sorry not to have recommendations for a short overnight in kailua-kona en famile. we're hicks from the far northern tip of the island, and think of kailua as that high-traffic city, south of the too-often-visited airport, where we go to shop as rarely as possible.
would it be cheaper to take a cab or hire a rental for the overnight if I stay eight or nine miles from the airport?
probably get the rental, but i really don't know on price. thrifty is said to have good prices for the rentals.