Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

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For the town in Oahu, see Kailua, Hawaii.
"Kona" redirects here. For other uses, see Kona (disambiguation).

Kailua-Kona is a census-designated place (CDP) in Hawaiʻi County, Hawaiʻi, United States, in the North Kona District of the Island of Hawaiʻi. It is the center of commerce and of the tourist industry on West Hawaiʻi. It is the site of the world-famous Ironman Triathlon World Championship held each year in October and broadcast around the world. It is also the home of the Hawaiian International Billfish Tournament. The town's post office is designated Kailua-Kona to differentiate it from the larger, Kailua located on windward Oʻahu, although it is referred to as "Kona" in everyday speech. Many place names in the Hawaiian Islands are repeated on several islands, but the two Kailuas are the only confusing conflict in this regard. The city is served by Kona International Airport. Kailua-Kona was the closest major settlement to the epicenter of the 2006 Hawaiʻi Earthquake.

Kailua-Kona Bay, Jan. 2007
Kailua-Kona Bay, Jan. 2007

Contents

[edit] History

Kailua-Kona was established by King Kamehameha I to be his seat of government (he was originally the chief of Kona before consolidating rule of the archipelago), and the capital of the newly unified Kingdom of Hawaiʻi. (The capital was later moved to Lāhainā, then, to Honolulu.) Royal fishponds at Kaloko-Honokōhau National Historical Park were the hub of unified Hawaiian culture. The town then functioned as a retreat of the Hawaiian royal family. Up until the late 1900’s, Kailua-Kona was primary a small fishing village.[1] More recently, this region has undergone a real estate and construction boom fueled by tourism and investment.

[edit] Geography

Location of Kailua-Kona, Hawaiʻi

Kailua-Kona is located at 19°38'60" North, 155°59'39" West (19.649973, -155.994028)[2], 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]

According to the United States Census Bureau, the CDP has a total area of 39.8 square miles (103.0 km²), of which, 35.5 square miles (91.9 km²) of it is land and 4.3 square miles (11.0 km²) of it is water. The total area is 10.71% water.

The Kailua-Kona postal code is 96740. Other communities located in this zip code include: Kalaoa, Kealakehe, Kahaluʻu, and Keauhou.

[edit] Climate

The coldest month in Kona is February and the average high in February is 80 F while the average low is 64 F. August is the warmest month and the average high is 87 F while the average low is 69 F. Humidity is between 50% and 80%. The temperature change between night and day is greater than the temperature change between winter and summer. Mornings are typically clear while thermal clouds created in the day raises the temperature during the day.[4]

Vog can cover parts of the Kona coast from time to time depending on the activity of the Kilauea and the island winds. Kailua-Kona is located in the leeward side of the Hualalai Volcano sheltering the town from wind and rain.[5]

[edit] Demographics

As of the census[6] of 2000, there were 9,870 people, 3,537 households, and 2,429 families residing in the CDP. The population density was 278.0 people per square mile (107.3/km²). There were 4,322 housing units at an average density of 121.7/sq mi (47.0/km²). The racial makeup of the CDP was 38.65% White, 0.46% Black or African American, 0.46% Native American, 18.28% Asian, 13.16% Pacific Islander, 1.93% from other races, and 27.07% from two or more races. 10.20% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.

There were 3,537 households out of which 35.0% have 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 the CDP 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 CDP 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 per capita income for the CDP was $20,624. 10.8% of the population and 6.5% of families were below the poverty line. 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.

[edit] Points of interest

Oceanfront south of Huliheʻe Palace. For more pictures of Kona, please see Wikimedia Commons.
Oceanfront south of Huliheʻe Palace. For more pictures of Kona, please see Wikimedia Commons.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Doughty, Andrew. Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook, 4th ed, p. 58. Lihuʻe: Wizard. ISBN 13: 978-0-9717279-4-6. ISBN 10: 0-9717279-4-5.
  2. ^ US Gazetteer files: 2000 and 1990. United States Census Bureau (2005-05-03). Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  3. ^ Doughty, Andrew. Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook, 4th ed, p. 26. Lihuʻe: Wizard. ISBN 13: 978-0-9717279-4-6. ISBN 10: 0-9717279-4-5.
  4. ^ Doughty, Andrew. Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook, 4th ed, p. 26. Lihuʻe: Wizard. ISBN 13: 978-0-9717279-4-6. ISBN 10: 0-9717279-4-5.
  5. ^ Doughty, Andrew. Hawaii The Big Island Revealed: The Ultimate Guidebook, 4th ed, p. 58. Lihuʻe: Wizard. ISBN 13: 978-0-9717279-4-6. ISBN 10: 0-9717279-4-5.
  6. ^ American FactFinder. United States Census Bureau. Retrieved on 2008-01-31.
  7. ^ Hawaii's Official Tourism Site - Kailua-Kona, Hawaii's Big Island

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
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Municipalities and communities of
Hawaii County, Hawaii
County seat: Hilo
CDPs
Map of Hawaii highlighting Hawaiʻi County
Unincorporated
communities