What’s Nearby
Part of settling in is knowing where practical stops are in the area.
Grocery Stores
KTA & Keahou Shopping Center
You likely came from the North and passed a lot of strip malls in Kona Village and near the pier. While there’s nothing wrong with any of those stores we’re partial to KTA for groceries, in particular the Keahou mall location. At just under four miles it takes about ten minutes to drive a straight shot south on Ali’i drive (turn right) and you will get your first glimpses of the numerous beaches and waterfronts along the way.
The mall also features other stores worth visiting, Rich’s favorite: Petting the bookstore cats before leaving with a Hawaii book or wildlife guide.
It's not cheap...
Gas
The good news: Kona has the only CostCo on the island.
The bad news (assuming you have a membership): It’s north of town by a fair distance
More recently other businesses like Safeway have given CostCo a run for their money (pardon the pun) which is considerably closer as you branch out,
Our advice: The island is big and if you want to see a lot off it, you’re gonna go through a fair bit of it. Top off when you know you’re near CostCo or Safeway and try to keep a tank of ¾ or better when you launch off on your next adventure. Besides cost, places like Saddle Road can be largely devoid of services, including gas stations.
I guess we had to talk about it eventually...We have Wal*Mart and Target. They feel like any of their respective mainland locations, though with some local flair.
Obviously we prefer to support local businesses whenever possible but for quick needs you have several choices nearby.
Discount Stores
K-Mart came in early to try and dominate and Wal*Mart showed up and basically ended that. There’s a Target now, too. These stores are very much like their mainland offerings and prices are similar, too.
If you need a random wares these stores definitely do the trick, sadly there’s not much ‘local’ you can choose as an alternative.
On the plus side, the Kailua-Kona Wal*Mart arguably has the best view of any Wal*Mart parking lot on earth….
COFFEE, We are in KONA after all!
Okay, so out of the gate… there’s a lot of coffee stops nearby. Like…more than you can count. Farms, Cafes, Roasters, some have their own menu, some serve food, others have tours and the list goes on and on…
Might we recommend, on the basis of convenience, that your first morning — jetlag still fully in control — you bring yourself back to reality with a quick walk two doors north to Green Flash Coffee.
A hole-in-the-wall and an easy trek before you start your day.