So basicaly I am looking at converting my Kona Ute to one of two things, either a drop bar or a bullhorn bar configuration.

Where I am running into a bit of a rub is with brake levers. The Ute has Avid BB-5 mountain calipers on it so the lever pull is aparently different from what a road caliper would be.

Can anyone give me any insight into some levers that would work and fall into either the bullhorn barend style or the drop bar style (STI or just the brake levers themselves would be fine, but I am looking to have a hood position to ride in).

Thank you for any help as I have come up empty in my non-bike mechanic searching ability.

Avid's MTB mechanical discs require long-pull levers. For drop-style bars that means the Tektro RL-520 or the Cane Creek-branded version.
Avid's ROAD mechanical discs work with STI and conventional-pull levers.

so you use V brake compatible road lever , Tekto or Cane Creek, just 2..

Or you change the calipers to a short pull Road type, [maybe go to BB7 while you are at it.]
then you may get the Road STI brifters to work..
^^^ as above..

or there is the QBP travel agent thing .. cable coils thru a roller
with a bigger diameter on the exit, than the entrance, so changes cable pull.
their Inline version is for disc brakes..
it needs a place to bolt it to, somewhere in the cable run
typically the v brake frame boss you don't need to mount a brake...

Looks like a set of Tektro RL520 will do the job nicely. Most likely will pair them with some Shimano 9 Spd bar end shifters. Much less expensive than doing a set of Avid Road calipers and a set of STI Levers.

Thanks Guys!!

Just a heads up on the 520 levers -- the cable housing exits the body/hood at an odd angle. Be prepared to file/dremel the body for a cleaner housing/cable run.