Kona Accommodation - Some advice please?

The basic choices at the macro level are in town or out of town - at one of the resort areas north of the Airport, the most popular one being Waikoloa.

If it’s in town, the next more micro-choice is within walking distance or not, and how far are you will be willing to walk. Beyond that, you can still be in-town, but then far enough away that you will need a car.