Hawaii Kai | Portlock

Hawaii Kai

Located on the breezy eastern side of Oahu, Hawaii Kai is known for its Marina lifestyle. Originally developed by Henry J Kaiser, Hawaii Kai is one of Oahu's first master plan community developments. What was once the Maunalua fishpond and wetlands, known as “Kuapā”,  is now known as The Hawaiʻi Kai or Koko Marina. The marina was dredged from Kuapā Pond starting around 1959 and now allows many Hawaii Kai residents waterfront real estate with deeded boat docks. This well-thought-out community boasts many fantastic features including Kokohead Crater and ocean views, three town centers, hikes, and more! Ultimately though, if you are a fan of watersports, Hawaii Kai is the place for you. 

Where to eat and shop:
Hawaii Kai Town Center and Koko Marina Shopping Center are both full of options. Most notably, Costco! Hawaii Kai Costco is actually the busiest Costco in the nation. Not surprising, as Costco is very popular on Oahu due to the high cost of living. Hawaii Kai residents are lucky to have Safeway and Costco close, in town centers right next to each other. Both of these centers have the unique option to avoid the roads, pull up on your boat, dock, run your errands or grab a bite to eat. Some of the most famous restaurants in Hawaii Kai are: 

Maile's Thai Bistro, is known for its green curry and green papaya salad. 

Roys Hawaii Kai, is a fine dining fusion restaurant by famous Chef Roy Yamaguchi. Expect unique flavors from French, Japanese, and Hawaiian cuisine. You definitely won't be disappointed. 

Kona Brewing Co, is a leisurely place to grab a locally brewed beer and Pupus on the marina. 

Kokonuts Shave Ice, Perfect for after a long day at the beach. This long-standing family favorite arguably has the best bubble drinks, acai bowls, and shave ice in the area. 

What to do:
Hawaii Kai is a paradise for water lovers. There is no shortage of activities from boating, Jet Skiing, paddle boarding, surfing, snorkeling, boogie boarding, body surfing, cliff jumping, scuba diving, kite/windsurfing, kayaking, and parasailing. If you’re not the adventurous type then there are also beautiful sunsets and beaches to enjoy,  relax and watch. My absolute favorite place to watch the sunset on the island is China walls and Spitting Caves. From there you can look out onto the deep blue ocean and feel the power or ‘mana’ as locals like to say from the ocean crashing onto the rocks with each repeating set. This area is perfect for whale watching during the right season, and on off-season keep a lookout for turtles, dolphins, and nightly rainbows. Hawaii Kai locals also like to frequent Sandys Beach Park on the weekends to set up for the perfect all-day beach day. (Be sure to be mindful of the tides and swells at this beach park if it is your first time.) Lastly, hiking in Hawaii Kai is no small feat! Popular cardio destination Koko Head is a short hike consisting of 1,048 stairs to the top where you can find beautiful ocean and valley 180-degree views. Worth the challenge but make sure to bring plenty of water and avoid going during the mid-day sun!

What to Expect - The Market: 

Hawaii Kai spans over 6,000 acres which means there is an opportunity for everyone. Within this community development, there are options including high-rise condos, Marina Front Townhouses, Single-family Homes sitting on the gorgeous ridgelines like Hawaii Loa, Valley homes with beautiful mountain views, and even luxury Oceanfront estates up to $15M in the highly sought after Portlock neighborhood. In Hawaii Kai, you will find mostly long-time local residents and a strong community. Many families come for the upscale convenient lifestyle and water activities but stay for the neighborhood Ohana. In Hawaii Kai in 2021 sales were split very evenly between condos and single-family homes. 233 Single Family homes sold Compared to 235 Condos sold. Among those, both sold in a record 8 and 9 days and were receiving between 101.8% and 100.8% over the asking price on average. Median Price for single-family homes closed the year out at $1,475,000  up 17% from 2020 while condos remained at a nice entry-level of $699,500 up only 3% from 2020. When preparing to move to Hawaii Kai one consideration to plan for is your desired commute time. There is only one road, Kalanianaʻole Hwy , and if there is ever an accident or the highway is closed for any reason traffic back may be backed up to get into the city. Most Hawaii Kai locals are used to preparing for this possibility and think it is well worth it for the convenience and abundant lifestyle that this region has to offer.  

Continue Below to check out some of Hawaii Kai’s beautiful Ocean Front Homes!!