Opened in 2002, Kukio is an 1100 acre master-planned community as well as a private equity club, requiring an initial membership fee along with the property purchase, then annual dues afterward.
This is a Residential community - no rentals are permitted – with the amenities of a high-end resort.
The entire Kukio project is made up of 3 separate areas – Kukio, Maniniowali and Kaupulehu. Residents of all 3 have full use of the Kukio Club’s amenities, even those located outside their in one of the other 2 communities.
Kukio 675 acres in total, this is an oceanfront community with all of Kukio Beach along its coastline. Most of the Club’s amenities are located inside Kukio, including one of the golf courses and the main Clubhouse.
Kukio Homes Approx. 143 lots of 16.9K Sq Ft – 2 acres with 3 – 7BR, 1 & 2-story homes. Vacant homesites are still on the market as well. The residences are spread throughout the property, from just inside the inland border to the oceanfront, many of them fronting the golf course. The homes have mountain, golf course and/or ocean views.
Kukio Communities The 2 cottage communities are both located near the ocean, closer than most of the homesites:
- Kuaau Cottages – Built in 2006. 4 & 5BR homes organized under a Condominium Property Regime (CPR). Residences have their own yard & pool, some featuring a separate guest cottage as well.
- Kukio Beach Club & Cottages – Built in 2002. 3 & 4BR homes under a Condominium Property Regime. Cottages have Mountain and/or ocean views as well as their own pool & yard.
Maniniowali 300 acres in size, Maniniowali is immediately south of Kukio. The property is approx. 800 feet from the coastline and Maniniowali Beach, separated by Kekaha Kai State Park. The lot sizes here are the biggest of the 3 areas.
The
Kukio Club’s Sports Complex is here, giving residents easy access to its tennis & basketball courts, sports field and more.
Maniniowali Homes – 111 lots of 1.22 – 7 acres with 3 – 6BR, 1 & 2-story homes. Homesites are available for custom builds. Residences have ocean and/or mountain views and their own pool.
Kaupulehu This oceanfront project is 3.5 miles north of Kukio and is also the newest of the 3 areas.
Amenities in Kaupulehu include the 10-acre Kaupulehu Beach Club, which has 2 swimming pools, dining lanai, wooden Polynesian-style pavilions, beach bar, and event lawn, the facility fronting onto a black sand beach.
Kaupulehu Homes - 101 oceanfront and near-ocean lots of 34.4K Sq Ft – 2.27 acres with 4 – 7BR, 1 & 2-story homes. Vacant homesites are also available for custom building. Residences have ocean and mountain views.
Things To Do In Kukio Much of the activity for all of Kukio is centered on the Beach Clubhouse that looks out on the ocean. It features:
- Kukio Dining Pavilion
- Beach Bar
- Professionally staffed Fitness Center with pool
- Kukio Spa
- Games Room, which includes sporting events viewing area
- Event Lawn.
This is also where you’ll find the
Outdoor Pursuits Team, who will set up and equip you for outrigger paddling, diving, biking, fitness programs, special tours & other activities. They also hold special classes and cultural events on Native Hawaiian history and practices.
Members also have use of the Sports Complex, which has:
- 4 Rebound Ace Tennis Courts
- Basketball Court
- Sports Field
- Sand Volleyball Court
- Pool, with Hot Tub & a separate Kid’s Pool
- Playground.
Hikes Kukio Beach Path – Approx. 1 mile round trip. Not difficult or too long, this paved path runs from the north end of Kukio Beach to Kumukea Beach. Entire span is along the ocean and sea turtles are a common sight along the way.
Tennis The Sports Complex has 4 Rebound Ace
tennis courts, with a full-time pro on staff. Private lessons are available.
Golf Kukio has the only courses designed by
Tom Fazio on the Big Island. They are open solely to members and guests of the resort.
- Kukio Championship Golf Course – A challenging course, partly due to its changes in elevation, approximately 400 ft total. Golfers can look out at the coastline from Kona up to Kohala. The course is just across Queen Kaahumanu Hwy from Kukio.
- Kukio 10-Hole Short Course – 5 of the 10 are oceanfront holes. Features like elevation changes, tighter fairways & fast greens keep it challenging for all levels. Club and shot choices are the keys to this course.
Beaches - Kukio Beach – Arrive early because the resort has only a few free parking passes for the general public. Rocky in places, but the sand is excellent and you can do the 1 mile beach walk there. Turtles are spotted here often.
- Maniniowali Beach – Soft sand and crystal-blue waters made for boogie boarding and snorkeling. Wear shoes because you may have to hike over some lava rock to get to a less crowded stretch of sand.
Dining - Kukio Beach Club Restaurant – Hawaiian/American cuisine. Oceanfront location serving breakfast, lunch & dinner. Large menu ranging from pizza, wraps & salads to ahi tuna and fish tacos. Private, custom dining experiences can be booked as well.
- Kukio Golf Club Restaurant – Mediterranean cuisine. Open-air dining room and bar. Known for fresh seafood dishes and an extensive wine list. Their lava rock grilled steak is a particular favorite of diners.
History of Kukio The Kukio area followed the pattern of other Kona coastal areas, being settled by Native Hawaiians drawn by the plentiful fishing here. The 1800 & 1801 Hualalai eruptions altered life here completely, though. The main lava flows did not cover Kukio, as it did nearby areas, but it took away the trade, protection and support it had through them. Without that, most were forced to move inland or to towns now growing due to the profitable whaling and plantation industries.
Outside of the few who remained, the coastal area was used mainly as part of the route linking Kona and Kohala. The last decades of the 20th Century saw a new interest in this part of Hawaii, beyond just vacationers. Recognizing this opportunity, these lands were finally purchased in the 1990s and then developed by the Discovery Land Company as the 1st private equity club community in Hawaii.
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