Hawaii Luxury Real Estate Blog

What It Costs to Sell a Home in Hawaii (2026 Listing Fees) Hawaii home seller’s guide · 2026 What does it cost to sell your Hawaii home? The listing fee is the biggest check you’ll write at closing — and since the 2024…

What It Costs to Have an Agent Buy You a Home in Hawaii (2026) Hawaii home buyer’s guide · 2026 What does it cost to have an agent buy you a Hawaii home? Since the 2024 NAR settlement, buyers sign their own agreement…

Hawaii’s short-term rental rules have never been a single set of laws — they’re four separate county frameworks that increasingly have little in common, layered over a rising state tax. If you own, operate, or are thinking about buying a vacation rental anywhere…

Maui’s short-term rental saga just took its most significant turn since Bill 9 became law. On June 19, 2026, the Maui County Council gave final approval to Bill 88, a measure creating two new hotel zoning districts designed to throw a lifeline to…

After nearly two years of debate, Maui’s most consequential short-term rental law is on the books — and the picture in mid-2026 is more nuanced than the headlines suggested. If you own a condo, are thinking about buying one, or just want to…

On an island where oceanfront estates routinely trade north of $2 million and the Kohala Coast resorts have become a cash-buyer playground, it’s easy to assume the Big Island has priced out everyone but the ultra-wealthy. It hasn’t. Two of the island’s most…

Maui packs an extraordinary range of markets into a single island — from luxury resort condos in Wailea to upcountry ranch land at 3,000 feet to the remote, rural reaches of Hana. Each region has its own climate, pricing logic, and rules, and…

Kauai is the smallest and most rural of Hawaii’s four main markets — and in some ways the most specialized. There’s no through-road around the island, inventory is genuinely thin, and the difference between a sunny south-shore condo and a wet north-shore estate…

Oahu may be small — about 600 square miles — but it is, by far, the most layered real estate market in Hawaii. Within a 45-minute drive you can move from a Honolulu high-rise to a rural North Shore ag lot to a…

The Big Island is not one market. It’s a dozen of them stitched together across 4,000 square miles — bigger than all the other Hawaiian islands combined. The agent who can quote you cesspool conversion costs in Puna may know nothing about the…

Buying a Home in Hawaiʻi as a Canadian A cross-border guide — updated June 2026. No federal ban stops you, but a stack of US, Hawaii, and Canadian rules decides whether the deal actually works. Here’s the whole picture, with the traps named…

A Cross-Border Guide · Updated June 2026 Buying a Home in Hawaiʻi as a Canadian No federal ban stops you — but a stack of US, Hawaii, and Canadian rules decides whether the deal actually works. Here’s the whole picture, with the traps…

From the appreciation play of Kakaako to the value-and-growth story of West Oahu, the rail-driven transformation of Kalihi, and the steady cash flow of multifamily and military-adjacent rentals — where smart money is moving on Oahu this year, and the rules that decide…

A guide to Hawaii’s title and escrow landscape — the established firms, the unusual dual recording system that makes local title work distinctive, what you actually pay for, and how to pick the right company for your closin If you’re buying or selling…

The most liquid, globally-demanded condo market in Hawaii — where studios start under $100K and oceanfront penthouses top $10M, but where the single most important question isn’t the view or the price: it’s whether the building can legally be rented to vacationers at…

Hawaii has the lowest average homeowners insurance premium in the United States — but that headline number hides hurricane, flood, and earthquake coverage that’s sold separately, plus a condo insurance crisis that has sent some premiums soaring. Here’s what Hawaii homeowners actually pay…

Everything Hawaii homeowners and buyers need to know about septic tanks in 2026 — how they work, what they cost, the DOH permitting process, and how the statewide cesspool phase-out is reshaping property values across the islands If you own, are buying, or…

A slowing market where single-family homes still hold their price but condos sit and soften — plus the withholding taxes, disclosure obligations, new flood maps, and rising carrying costs that quietly shrink what sellers actually walk away with Selling a home in Hawaii…

