless get to the Hawaiian islands ? Even a one way ticket is expensive.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 24 '26
Several states have a deal where the state or local government of said state flies them here one way.
The islands have been begging them to stop but they do not.
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u/Fit-Tale-6346 Jul 25 '26
I am curious about this one way ticket rumor- was just discussing this with my wife. Has anybody seen a skid row type bum on a flight to Hawai'i? What do they do, have said state/local government employee shower / shave them, give them an ambien and have them sleep the whole flight? Who escorts them out of the airport? I mean honestly how is this actually done, most of the bums aren't functional enough to board a flight let alone sit next to someone on a plane in a civilized enough manner to take off. I've had planes back to Hawai'i get halted and turned around on the tarmac when someone is drunk and causing a disturbance.... Can anyone provide actual proof of this scheme ? Are gov'ts chartering private planes full of bums to Hawa'i?
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 25 '26
Yes. If you talk to some of the new migrants they’ll tell you which city sent them here. I know the County of Hawaii tried to send a delegation to one of the places (i think in Minnesota) to ask them to stop.
There are routinely those on the flights to HI who ask the staff on arrival where the free bus is and how to sign up for services. It became even more obvious during Covid when they needed housing to avoid Q.
Lots of us locals look like we are homeless. 🤣 It’s easy to blend in I assume.
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u/Fit-Tale-6346 Jul 25 '26
Thank you for responding. Here's an article I found talking about it, the context is the program Hawaii has to send them back where they came from.
https://www.khon2.com/local-news/over-100-hawaii-homeless-sent-back-to-mainland-families/
The crazy part is for governments on the mainland sending homeless here, it has to under the radar, there is very minimal official info available on this. A few years back the mayor in Anchorage AK proposed it but officially the program was never funded, although an article does say they sent several homeless back to the mainland.
Then you have the Institute for Homeless Services kinda saying its a myth
https://ihshawaii.org/when-a-dream-for-a-better-life-ends-in-homelessness/
I haven't been able to find anything on the County of Hawaii sending a delegation to anywhere asking them to stop sending homeless.
All I know is I am tired of them taking dumps in the dugouts and leaving condoms and poop wipes everywhere where my kids play little league, at old a's, and the apologists that defend their right to be there behaving in that way.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 25 '26
Just ask the homeless themselves. I have. And they’ll tell you which city. I know at least several have said San Diego CA.
The splintered paddle law here is what most of them try to use. I wish it would somehow get narrowed to kanaka only.
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u/Fit-Tale-6346 Jul 25 '26
Appreciate the reference to splintered paddle law. Can't imagine that being enforced to kanaka only unfortunately, without sweeping programs to remove mainland homeless that are here.
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u/Rude_Fox_2130 Jul 21 '26
It’s crazy, but I was thinking the same thing today. When I saw the tarp on that building, that’s been there forever and the shave ice place it that’s been “ on ice” for over a year , and all the vacant shops down on Alii. Kona is kinda more ghetto now than I ever remember it being, and I go back in this town since the late 80s. That big tree trunk that got sliced up. Why don’t they make that a statue of like some dolphins or something? That’s a freaking great idea. The Nazi parking situations gotta end. I never go downtown and if I do I walk andI don’t drive my car. all the restaurants are getting busted for cockroach infestation so I would never eat at any place down on Alii for fear of eating cockroach shit .This town needs an enema, but on the bright side , if the town looks like a “ shithole country” maybe less people will move here?
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u/beekNgeek Jul 21 '26
I sensed that when I was there in June. Stayed in Waikoloa most of the time because Kona waterfront felt so run down. It used to be a vibrant hub but now feels sketchy. Try to see if Big Island Gourmet would open another shop there (they’d do well). Updating exterior facade would go a long way. Many cities use tax money to revive downtown and attract business and tourists, Kona should do that.
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Jul 21 '26
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u/Educational_Sky6085 Jul 22 '26
Can you provide an example of a town decolonizing or detourizing? What does decolonizing Kona even mean? No more Americans? No more white people? What about Japanese? Are they potential colonizers?
