The Marriott King Kamehameha in Kailua-Kona: Best of the Big Island

When we’re in Kailua-Kona we always prefer to be walking distance to activities and meals, and the King Kamehameha Hotel is better than walking distance. It is directly in the hub of town. A Courtyard Marriott property, the King Kamehameha Hotel is beautifully decorated, has fantastic amenities and is, I think, the nicest place to stay in Kailua-Kona.

When you first see the King Kamehameha Hotel you’ll notice that it’s got that vintage Hawaiian architecture look just a bit. Don’t let that fool you though because it’s one of the best kept, best maintained properties we’ve stayed at in Hawaii. If you have any questions about the King Kamehameha or visiting the Big Island in general, please leave a comment or send us a note. We’re always happy to share more.

Why Stay at the King Kamehameha Hotel

I could happily stay at the King Kamehameha Courtyard Marriott any time for lots of reasons. The rooms are wonderful, the public spaces are full of Hawaiian art, the food is good, but the highlight really is the the beach cove. While the Royal Kona Resort has an incredible giant tide pool for snorkeling, the King Kamehameha Hotel is set just off Kamehameha Beach, which is open to the public.

Yes, you can come to this beach and swim and snorkel even if you’re not staying here, but it’s great to be able to leave your room, walk onto the beach and just swim without having to park a car or bring beach gear. As you swim, you’ll notice that Kamakahonu National Historic Site is here in the cove, so that makes being here even more special.

Book the Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel here!

Room Options at the Marriott King Kamehameha

Like has become the norm in many upscale properties, in Hawaii and elsewhere, the room types tend to vary based on bed arrangement and view. At the King Kamehameha Beach Resort you can either get a standard or an ocean view room. You can get a room with two queen beds or a king with a pullout sofa. There is a King Suite option as well, but it’s just got a bit more living space. All rooms have their own lanai / balcony, so choose your room based on what you need for sleeping and if you care about the view.

The way our family travels, even when we’re staying at a nice resort like the King Kamehameha Beach Resort, we don’t spend a ton of time there. We travel to see places and experience everything, and that includes when we visit Kailua-Kona. The standard rooms at the King Kamehameha Beach Resort are very nice and plenty big, and each has its own outdoor space too, so you’ll be able to relax outside after the kids go to bed. You really only need the room for sleeping and refreshing between activities.

Even if you’re staying at the King Kamehameha Courtyard Marriott for the beach and pool, there is so much space around the property that if you have set aside lounge days at the resort, you’ll have plenty of options. Yes, we do love staying at a resort and having the option of cooking for ourselves and whatnot, but we don’t need that in Kona because we really love a lot of the restaurants and are happy to dine out.

Marriott King Kamehameha Hotel Amenities

Being one of the nicest places to stay directly in Kailua-Kona, the King Kamehameha Hotel has lots of great amenities for guests. I’ll start with the fitness center as it’s the best one I’ve used in any hotel on the Big Island. there are lots of free weights and machines, TRX equipment, cardio equipment, yoga mats… It’s ideal for somebody who is used to going to the gym everyday.

Now, beyond that the property has lots of other wonderful elements for guests, including a beautiful Native Hawaiian art gallery, a convenience store, shave ice shop on property and great outdoor space. Yes, the swimming pool and hot tub at the King Kamehameha Hotel are nice and great for kids, but you have to also think about where this hotel actually is. When you walk out of the Marriott King Kamehameha you are at Kamakahonu Beach and historic site. This is a wonderful swimming beach complete with chairs for hotel guests. The snorkeling is pretty good and you can even swim out to the Ironman swimming lanes.

Dining at the King Kamehameha Hotel

There are a lot of great places to eat in Kailua-Kona very near the King Kamehameha Hotel, but on-site you’re a bit limited. The main dining here is at the beachside restaurant, Honu’s On the Beach, which does breakfast, lunch and dinner. It’s good, but it’s not my favorite for family dining in Kailua-Kona.

The Billfish is the poolside restaurant and they do lunch, dinner and snacks, as well as drink service. I like the Billfish, even when we’re not sitting by the pool. Lastly, there is the shave ice shop, Ululani’s, which is a family favorite for us. Even when we’re not staying here, it’s a must-visit for our kids.

For coffee and more, you’ll need to cross the street over to the Kau Coffee Mill Cafe. This is a cafe for a local Kona Coffee grower, who actually runs one of our favorite coffee farms on the island. You can visit the Kau Coffee Mill when you’re driving from the Punaluu Black Sand Beach or Kona Coast to Hawaii Volcanoes National Park or Hilo. Love it!

Marriott King Kamehameha Parking Information

Parking at the Marriott King Kamehameha is $35 per day and there isn’t a better option nearby. We are typically only here for one or two nights, so don’t need to worry about running up a huge cost, but if this is your homebase for exploring the Kona Coast you’ll likely need a car, so just roll with the parking cost. If you’re plan is to come to Kailua-Kona and just do tours and easy sightseeing, you could make it without a car, but if you want to explore on your own, you’ll need one.

Activities and Sights in Kailua-Kona

Kailua-Kona is such a great town both for adventures and relaxing. There are tons of things to do directly in the city and then day trips up and down the Kona Coast open up a whole world of possibilities. When it comes to activities within 10 minutes of the King Kamehameha Hotel, there are lots of options.

• snorkel at Kamehameha Beach
• visit the Hulihe’e Palace
• do a nighttime manta ray snorkeling trip (Kona Style goes from the pier)
• visit Mountain Thunder Coffee for a tour
• check out the Kailua-Kona farmers market
• see the honu (Hawaiian green sea turtles) at Kaloko Honokohau NHP
• do a snorkeling trip down to Kealakekua Bay