About Hawaii Kai
Hawaii Kai represents Hawaii’s premier marina community. Developed by Henry Kaiser in the 1960’s, wetlands, fishponds and pig farms gave way to a modern Honolulu real estate development covering over 6,000 acres on the most eastern part of Honolulu with marina front homes as well as shopping, restaurants and schools around a central 500 acre marina.
Hawaii Kai real estate today includes over 10,000 households and is bordered by Kuliouou Beach Park to the west, the Koolau mountain ridgeline to the north, the ocean to the south and Makapuu Point with it’s lighthouse to the east, marking the most eastern spot of the island of Oahu. Hawaii Kai homes for sale are often valued between $700K to $15M for the most luxurious oceanfront properties on Portlock Rd. Lot sizes run between 5,000 sq ft to over 1 acre.
Hawaii Kai Neighborhoods
This is one of Honolulu’s more fascinating regions with a lifestyle like no other. Nowhere else in Hawaii can you ride a boat from your backyard boat dock across the marina to get groceries, catch a movie or dinner, and return without the nuisance of street traffic lights. The real estate in Hawaii Kai is spread across several sub-neighborhoods, including the affluent oceanfront Portlock with adjacent Triangle. Mariners Ridge, Kamehame Ridge and the newer Napali Haweo are all boasting commanding views of the ocean, Koko Crater and Koko Head with the marina below. Hawaii Kai real estate also includes the neighborhoods of Koko Head Terrace, Kamiloiki, Hahaione Valley, Mariners Valley and Kalama Valley.
Three newer Hawaii Kai real estate developments include the gated marina front community Peninsula at Hawaii Kai (630 properties built in 2002), Kamilo Nui (54 homes built in 2003) and Koko Villas (70 homes built in 2005), all modern additions to a diverse mix of Hawaii Kai homes. If you would like to live on a marina front property, Hawaii Kai offers communities of Mariners Cove and Anchorage with adjacent Kealaula Kai and the gated golf course community at Queens Gate.
Hawaii Kai Neighborhood
The unique layout of the marina with several ‘fingers’ creates the feel of a ‘Little Venice’ in Honolulu. Boat ramps allow marina access for those that are not right on the water. The marina connects with the ocean at Moanalua Bay. Just make sure your boat clears the 13 foot bridge height to get to the open ocean. All of the real estate in Hawaii Kai is on a private sewer system with a bi-monthly sewer bill and all marina front properties are part of the Hawaii Kai Marina Association with a modest monthly marina fee. Hawaii Kai homes for sale on the marina can vary depending on the marina width, views and orientation towards tradewinds and more, but typically range between $1M to $2.5M.
Hawaii Kai truly is a watersport paradise with ideal ocean conditions for snorkeling, diving, surfing, windsurfing, kitesurfing, boating, kayaking, jet skiing, paddle boarding, boogie boarding and parasailing. By Maunalua Bay Beach Park the ocean is calm, by Hanauma Bay the variety of fish are endless and by Sandy Beach big waves are crashing on the shore.
Hawaii Kai boasts three shopping centers that include Costco and Safeway. World renowned Roy’s Restaurant is one among many great establishments to dine at. Medical facilities, schools, movie theatres, golf course are all within the vicinity. Nestled among Hawaii Kai’s real estate are several parks, including a large scale dog park where owners gather early evenings to let their pets lose for some fun. Truly an area with a unique small town feel with all it has to offer. It is no surprise that Henry Kaiser himself decided to develop and reside in a Hawaii Kai home on a prime 5-acre oceanfront lot on Portlock Rd. What is good for Mr Kaiser might be good for you too!
Hawaii Kai’s Perfect Microclimate
Hawaii Kai enjoys a mild pleasant micro climate, slightly drier compared to Kailua and Kaneohe. Gentle prevailing northeasterly Tradewinds pass over the islands about 300 days per year. The Tradewinds bring some of the cleanest fresh air you can find, having travelled 2,500 miles over the ocean far removed from any source of pollution before ending up at Oahu’s eastern shores. Reaching the Koolau mountain range along the windward side of the island, the warm humid fresh air gets pushed up, cools down and forms clouds that rain out. This is why we often see rain in front of the mountains on the windward side while Oahu’s southern shore and the western, aka Leeward side of Oahu enjoys plenty sunshine and less humidity.
Hawaii Kai makes up the south-eastern corner of the Oahu island. Here you can enjoy a special unique combination of double benefits: a.) some of the cleanest, fresh unpolluted air for thousands of miles, together with b.) the finest year-round oceanic climate on the entire planet, not too humid, mostly sunny and consistently between average 71 and 84 degrees F. Welcome to paradise.