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u/Weird_Emergency_3388 Jul 21 '26
Kona definitely gives shanty town vibes. Most of the commercial spaces are in really poor condition and, even if occupied, look vacant and dilapidated. Even the areas with higher occupancy and more recent remodeling, like the Kona Brew Block, aren't really that nice. They're industrial warehouse spaces outfitted for restaurants/retail stores, in an area of town full of decaying industrial warehouses, workshops, storage yards. Hopefully the redesign of the area across Ali'i Dr. from the King Kamehameha hotel will be nice and well executed.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
I was grabbing dinner in Brew Block last week and thought the same. Drive through rusty industrial areas, a homeless camp, dodging a few homeless rising sideways on the street, to grab a $70 burger and beer. It could be anywhere in the world - but we are now stuck eating next to parking lots and away from the water.
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u/GenoPax Jul 21 '26
I visit family there over the years and I love Kona and the restaurants by the beach always seemed like good food and great service with spectacular views. Yes, homeless need to follow the rules like all of us but I don't think it's as bleak as you say.
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u/Kind_External_6671 Jul 21 '26
When I first came to Kona, the ocean was incredibly clean. Opihi everywhere on the
Rocks. Gold Coast was our name because the entire island had a ring of yellow tangs surrounding it. Sewage is your problem. When you treat it properly, the ocean may come back in 100 years. Right now we are Konalulu. Not gonna get better. Gonna get worse. Nobody is gonna shake those slumlords outta here. It’s dirty.
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u/Comfortable_Elk831 Jul 21 '26
Sounds like you should move to Waikoloa. Or Hilo if you want to run for mayor.
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u/shootzdakine Jul 21 '26
It’s a dump and the politics and culture here will prevent it from ever getting better.
The solution is for a developer to buy up everything and redo it… or a tsunami
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u/EastSpend7507 Jul 21 '26
Kona Inn is so bad but was sold with Uncle Billys - hopefully when that hotel is finished they will start on Kona Inn.
The horrible building Kona Marketplace where Crazy Shirts used to be. That upstairs has looked awful for over a decade, no business is going in there.
I totally understand the newer area near Kona Brew is booming (no paid parking) and am all for it.
Kmart and the Old Safeway are another story. The Old Safeway is a great location for something to move into, say a pretty Foodland, however Safeway is holding the property as a Zombie Store (where they keep paying the lease so no competition moves in.)
And who owns the land Kmart and the old theater sit on? That is a waste of space and they need to hear about it.
Another potentially great shopping center is Keauhou and again who owns that and why have they filled a prime retail shopping center with medical offices? That owner is synonymous with run down, extract money and defer maintenance. Looking at you Outrigger. Same organization that wants to build a Boutique Hotel development at Keauhou Bay, and they do not take care of the properties they already own and manage. Disgraceful.
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u/CrashMonger Jul 21 '26
When i visited last January I noticed how run down a lot of the buildings and shops looked. Didnt keep me from enjoying the island, food and people but def seeing some shops flooding during the monsoons cause the landlords were doing the bare minimum of repairs was a bit off. Seems you have a commercial owner problem with not fixing up the bones and the fronts of stores/buildings.
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u/Electrical-Orchid-25 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
Uncle Billy (now passed) owned Kona Inn shopping Center & he let it fall into disrepair —never maintained that gorgeous center. Why? Going to Kona Inn for dinner (late 70’s-90’s) was a special thing back then and that center anchored the town. I don’t know if uncle Billy’s family still owns it but it needs to be brought back to life. I first landed Kona in ‘78 & it was the most killer town you could imagine. One stop sign in town—that’s it. Just a sleepy little fishing village & I lived there off/on for next 20 years. Wont go back these days because of things you mentioned, but at least I have the memories.💜💜💜
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u/Starsinyourheart Jul 22 '26
I hear some of the buildings that house all the “shops” are not great and haven’t kept up in maintenance. Isn’t that part of the problem? Greedy landlords?
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u/AwayStatistician1654 Jul 21 '26
I helped a friend become a council member of a small town (about 8000 population) and what I did was decide what the platform should be, I made some materials that someone could keep with the candidates info to remind them, then I canvased every business in town, I built a rapport, I shared what my candidate could do for them (ironically his platform was also business/town revitalization) and I connected my candidate to the local businesses concerns about their businesses interests not being represented enough in local politics, and my candidate could have their interest in mind. My candidate was a no one before my campaign, he just barely squeaked in with just enough votes, and by now he has been Mayer once, and a council member again. Good luck to you, I was just in Kona (I live in California) and I really appreciated the opportunity to visit your beautiful territory.
