History calls to me whenever I’m in Kailua-Kona on Hawaii Island. I remember that in 1812, two years after Kamehameha I fulfilled his quest to unite the islands, he moved his residence and the kingdom’s capital from Oahu to Kamakahonu, the area at the north end of what is now Alii Drive, the town’s main street.
I recall that major changes occurred within a year of his death on May 8, 1819. His favorite wife, Queen Kaahumanu, sat for a meal with Liholiho, his son and successor, breaking the taboo that forbid women to eat with men. The old religion and heiau (temples) were abandoned, including Ahuena Heiau at Kamakahonu, where Kamehameha once prayed and conferred with his advisors. Over the years, like many other heiau, it was reduced to a pile of rocks — a victim of neglect and the elements.
In April 1820, the first contingent of missionaries landed in Kailua-Kona, and many Hawaiians converted to Christianity. Mokuaikaua, Hawaii’s oldest Christian church, stands across Alii Drive from Hulihee Palace, the former vacation home of alii (Hawaiian royalty).
Modern Amenities at the Renovated Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
“We’re at a ka huina [crossroads], where the past meets the present,” said Chris Colvin, director of sales for the seaside Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel, as we admired a coastal panorama stretching across Kamakahonu and Kailua bays to Kailua-Kona. “Ahuena Heiau was reconstructed on hotel property from 1975 to 1977. Because of its historical significance, it has been designated by the state as a Special Management Area to be preserved in perpetuity. Just beyond our front entrance is the heart of town; Mokuaikaua Church and Hulihee Palace are a five-minute walk away, as are great shops, restaurants and attractions.”
We’re at a ka huina [crossroads] where the past meets the present.
Opened in 1975, Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel is itself a landmark. Under various owners, it has kept up with the times; during its most recent refurbishment in 2020, all public areas, meeting rooms and 455 guestrooms and suites were completely refreshed.
Clients can also expect first-class amenities, including a day spa, a yoga studio, an infinity pool, a 24-hour fitness center, tennis courts and cabanas with food-and-beverage service. Snorkeling, kayaking, outrigger canoe rides and stand-up paddleboarding can be easily booked on-site. And included in the daily $22 resort fee are two beach chairs with an umbrella and one-hour snorkel gear rentals for two.
Stand-up paddleboarding is one of the activities clients can enjoy during their stay.
Credit: 2022 Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach HotelDining and the Island Breeze Luau
At the alfresco Billfish Poolside Bar & Grille, everything is served with a fabulous ocean view. My breakfast favorites were Kalua Benedict, featuring smoked pig and lilikoi (passion fruit) hollandaise, and Punaluu French Toast, made with local sweet bread and haupia (coconut pudding) cream cheese.
Punaluu French Toast, served at the Billfish Poolside Bar & Grille.
Credit: 2022 Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach HotelPresented Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays on a torch-lit pavilion beside Kamakahonu Bay, the Island Breeze Luau stands out for its stellar Polynesian show; informative narration; and bountiful buffet of poi, lomi salmon, fresh fish, pig cooked in an imu (underground oven), poke (seasoned raw fish), banana bread, haupia and more.
On Friday and Saturday evenings, the Prime Rib and Seafood Buffet at Honu’s on the Beach Restaurant is a must-have dining experience. Highlights of this all-you-can-eat smorgasbord include sashimi, poke, crab legs, shrimp tempura, kimchee mussels and carved-to-order prime rib. Nobody ever leaves hungry.
Historic Hawaii
A stay at King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel also satiates those with an appetite for Hawaiian history and culture. A complimentary 45-minute tour beginning at 9:30 a.m. on Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays and Sundays introduces clients to Kamakahonu, the Kamehameha dynasty and the resort’s fascinating displays of art and artifacts.
I spent over an hour in the foyer off the lobby, perusing portraits of alii; a museum-quality whale tooth pendant and a feather cape, a helmet and lei; and 40 lithographs by the late Herb Kawainui Kane, a renowned Hawaiian artist, author and historian. The paintings depict famous island scenes and battles and alii who are important figures in Hawaii’s story, as well as farmers, fishermen, navigators, weavers and other craftsmen.
Forty lithographs by the late Herb Kawainui Kane are displayed in the foyer off the lobby.
Credit: 2022 Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel“Herb designed the exhibit,” Colvin said. “He selected the art, decided the order they should appear in and wrote the accompanying text. He was a meticulous researcher; you learn so much just by reading those notes.”
Colvin regards the exhibit as particularly noteworthy because of Kane’s role as curator.
“In addition to showcasing Herb’s talent and knowledge, it connects viewers to Hawaii’s history,” he said. “Kamehameha chose to rule the islands from Kamakahonu in the last years of his life. He knew it is a very special place, and during visitors’ stay with us, we hope they will recognize that, too.”
The Details
Courtyard King Kamehameha’s Kona Beach Hotel
