5 Reasons to Choose Living at a Higher Elevation in Kona

Choosing what elevation to live at in Kona can be a tough decision, especially if you’re moving to the Big Island for the first time. What is the perfect elevation? Because Kailua-Kona sits on the slopes of Hualalai, we have many options of different elevations to choose from when it comes to buying a home. From sea level to 5,000 ft. of elevation, here’s 5 reasons to help you decide.

1. It’s Cooler

The first and most obvious reason is because it’s cooler. Temperatures on average are in the mid to low 80’s year-round at the lower elevations from sea level to roughly 1,000 feet. You’ll feel a considerable difference in the temperature if you go up the hill just a few miles to about the 1,500 foot level and higher.

Coffee trees grow well in Hualalai Farms

Right now at 2:30 in the afternoon, it’s 84 degrees in the Kona Vistas subdivision, which is at 540 feet. If you drive up to Holualoa, which is at 1,500 ft., the temperature is 78 degrees. And if you go up even higher to the Kaloko Mauka subdivision at 2,500 ft., it’s 75 degrees. For those that really want something cooler, try the top of Kaloko at 5,000 ft. where it’s 63 degrees…and dropping!

This 3 bed, 2 bath Hualalai Farms home on 5 acres is offered for $789,000 (MLS# 262798)

2. Larger Lots

Looking for a few acres of land and a little more privacy? The higher up you go in elevation, the more options you have to purchase homes with more acreage. Perhaps the idea of growing your own coffee, fruit trees, and living off the land is ideal for you. You’ll find just that in the Holualoa area and the subdivisions of Kaloko and Hualalai Farms.

Hualalai Farms is a gated community of 5-acre parcels that extends from around the 1,500 ft. level up to 2,200 ft. This Hualalai farms home (MLS# 262798) on 5 acres offers end of the road privacy with 250 coffee trees, fruit trees, gardens, and only about an acre and a half is cleared. The remaining acreage is untouched creating privacy and a blank slate for a buyer’s imagination.

3. Peace and Quiet

Higher elevation living brings rewards of peaceful and quiet surroundings. You’re free of the road noise, traffic, and congestion that is found in and around many of the lower elevation neighborhoods. No sirens blaring from the streets, or hearing your neighbors. You’ll enjoy the peace and quiet from the nature that’s all around you.

End of the road privacy

4. Abundance of Wildlife

When most people think about Hawaii’s wildlife, they naturally think of our incredibly beautiful oceans filled with tropical fish, turtles, dolphins, and whales. But there’s a surprising amount of wildlife on land that’s found at the higher elevations.

Would you like some milk with your coffee?

Wild turkeys, pigs, sheep, pheasants, ducks, geese, an array of native tropical birds, and parrots are all common visitors in Hualalai Farms. Parrots are often found in the mornings up in Kaloko forests, and by mid day they can be seen flying towards the coast, and back to the upper elevations in the evenings.

5. Ocean Views From a Country-Like Setting

You don’t have to sacrifice on having an ocean view just because you’re living higher up. When you live at a higher elevation, you’re rewarded with a country-like setting with all that that offers, and you can have some of the most incredible ocean views around.

Ocean views from 2,200 feet

You can have the best of both worlds when you live higher up. The sweet country smell and mountain feel, where you can even enjoy a fireplace on cool nights, yet you’re still just minutes to Historic Holualoa Village as well as the conveniences of Kailua-Kona town, and of course…the sun-drenched beaches and warm ocean waters.

For a personal tour of homes at a higher elevation in Kona, please contact me directly.