Topic: PARKING DOWN TOWN, Is parking hard to find in Kona Town? Any tips?
Where do I park downtown Kailua Kona?
Along the main drag going South thru down town (Alli Drive), past the seawall and pier on the right and the little shops and restaurants on the left, then past the Palace on your right then right after Kona Inn still on your right but still in front of the Kona Inn Shopping Plaza, then notice that you are coming to a cross street but still in front of the Kona Inn Shopping Plaza with Uncle Billy’s Hotel and Restaurant on your left across from the Kona Inn Shopping Plaza (if you continued you would go past Bubba Gump Restaurant on the right, if further Huggo’s and Lulus on the right) and just before you get to the outdoor Farmer’s Market you will see a thru street (Hualalai Rd) that you should turn left onto — if you continue it connects to Kuakini Highway. There are three parking lots. The one closest to the street on your right after you turn onto Hualalai Rd is a pay lot BUT the one after that on the right side is free. After that free lot is the library. Then across from the free lot on the right next to the library and farmer’s market, across on the left side which is behind Uncle Billy’s is another free lot. Those are good places because you can walk up and down and all around town. Otherwise there is usually parking in front of some of the stores as well on a first come basis. There are other lots which you may discover but more difficult to describe and also usually fuller. Most of our “malls”, “outdoor markets” and other shopping centers have parking that is adequate, just downtown grew more than anyone would have anticipated to provide parking for way back when.
Depending how busy it is down there you may have to drive around and wait for a space.
On some days you may find a space directly in front of Kona Inn Restaurant (there are four or five depending on whether they have them blocked that day for deliveries) but don’t park on the strip in front of the parking spaces (that is an emergency fire zone) — people do but they also occasionally get $60 tickets.
