Best Area to Stay on the Big Island in a Vacation Rental

There is no single best area; the right one depends on how you like to vacation. The Big Island areas KBM describes are listed here alphabetically rather than ranked: Kailua-Kona, the Kohala Coast (including Mauna Lani) and Waikoloa. Choose Kailua-Kona for a walkable harbor town on Alii Drive, the Kohala Coast for the island's resort corridor of golf courses and calmer, reef-protected coves, or Waikoloa for a master-planned resort area with shops and a bay beach. Each description on this page comes from KBM's own location and resort pages. For a side-by-side look at the two sides of the island, read KBM's Kona vs. Kohala guide.

KBM's Kailua-Kona page describes it as the Big Island's main west-side town, with a more local, town-centered feel along Alii Drive than the resort-heavy Kohala Coast, and the shortest drive from Kona International Airport. KBM's guide adds that the town centers on a walkable oceanfront strip with Kailua Pier and the historic Hulihee Palace, and suits travelers who want easy access to coffee farms, fishing charters and snorkeling boats. KBM's currently listed Big Island resorts are in Mauna Lani and Waikoloa; see the Kona vs. Waikoloa guide to compare the town with the resort areas.

KBM's Kohala Coast page describes the coast as the broader lava-coast region north of Kona that includes Waikoloa and Mauna Lani, known for calm, sheltered beaches carved into black lava rock and some of the island's sunniest, driest weather. In Mauna Lani, KBM rents homes at Islands at Mauna Lani, a relaxed, gated resort community of spacious two-story villas, and One Ocean Estates, a gated oceanfront community inside the Mauna Lani Resort. For more, see where to stay in Mauna Lani and the Kohala Coast.

KBM's Waikoloa page describes Waikoloa as a master-planned Kohala Coast resort area built on former lava fields, with two large resort hotels, multiple golf courses, and the Kings' Shops and Queens' MarketPlace retail centers. KBM lists four Waikoloa resorts, alphabetically: Fairway Villas Waikoloa, Halii Kai, Kolea Kai and Waikoloa Colony Villas. For a closer look, see where to stay in Waikoloa.

For families, KBM's resort pages point to pools built for kids in Waikoloa: Halii Kai has an Ocean Club with a lagoon-style pool with a waterfall, a spa and a keiki (children's) wading pool, and Fairway Villas Waikoloa has a tiled infinity-edge pool and a BBQ and picnic area. For golf, KBM describes Islands at Mauna Lani as set right on the golf course and Fairway Villas Waikoloa as the only Waikoloa Beach Resort community where every condominium has Beach Golf Course views. For a private, quiet stay, KBM describes One Ocean Estates as a gated oceanfront community and Kolea Kai as an oceanfront estate with a private infinity-edge pool.

KBM's Fairway Villas Waikoloa page lists walking access to Anaehoomalu Bay, and KBM describes the Kolea Kai estate as just moments from Anaehoomalu Bay. In Mauna Lani, KBM's Islands at Mauna Lani page highlights the Mauna Lani Beach Club and a walk past ancient Hawaiian fishponds to Mauna Lani Beach. KBM's best beaches on the Big Island guide covers more beaches and snorkeling spots, and KBM concierge can share current ocean conditions before you swim.

KBM's Kohala Coast dining and activities FAQ lists oceanfront and casual restaurants and activities around Waikoloa and the Kohala Coast, such as Lava Lava Beach Club, the Waikoloa Petroglyph Preserve and Anaehoomalu Bay. Because the Big Island's districts sit far apart, KBM's guide on whether you need a rental car on the Big Island is worth reading before you choose an area.

Open any resort page linked above, enter your dates and guests, and book online, or call 808-568-3270 to talk with the reservations team. Booking direct with KBM Resorts means no booking-site fees and free 24-hour cancellation on direct bookings, plus a free 4-door rental car on Hawaii stays of 6+ nights, excludes Festive Weeks. See Book Direct and Save and all Big Island vacation rentals.