Public courts in West Hawaiʻi are run by the County of Hawaiʻi Department of Parks and Recreation. On the Kona side, the two county parks with both tennis and pickleball are Kailua Park — the park at the old Kona airport on the north edge of town — and Harold H. Higashihara Park, also on Kuakini Highway. The county's pickleball page lists more than 30 pickleball locations island-wide, but only these two in West Hawaiʻi.
At a glance
| Park | Address | Tennis | Pickleball | Lines |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kailua Park (Old Kona Airport) | 75-5500 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona | Outdoor courts | 3 by reservation + 6 first come, first served | Painted |
| Harold H. Higashihara Park | 78-7300 Kuakini Hwy, Kailua-Kona | Outdoor courts | 2 by reservation | Bring your own |
Kailua Park (Old Kona Airport)
Kailua Park is a North Kona district park whose county listing includes outdoor tennis courts, pickleball courts, a gym, a swimming pool, a skate park, sports fields, a walking path and picnic facilities. It occupies the grounds of the old Kona airport: the runway opened in 1948, airlines moved to the new Kona International Airport at Keāhole in 1970, and the site became a state recreation area in 1976, with the county running the facilities on its 103.7 acres. Locals call it "Old A."
The county's Kailua Park listing and the Pickleheads listing for the Old Kona Airport Recreation Area share the address 75-5500 Kuakini Highway. For pickleball, the county lists three reservable courts and six first-come, first-served courts with painted lines — the only first-come courts in the county's entire list. A 2025 Hawaii Tribune-Herald/West Hawaii Today feature reported six new pickleball-only courts added at Kailua Park in November 2024, counted 15 pickleball courts at Old Kona Airport Park, and said winter play there could draw up to 100 people at once, with long waits. Pickleheads lists a $5 drop-in for organized play on its asphalt courts; the county itself does not list a fee for first-come courts.
Harold H. Higashihara Park
Higashihara is a North Kona community park at 78-7300 Kuakini Highway. The county lists outdoor tennis courts and two pickleball courts, which require a reservation and have no painted pickleball lines — players bring their own. A Bounce listing describes a single hard court there, which suggests the pickleball courts share a tennis court; confirm with the county before planning a group session.
County rules for pickleball
- Participants or organizers must bring their own nets, and at "bring your own lines" sites, their own lines.
- Tape may not be used to mark lines; rubber throw-down lines or similar systems are allowed.
- Park hours are 7 a.m. to 8 p.m.; later use may be possible by approved special request.
- Most courts require a reservation; contact the facility or the county Recreation Division for the process.
Island-wide picture
The 2025 newspaper feature counted more than 20 established play locations around the island and described strong demand elsewhere too — the Kamana Senior Center program in Hilo registered 184 seniors for beginner classes in 2024. On the Kona side, the practical choice is between free county courts (with nets and, at Higashihara, lines to bring) and paid play at the private Holua courts in Keauhou.
Tips
- Arrive early at Kailua Park in winter, when the 2025 newspaper report described long waits.
- Carry a portable net and throw-down lines if you plan to use Higashihara.
- Plan around the county's 8 p.m. closing, which applies unless a special request is approved.