The gated complex itself has tennis courts (yay!) and a pool (nothing special, but good sized), but…read moreof course the main draw is that is it right on the ocean by Keauhou Bay.
Keauhou means "New Era" in Hawaiian, and this complex was probably just that when built but it is starting to get a little dated. Still, the main draw to this place is that it is built right by the water, right on the shore's edge, which was allowed back when the condos here were built.
To get the maximum benefit you need to stay in a direct ocean front unit. That's what we did, for two weeks, and it was a fabulous experience. The waves are right there both to hear and watch, as is the bay itself and its shoreline. You really can't get much better than that as far as location.
The inside of many of these units, is - to best describe it - 1970s. Although the one we stayed in had been updated as far as appliances, the carpet and upholstery all had that "sticky but not quite sticky" feeling of stuff that needs to be replaced. (However, keep in mind that being right by the ocean tends to do this to all cloths, over a not so long period of time.)
Our unit was an end unit townhome, one bedroom (bedroom upstairs, full baths upstairs and down (showers only, no tub), with kitchen and living room downstairs).
No A/C in these units - ceiling and portable fans only. This is fine some months of the year and inadequate other months - just depends on the weather (blame President Trump and global warming!).
Keauhou Bay is more of a snorkeling beach than swimming, and the shoreline is pebbly and rocky. It's not really a beginner snorkeling area - you must deal with rocks, some of them sharp, to launch past the shallow areas, and then if you go too far, which isn't really too far at all, currents will start pulling you out depending on what tide is in action.
If you want a soft fine sand beach for swimming, such as you'd find in southern California, you need to go elsewhere.
Around the bend are petroglyphs that commemorate a great battle between the Big Island chief who used to reign here, and the Maui chief who invaded, lost, and was pinned to the shore for seven days before he was slaughtered.
I went fishing just below our unit, and caught something on most every cast, although most of what I caught I threw back as being either too tropical or too small.
No fitness complex. No sauna/steam by the pool. No jacuzzi.
In all, a far superior Hawaii experience to staying in a hotel. Fully equipped kitchen. For our unit the owner's property manager sent someone within a day whenever anything needed repair. Nearby KTA Super Store sells everything you'd find in a mainland supermarket, plus fresh locally caught fish, and even fresher fish is available from other smaller local vendors.
Centrally located to Kailua-Kona, and to the attractions that are driving distance to the north and south.