From the highest home prices in the nation and stubborn mortgage rates to a hardening insurance market, ballooning HOA fees, new flood maps, and island-specific traps — what every first-time and relocating buyer needs to understand before purchasing in Hawaii this year Hawaii’s…

Low-rise, resort-anchored, and split between the sunny South Shore and the dramatic North — a buyer’s guide to Poipu and Princeville’s premier complexes, the fee-simple-vs-leasehold trap, fractional ownership, and the permit that decides whether you can rent at all Kauai’s luxury condo market…

Lava zones, water catchment, off-grid power, agricultural zoning, cesspool rules, owner financing, and the subdivisions where it all plays out — what every buyer needs to know before purchasing raw land on Hawaiʻi Island The Big Island is the one place in Hawaii…

Everything a buyer needs to know about Oahu’s new condo pipeline — from the towers of Kakaako to the buying process, owner-occupant rules, reserved-housing programs, fee simple vs. leasehold, and the pitfalls that catch first-time presale buyers Oahu is in the middle of…

The federal framework is unchanged for 2026 — but selling investment real estate in Hawaii layers on a 7.25% nonresident withholding, full state conformity, and a county-by-county short-term rental maze that can quietly disqualify your replacement property’s intended use For real estate investors…

Million-dollar home medians, a softening luxury condo segment, and the most rigid short-term rental regime in the state — where a property’s address inside a Visitor Destination Area can matter more than the building itself Kauai’s 2026 market is defined by scale and…

Hawaiʻi Island opens the year with firm pricing and growing inventory, a deeply regional market split between the resort-driven West and the affordable East, and a registration regime that’s reshaping how short-term rentals operate The Big Island’s 2026 market is best summarized by…

A resilient single-family market, a buyer-friendly condo segment, and a development pipeline — anchored by the Skyline rail — quietly reshaping where and how the island lives If Maui’s 2026 story is about correction, disaster recovery, and a zoning upheaval that is shrinking…

Falling prices, rising inventory, and a market split in two as the Lahaina rebuild grinds forward and Bill 9 reshapes the island’s condo landscape Maui’s real estate market in 2026 is being shaped by two forces that converged within roughly two years of…

Quick Facts Oahu Real Estate Market Update: July 2025 A Closer Look at the Numbers What’s Driving the Change? Single-Family Home Market Update Condo Market Update What Does This Mean for Buyers and Sellers? Quick Facts Single-family home sales decreased by 7.4% in…

Quick Facts Aloha Friday Photo Grand Wailea Resort More Than Just a Pretty Face Aloha Spirit at Its Finest Inspiration for Your Own Aloha Adventure Quick Facts Grand Wailea Resort, located on the sunny island of Maui, is a tropical oasis that offers…

Quick Facts Maui Real Estate Market Update: July 2025 New Listings Sales and Inventory Average Days on the Market Median Sales Price The Takeaway What’s Ahead? Get the Latest Updates Quick Facts Maui Real Estate Market Update: July 2025 The summer season is…

Quick Facts Hawaii Island Real Estate Market Update: July 2025 Single-Family Home Sales: A Dip in July North Kona and South Hilo: The Top Neighborhoods Condo Sales: A Slowing Trend Average Days On Market: An Increase for Single-Family Homes Land Sales: A Shift…

Quick Facts A Whimsical Winter Tradition Spotting the First Sighting Tips and Trivia to Get You Started Prizes and Perks to Get Your Excitement Building How to Participate in the Contest Quick Facts Humpback whale migration pattern: Humpback whales migrate from their summer…

Quick Facts Booking Tips Local Laws Peak Seasons Amenities Quick Facts Lupina Real Estate offers a range of fully licensed and compliant vacation rentals across the islands, including family-friendly homes, romantic hideaways, and beachside condos. Booking Vacation Rental Tips in Hawaii: A Guide…

Quick Facts A Iconic Landmark Surrounding Landscapes Aloha Spirit Exploring Hanalei Preserving Cultural Heritage Mahalo References Related Articles Connect with Us Quick Facts Wai’oli Hui’ia Church, also known as the Wai’oli Mission House, has been standing tall since 1815, making it one of…

