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Kawela Plantation, Molokai: A Buyer’s Guide

Posted by benjamen.harper@gmail.com on September 19, 2024
Hawaii Real Estate, Molokai
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Kawela Plantation is a subdivision of roughly 120 two-acre agricultural lots on the hillside above Molokai’s south shore, about 4.5 miles east of Kaunakakai. It has its own homeowners association, its own well water system, and several thousand acres of shared land behind it for hiking and hunting. Listings there often mention ocean views, and the 2-acre lots are larger than most in-town parcels.

It’s also on Molokai, which is a very different market from Maui or Oahu. Here’s what buyers should know about the subdivision and the island before they get serious.

The basics

  • Location. Kawela, on the south coast, about 4.5 miles east of Kaunakakai along Kamehameha V Highway. Town, groceries and the harbor are a short drive away.
  • Lots. About 120 agricultural lots, generally around 2 acres each, on the slopes above the highway. Ground was broken in December 1980.
  • Phases. The subdivision is divided into Units I, II and III, each with its own common grounds.
  • Common land. Listings describe about 5,500 acres of common land for hiking and hunting (some say 5,700), plus an association beach park at Kaoaini.

The association and the CC&Rs

Everything at Kawela Plantation runs through the Kawela Plantation Homeowners Association. It publishes its declarations of covenants (the CC&Rs), bylaws, rules and regulations, design rules, hunting and hiking rules, beach park rules and a historic sites policy. Read all of them before you make an offer, not after.

A few things to look for specifically:

  • Design rules. What you can build, how big, and what the review process looks like.
  • How many dwellings a lot allows. Some listings say the CC&Rs may allow more than one home on certain lots. Don’t assume that applies to every lot. Confirm with the association and Maui County.
  • Dues and assessments. Dues cover the water system and common areas. Ask for the current amount, the reserve study and any special assessments in the works.
  • Historic sites. Kawela is rich in archaeological sites, and the association has a policy on them. If there are sites on or near a lot, it can affect where you build.

Water

Water is the first question on any rural Molokai property, and Kawela Plantation has a better answer than most. The association runs its own water system, drawing from two groundwater wells under the subdivision, with chlorination. Its 2018 water quality report showed no violations. Water is paid through the association, and some lot listings point out that a water meter is already installed, which makes building easier.

Ask for the latest water quality report and for any planned work on the wells or pipes. A small private system is only as good as the association behind it.

History in the ground

Kawela has a long history of Hawaiian settlement. A group of archaeological sites at Kawela was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. In 2023, a re-dating of a habitation mound along the highway placed its earliest layer around the 1100s to early 1200s, which makes it one of the oldest known habitation sites in Hawaii. For a buyer, this mostly means respecting the sites and the association’s policy, and expecting some care before any grading.

What Molokai’s market is like

Molokai has very few sales. In June 2026, the whole island saw five single-family sales with a median of $520,000, plus two condo and two land sales. With numbers that small, medians jump around month to month, and pricing a specific property comes down to a handful of comparable sales.

Kawela Plantation lots and homes come up only occasionally, and with 2-acre lots and ocean views they tend to sit at the upper end of Molokai’s market. Look at what’s actually listed and what has recently sold in the subdivision before deciding what a fair price is.

The island’s attitude toward development

Molokai residents have pushed back hard against large-scale development, and it has shaped the island. The clearest example is Molokai Ranch, which owned more than 60,000 acres, about a third of the island. Its plan for a 200-lot luxury subdivision on 500 acres at La’au Point drew strong community opposition, and in March 2008 the company shut down, blaming that opposition. It closed the Molokai Lodge, the Kaluakoi golf course, the Maunaloa movie theater and gas station, and its cattle operation, laid off more than 120 workers, and closed access to its land. The ranch was put up for sale in 2017, with a $260 million asking price reported in 2019.

Vacation rentals are another example. In 2020, Maui County cut Molokai’s cap on short-term rental home permits to zero. If your plan depends on vacation rental income, Molokai is the wrong island.

None of this means newcomers aren’t welcome. It means Molokai suits people who want to live there quietly, on the island’s terms, more than people with big plans for the land.

FAQ

How far is Kawela Plantation from Kaunakakai? About 4.5 miles east along the south shore highway.

Can I use a home at Kawela Plantation as a vacation rental? Generally no. Maui County set Molokai’s short-term rental home permit cap to zero in 2020, and the lots are agricultural. Check current county rules before buying.

Where does the water come from? The association’s own system, fed by two groundwater wells, billed through the association.

Is flood insurance needed? It depends on the lot. Most lots sit on the slope above the highway, but check each parcel on the state’s flood hazard map and get an insurance quote before you’re in contract.

Questions about buying or selling in Hawaii? Call or text 808-866-6593, or start here →

Sources

General information as of October 2026, not legal advice. Association rules, dues and county regulations change; confirm current documents with the Kawela Plantation Homeowners Association and Maui County.