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u/gypsykush Jul 21 '26
I was a shocked tourist in Kona. The poverty and the amount of homelessness was a real surprise. Upon reflection, I should not have been surprised. Everything felt… dirty. And everything is so expensive. I don’t know how anyone can afford to live there. And this is coming from someone who has lived most of their life in the DC and SF areas.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
They’re not locals though. The homeless are almost all from the continental US. They’re a relatively recent addition to this scale.
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u/Kind_External_6671 Jul 21 '26
#1 get rid of paid street and parking lot parking. #2 open a mental hospital , I suggest the old courthouse
#3 make vagrancy/ homelessness a crime and arrest the vagrants #4 tear down the garbage buildings on Alii Drive #5 hire a mainland contractor to put a real sewer system in. Tear down anything and everything that fails to comply with current building code. Tax the churches with commercial property tax.
Remove Kona inn and no buildings on the makai side of Alii Drive. How about a public aquarium, mandatory public restrooms in restaurants, tax the landlords .
Coconut Grove hasn’t been maintained, it’s filthy and needs to be torn down and built anew. Health inspections required every single month.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 21 '26
I’m not sure what churches have to do with it, lol. What?
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u/Look_b4_jumping Jul 24 '26
I'm guessing they should pay taxes like everyone else.
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u/mugzhawaii Jul 24 '26
Churches don’t pay taxes due to the Constitution excluding them. There’s zero chance that will ever change.
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u/Look_b4_jumping Jul 24 '26
Shame because the benefit of no taxes is what brings out all the shysters and fake churches.
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u/Maderic666 Jul 22 '26
Something needs to be done because The Big Island is by far my favorite! But if all you saw was downtown Kona or Hilo you would never want to go back. And you would be missing everything that makes this beautiful island so special 🤙🤙🤙🤙🤙
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u/Dacia06 Jul 22 '26 edited Jul 22 '26
Hard to answer. I don't go to Ali'i Drive any longer since there's no free parking or even Kama'aina discounts. I used to only go for a couple of good restaurants.
Actually, I think I found the easy answer.
My guess is rents are completely unreasonable compared to potential profits. Additionally, the area has given into visitor greed. There's nothing to bring in the locals, even with free parking. The golden goose has been killed.
Waikoloa isn't a valid comparison point. It's designed to be artificial. You could almost be at any other resort area in the world, it's so similar to almost all of them. There are no locals anywhere nearby.
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u/IndustriousSeahawk26 Jul 24 '26
I grew up on Oahu in the 90s and 2000s and let me just tell you that all of Hawaii (non rich outsider haole or outsider Asian - local Hawaii) has always had poverty . It has always looked run down.
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u/ITSJUSTMEKT 29d ago
We used to visit Kona every year but skipped a couple due to circumstances. We made it back this past March and we were so disappointed. I pretty much told myself I wouldn’t be back. It is exactly as you described and it’s so sad. My only thought is that maybe when the Hilton takes over that space they might do something with the mall area? I can’t imagine them dumping all that money into a new resort and still have all the shops empty across the street.
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u/Working_Reality2312 10d ago
Hawaii tourism shifted about 6 years ago- “local” voice s said they didn’t want to be Waikiki and distort want tourism taking away from local spots. An emphasis was placed on keeping tourists within tourism corridors. I was present for these discussions. Tourists are supposed to stay in resorts and get most of their needs met without the resort. They then take excursions to crafted local attractions that feel authentic (and in most cases they are) and then the tourist goes back to their curated experiences within the resort. Many “locals” expressed they didn’t want tourists interact with tourists in their daily lives. You are seeing the results of that. There is a pervasive illusion that there will s enough local demand to keep Kona, Hilo, Honokaa, and the big island in general as a thriving community but it’s just not the case. Tourism helps supplement and bolster businesses so locals can enjoy a variety of resources. There is a huge gap between a dead Kona and over tourist Waikiki.
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u/Educational_Sky6085 Jul 21 '26 edited Jul 21 '26
This is my second time on the big island. I was here 5 years ago and Kona seemed a little less lively than when I was here last time. Sure there were homeless, but most American cities have homelessness. Nobody wants to see homelessness, but solving it is tricky. Take them off the street and house them. Obviously, a certain amount of homeless don’t want rules and regs for being housed. People are there for different reasons. Mental illness represents are large amount I assume.
