Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club #3-101 “Hale Malama Pono”

Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club #3-101 “Hale Malama Pono” Overview

Look, I’ll be honest – when I first pulled up to Hale Malama Pono at the Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club, I wasn’t expecting much. The name’s a mouthful, and condo complexes can be hit or miss, you know? But this place actually surprised me in the best way possible.

The thing about staying in Keauhou is you’re getting the real Kona experience without the tourist circus that happens closer to town. Unit 3-101 sits perfectly positioned where you can hear the waves but you’re not getting sand tracked through your temporary home every five minutes. The morning coffee routine here is something else – I mean, you step out onto that lanai and there’s this view of the coastline that honestly makes you forget to check your phone for a while. The trade winds come through just right in the afternoons too, which is clutch because even with AC, there’s nothing like that natural Big Island breeze. What really sold me on this spot was how the locals treat it. You’ll see families from Kona coming down to the little beach area on weekends, kids learning to snorkel in the protected waters. That tells you everything – when locals choose a place for their own downtime, it’s legit. The tennis courts actually get used (shocking, I know), and there’s usually a pickup game happening if you’re into that sort of thing.

The unit itself feels like someone’s actual home, not some sterile vacation rental. The kitchen’s got everything you need if you want to hit the KTA in Kona and cook some local fish – which, by the way, is way cheaper than eating out every night and tastes infinitely better. Parking’s never been an issue, even during busy times, and honestly the whole property just has this laid-back vibe that matches the Kona coast perfectly. You’re close enough to drive into town for dinner at Huggo’s or to catch the sunset crowds at Magic Sands Beach, but far enough away that you’re not dealing with cruise ship chaos every morning. The snorkeling right out front is decent too – not Molokini Crater level, but you’ll see plenty of tropical fish and maybe a turtle if you’re patient. I’ve stayed at fancier resorts on the island, sure, but there’s something about this place that just works. Maybe it’s the way the property sits right on that rocky coastline, or how quiet it gets at night except for the waves hitting the lava rock. Either way, it’s one of those spots where you actually feel like you’re living in Hawaii for a week instead of just visiting it.

Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club #3-101 “Hale Malama Pono” Accommodations

Reviews of Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club #3-101 “Hale Malama Pono”

• Tiana from United States (9/10)

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