Table of Contents Quick Facts Aloha Friday Photo: Capturing the Resilience of Lahaina’s Front Street Lahaina’s Road to Recovery What’s New and Exciting in Lahaina Honoring the Past, Building for the Future Quick Facts Lahaina, Maui, marks two years since devastating fires on…

Quick Facts Beat the Summer Heat in Hawaii Maximize Natural Ventilation Install Ceiling or Attic Fans Use Light-Filtering or Blackout Curtains Create Shaded Outdoor Living Spaces Switch to LED Lighting and Energy-Efficient Appliances Cool Down with Landscaping Invest in Split AC Units –…

Table of Contents Quick Facts Luxury Vacations at Kai Nani Hale Your Private Escape Spacious & Comfortable Resort-Style Amenities Prime Location LUVA Vacation Rentals Perks Why Visit The Big Island? Quick Facts Kai Nani Hale: Elite Getaways for the Discerning Traveler Luxury Vacations…

Quick Facts A Mahalo Moment The Perfect Vantage Point A Sense of Serenity The Power of Photography Why We Love Hawaii The Perfect Souvenir The History of Waikiki Quick Facts Aloha Friday Photo: A “Super Souvenir” Financial Favor: A Superlative Souvenir A Mahalo…

Quick Facts Tsunami Update: Impact on Hawaii What Does This Mean for Your Hawaii Vacation? Upcoming Hanauma Bay Closure: What You Need to Know Quick Facts No reported fatalities or major damage from the tsunami, although some property damage occurred in affected areas….

Quick Facts Weather in Hawaii in August What to Pack for Your August Vacation in Hawaii August Events and Festivals in Hawaii Insider Tips for an Unforgettable Beach Getaway Making Reservations and Booking Must-See Attractions Quick Facts August is one of the driest…

Quick Facts Buying vs. Renting in Hawaii: Weighing the Pros and Cons Housing Market Overview in 2025 Cost of Renting vs. Buying Long-Term Investment Potential Lifestyle Factors Financial Considerations Quick Facts Oahu: $1,050,000 Maui: $1,300,000 Big Island: $700,000 Kauai: $1,200,000 Buying vs. Renting…

Bill 9 Advances on First Reading — A Turning Point for Maui, But at What Cost? WAILUKU, MAUI, July 25, 2025 — In a 6‑3 vote, Maui County’s Housing & Land Use Committee, comprised of all nine councilmembers, advanced Bill 9 out of committee. This pivotal step…

Quick Facts The Kona Coast The Colors of the Sunset Aloha Friday and the Joy of Sharing Join the Aloha Friday Community The Go Visit Hawaii Experience Quick Facts Photographer: Neilani Hoefs Year: 2021 Location: Kona side, Big Island, Hawaii Aloha Friday Photo:…

Hawaiian Getaways: Market Insights and Exclusive Offers for July 23, 2025 Table of Contents Quick Facts Waimea Canyon and Koke’e Parks Construction Update Waikiki Hotel Deal Kilauea Volcano Update Other Top Stories Insider Tip Quick Facts No construction work and park closures in…

Quick Facts Maui Real Estate Market Performance Review New Listings and Inventory Sales and Market Dynamics Days on Market and Pricing Implications and Insights Quick Facts Maui Real Estate Market Performance Review: Second Quarter 2025 Insight The summer months have arrived, bringing with…

Quick Facts Oahu Real Estate Market Update: June 2025 A Shift in the Market Single-Family Homes Condos What Does This Mean for Buyers and Sellers? What’s Ahead? Quick Facts Single-family home sales increased by 12.0% compared to last year. Condo sales increased by…

Quick Facts Inspiring Transformation Through Art and Imagination The Power of Art as a Tool for Change Breaking Down Barriers through Art Unlocking Creativity and Building Confidence The Future of Arts Education in Hawai’i Quick Facts RYSE Hawai’i shelter in Kailua launched an…