Known for its futuristic design, it featured 40 wood-floor bowling lanes, a game room, a lounge, and a coffee shop that eventually became a Mexican diner.

Built during the advent of Googie architecture, its Polynesian-inspired Tiki styling extended from the large roadside sign to the building's neon lights and exaggerated rooflines.

Kona Lanes opened in 1958, featuring the Tiki-inspired signage and architecture that became popular following World War II,[1] including what the Los Angeles Times called its "flamboyant neon lights and ostentatious rooflines meant to attract motorists like moths".

Its massive neon-lit street sign remained for the life of the building,[6] and Kona was the only bowling establishment in the area to reject automatic scoring equipment throughout its existence.

[7] Kona Lanes hosted the Southern California PBA Open twice in 1964; Billy Hardwick won in April and Jerry Hale in December.

[8][9] Longtime general manager Dick Stoeffler,[10] known at the time as the producer and host of TV Bowling Tournament on KTLA,[11][12] finished third during the televised finals in his own building in December, behind Hale and Hardwick.

[31] In later years, much of the bowlers' area was taped off for rock concerts and weekend promotions like Club Crush, which proved popular among teenagers and also led to album recordings.

[32] A planned event featuring a local punk rock group was shut down by the Costa Mesa Police Department, leading to negative publicity.

[7] In February 2003, Mayor Karen Robinson complained to commissioners that Costa Mesa's policy-makers were discarding recreation as part of the quality of residents' lives, and appealed their decision.

[46] In 2012, Costa Mesa planners began to upgrade The Triangle, a retail space along Harbor Boulevard two miles south of the Kona Lanes site.

[52] The KONA LANES cabinet was refurbished and put on permanent display; the larger, badly rusted BOWL section tore and collapsed as it was offloaded in Cincinnati, and was not saved.