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South Shore · Kauai

Kalaheo, Lawai and Omao

Kalaheo, Lawai and Omao sit inland and upslope from the South Shore, between Koloa and the West Side.

Mostly houses1 condo complex

About Kalaheo, Lawai and Omao

Housing is almost entirely single-family, in older neighborhoods and subdivisions and on agricultural lots. There is one condo complex in our directory here.

These areas are outside Kauai’s Visitor Destination Areas, so visitor rentals depend on a pre-2008 nonconforming use certificate.

What homes sell for

Property typeSales, Jan–Sep 2026Median or range
Single-family homesAbout 75$830K–$3.1M

Title Guaranty reports this area together with Poipu and Koloa as the Koloa district, so these figures are pulled up by Poipu resort sales. Homes in Kalaheo, Lawai and Omao generally trade below Poipu.

Source: Title Guaranty monthly Kauai residential sales reports, January–September 2026 (reported by tax district: Hanalei, Kawaihau, Lihue, Koloa and Waimea).

Can you rent to visitors?

HousesVDA or pre-2008 permit onlyKauai allows visitor rentals of houses mainly inside its Visitor Destination Areas (VDAs), which include most of Princeville, the Poipu resort area and parts of the Kapaa-Wailua coast. Outside a VDA, a house can be rented to visitors only if it holds a nonconforming use certificate, which the county issued to rentals already operating before March 7, 2008. Certificates must be renewed by July 31 every year, and the county has revoked certificates for late renewals, which the Intermediate Court of Appeals upheld in 2024. If a listing advertises vacation rental income, confirm the property’s VDA status or certificate with the county Planning Department before you count on it.
CondosVaries by buildingIn our directory: 1 long-term only. Most resort-area condos in Princeville, Poipu and on the Kapaa-Wailua coast sit inside a Visitor Destination Area, where visitor rentals are allowed. Condos outside those areas are generally long-term only. Our directory shows each building’s status. See the Kauai condo directory.

Land, title and what to check

Agricultural-district lots carry county farm dwelling rules, and visitor rentals on agricultural land are generally not allowed.

Hazards, water and access

Check any address for its FEMA flood zone, tsunami evacuation zone, sea level rise exposure, lava zone and wildfire risk with our Hawaii flood zone lookup.

Public schools

The public high school for most addresses here is Waimea High School. Assignments go by address, so confirm with the Hawaii State Department of Education.

Condo complexes in Kalaheo, Lawai and Omao

Units, year built and visitor rental status from our Kauai condo directory.

Kalaheo Pali KaiSouth Shore · Kalaheo53 · 1980Long-term only

Sources: Title Guaranty Kauai residential sales reports, 2026; Kauai County Ordinance 904 (transient vacation rentals); Environment Hawaii: court upholds forfeiture of Kauai vacation rental permits; Hawaii Life: Kauai’s Visitor Destination Areas; DHHL Kauai regional update; Hawaii Public Radio: Kuhio Highway reopens (2019). Checked October 2026. This guide sticks to public facts about prices, rules, land and hazards. It doesn’t rate neighborhoods or describe who lives in them.