Kona Inn
Note to Ha‘ilono Extended Readers:
Kona Historical Society is pleased to present this featured story, which was compiled by the Society for a publication called "A Guide to Old Kona,” Copyright 1998. Permissions to use this copyrighted material must be obtained from Kona Historical Society, the copyright holder, and in writing.
The Kona Inn, built in 1928, herald the start of commercial tourism in Kona. The decision by the Inter-Island Steamship Navigation Company to place a hotel in the shadow of Hulihe’e Palace signaled a new era for the isolated and undeveloped village at Kailua. Credit for Kona Inn’s graceful design goes to Charles Dickey (1871-1942), responsible for many distinctive and well-known buildings throughout Hawai’i.
The Kona Inn was built for a wealthy, leisured class. It had a saltwater swimming pool, tennis courts, cocktail lounge, and an unbeatable sunset view. For local residents with money to spend, the Kona Inn offered the amenities of a country club. It was the place to be on New Year’s Eve and throughout the year. Hula dancers, ukulele players, and singers with a Hawaiian repertoire were in demand. During World War II, the Kona Inn’s bar was a favorite watering hole for military officers.
Why had Kailua taken so long to become a tourist destination?
A major problem was the lack of fresh water. The Kona Inn took over the Kona Development Co.’s abandoned sugar mill water system and piped water to the hotel and manager’s quarters. There was no regular County water system in Kailua until 1953.
Transportation was also a problem. The first commercial flight from Honolulu to the original Kona Airport just north of town landed in 1949. Before that, travel by steamer was the only choice, and they were built primarily for cargo transport with only basic passenger accommodations.
Hawai’i’s roads were also considered terrible because of the miles of lava, deep gulches and steep volcanic slopes. Despite these difficult conditions, the first guests to the Kon Inn arrived via a 121-mile ride in a touring Packard from Hilo via the Volcano. The next day, they took the 97 mile “short cut” back to Hilo via Waimea and the Hamakua Coast. What a trip! Packing a spare tire and patch kit was standard procedure.
The Kona Inn stopped housing guests in 1976. Today, a shopping complex built in the 1980s sprawls across former gardens and green laws. The best place to see the famous red roofs is from Kailua pier.