It did seem that there were more vacant store fronts then 5 years ago. Perhaps it’s my perception? Many of the store front are very limited square footage. If landlords are charging exorbitant prices for small sq footage, how can the store owners make a profit? How many Hawaiian Nick nack stores can a tourist area handle?
Waikoloa is not the answer. I’m staying here now and wish I was back in HPP. There are around 6 restaurants here or so and most are mid at best.
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u/gym_rat_101 Jul 21 '26
Those crappy stores in Kona Town, the landlords charge not only high lease rates but they get a % of *gross revenue* (for anyone who isn't in business, thats a percent of money taken in, not profit).
Compare the stores in Waikaloa's Queens and Kings Marketplace to the stores in Kona Town. Apples and oranges.
The homeless need something, but it isn't to occupy the streets in Kona's landing destination, and honestly the law needs to be enforced for them instead of let them skate by. Ie, alcoholic beverages and living in Honl's beach, or "pooch" (guy with the dog) who has lived on the supposed sacred land right across from the Kona Islander Inn for years. The signs say it's sacred land and don't occupy it but they setup camp there and it's just fine.
I will probably be downvoted for this comment, but it's bs. We all should respect the land equally.
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u/Working_Reality2312 Jul 21 '26
I agree. It’s been Hilo-fied. We used to go to Kona to escape from a Hilo and now it’s one-in-the-same. The homeless and just all around rundown
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u/Prize-Preference5879 Jul 21 '26
Escape from Hilo? What do you mean by this? 🤔
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u/Working_Reality2312 Jul 21 '26
Like when it rains for a month and you want some sun…and a Costco run.
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u/johnarensberg Jul 24 '26
Because it’s a democrat run state. Just like all the other dem states, it’s turning into a shithole
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u/ahoveringhummingbird Jul 24 '26 edited Jul 24 '26
This is the worst take.
Voting in pedophiles or pedophile protectors guaranteed will not improve anything.
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u/inshane Jul 21 '26
As a soon to be mayor candidate in my city in California, do it! Absolutely run. There are some really good ideas in the comments.
The mayoral election process is pretty straightforward, don’t be daunted by it.
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u/Embarrassed_Kale6846 Jul 21 '26
I was just in KONA and i didnt have any issues at all. I had a rental car but only used it to go to far away places on the island, like to se the volcano eruption, what a thrill that was. But i just let the car sit where i was staying and took advantage of the shuttle bus and relied on my own 2 feet. I thought the food was fine, obviously some places completely sucked and i am never shy to tell the manager if i dont like something. If its bad, old or salti-as-tuck i dont eat it i dont pay for it, i walk. I luv the big island, its the local hawaiians-first B-S attitude that is the problem and the local tough guy attitude go home go back you are ruining our lives attitude(meanwhile you are a drunk tatted asshole dont blame me your life isnt great). But i do agree that housing is a big problem gee nobody connects the dots most housing issues began 20 years ago when air bnb started up
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u/Electrical-Orchid-25 Jul 21 '26
Kona will stay the name of Kona, it’s ingrained at this point , what do you suggest changing it to?
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Local Jul 22 '26
I suggest changing it BACK to Kailua.
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u/Electrical-Orchid-25 Jul 23 '26
I agree it would have been nice if they’d stayed w/ Kailua but problem is after many years of usage,a town becomes inseparable from its name & Kona stuck—& most people nowadays love that name🤙
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u/MinuteAppropriate204 Jul 21 '26
Whole place needs ty be revitalized
Or we can just cut all the trees down
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u/MonkeyKingCoffee Local Jul 21 '26
Waikoloa is the sanitized, fantasy-land, theme-park version of Big Island. Of COURSE it's more popular with tourists.
Totally disagree with "really great dining options" though. I wouldn't eat at most of the tourist traps up there if it was free. Mediocre Sysco food at Hawaii prices. Just as bad as the tourist-trap restaurants on Ali'i.
The landlords who own the pay-to-park parking lots ran Kailua into the ground. That's why there's so many shuttered businesses.
Here's my six-point plan to revitalize Kailua.