Vacationers wondering where local folks stay when they visit Hawaii Island’s western Kona coast are increasingly likely to hear about the Pacific 19 Kona, a boutique hotel located right in the heart of Kailua-Kona village.
“Anytime there’s any sort of sporting event or concert, we’re always booked up,” said Amanda Thevenot, general manager at Pacific 19. “And a lot of inter-island travelers come here when they’re doing staycations in state.”
Formerly the Kona Seaside Hotel, the 150-room property was acquired by new ownership in 2022 and subsequently underwent a substantial renovation, during which all the guestrooms and common spaces were upgraded, according to Thevenot.
“It’s urban modern with a flair of tropical,” she said of Pacific 19’s design aesthetic today.
The pool at Pacific 19 Kona
Credit: 2025 Pacific 19 KonaThe vibe was certainly easygoing with a hint of hip during my first stay at the boutique earlier this spring, when I spent a couple of nights in one of Pacific 19’s two suite products.
Spacious and comfortable, the ground floor unit featured a living room, a bedroom, two bathrooms, flat screen televisions and a refrigerator along with a cozy lanai that opened onto a grassy lawn.
Starting at around $300 a night — and commissionable to travel advisors at 10% — the Ohana Suite is a terrific option for a couple or a small family, who could have the kids overnight on the sleeper sofa in the living room.
Pacific 19’s location, meanwhile, makes sense for travelers who want to enjoy the fun energy of Kailua-Kona’s restaurants and shopping along oceanfront Alii Drive.
The hotel is located in Kailua-Kona village.
Credit: 2025 Pacific 19 Kona“It’s a very walkable location, and you’re in the middle of everything,” Thevenot said. “We also have bikes that people take out all the time and ride up and down to Alii. … It’s an easy place to explore — with or without a car.”
The boutique hotel is 500 feet from Kailua Bay and less than five minutes from sandy Kamakahonu Beach, but it’s also an excellent launching point for activities such as Kealakekua Bay snorkeling tours, night swimming with manta rays near Keauhou Bay or activities at the Kona Cloud Forest Sanctuary on the nearby slopes of Hualalai. Thevenot noted that stays by out-of-state guests — often young, urban couples and families visiting from California or the Pacific Northwest — last anywhere from two to 10 nights.
“We’ve noticed that a lot of guests will stay here for a few days, go explore other parts of the island and then come back to us because of the proximity to the airport,” she explained, saying that Pacific 19 is a roughly 15-minute drive from Kona International Airport.
During my stay, sunset strolls along Alii Drive — with mandatory stops for ice cream at Scandinavian Shave Ice — were highlights of my Hawaii Island visit. And I also had a blast on the surfboard I rented just a short drive south on Alii Drive at Kona Town Surf Adventures, where vacationers can book a surf lesson on the beginner-friendly waves fronting Kahaluu Beach park.
For clients in search of a boutique experience loaded with laidback aloha and terrific access to many of Hawaii Island’s top activities and attractions, the Pacific 19 Kona deserves some serious consideration.
