Spotlight on the Maui Kai: Real Estate Market Overview

By Heidi Dollinger

At the ocean’s edge, Maui Kai is in an ideal location for those who enjoy walks on beautiful Kekaa Beach, one of Kaanapali's long white sand beaches.  The Maui Kai is a ten-story building with 80 units total, all with direct ocean views.    

There are currently five active listings for Studios at Maui Kai (395 SF – 420 SF).  List prices range from $479,000 to $498,000. The last sale of a studio at Maui Kai was Maui Kai 506, which closed at $475,000 on 2/1/2019.  There is currently (1) unit pending under/ contract, a 1-Bedroom, Maui Kai 605, listed at $625,000. 

There are just three active 1-Bedroom listings:
Maui Kai 405 offered at $599,000
Maui Kai 301 offered at

Spotlight on the Mahana at Kaanapali

Mahana Market Update and New Listings!

by Heidi Dollinger

 One of the most elegant properties on North Kaanapali Beach, the Mahana exudes warmth and welcoming with a relaxed Hawaiian sophistication.  Located less than five miles north of historic Lahaina town, the Mahana is tucked away down a quiet drive, convenient to markets and shopping, near Black Rock Beach, Whaler’s Village, and world-class golf courses in Kaanapali and Kapalua.

Mahana Market Update: Recent Mahana Sales

There was a new closing this week at Mahana 519, a two-bedroom south corner unit with jaw-dropping views, closed at full list price on March 4, 2019 for $1,850,000. Island Sotheby’s International Realty represented both buyer and

The Masters at Kaanapali Hillside: Market Overview

By Heidi Dollinger

For a Maui buyer who is looking for a low-density residential condominium community away from the busy resorts, the Masters offers the very best of Kaanapali Living!  You will find nearly thirty-eight acres of manicured grounds, pools, spas, and tennis courts, located on the Kaanapali Golf Course, just a mile to Kaanapali Beach, and shopping and dining at Whaler’s Village.

The Masters has several features that make it very desirable:

• Pet Friendly: The Masters is pet friendly for one pet within the guidelines of the association
• Vacation Rentable: rentals for 30 days or longer are permitted per the current house rules.
• BBQ on your Lanai: Barbecue grills are allowed on

Where on Maui can you live like you're on vacation at a world-class luxury resort 365 days a year?  Well, it just so happens, Maui has 5 condominium communities in the resorts of Kaanapali, Kapalua and Wailea that have received the recognition by Forbes or AAA as leaders in Luxury Lodging. 

These properties are desirable for many of Maui's second home Buyers who would like the amenities of a luxury hotel (hello, room service!).  For those who are looking for a part-time residence, they offer an added bonus: the ability to rent their residence through an on-site rental management program known for offering accommodations that are maintained to the exacting standards of a luxury brand.

The following Maui luxury condominium resorts have been

The Kaanapali Coffee Farms: introducing 2132 Aina Mahiai

The Indoor-Outdoor living allows you to enjoy the sweeping ocean and outer island views

2132 Aina Mahiai: a contemporary plantation home set amidst an active coffee farm

Modern design and clean lines allow the eye to focus on the lush greenery and spectacular ocean views.  This single level home opens to a spacious lanai for indoor-outdoor living.  The Fleetwood pocketing doors in the great room open up to an expansive covered lanai featuring an outdoor barbeque, conversational fire pit, and pool with spa all perfect for enjoying Maui's sunset year-round.  This 4 bedrooms, 4 bathroom home has an ocean view master suite with an inviting outdoor shower garden.  Throughout you will

Frequently Asked Questions: What is the difference between Leasehold and Fee Simple Ownership in Hawaii

Alaeloa: a rare gem, oceanfront and ocean view cottages in Napili, Maui

Why is there leasehold property? The History of Leasehold Property in West Maui:

With the development of the Kaanapali Resort in 1961 and later the Kapalua Resort in 1978, Maui became a vacation destination. As tourism flourished and became the mainstay of our economy, local landowners partnered with developers to build Leasehold condominiums on family-owned properties or on former agricultural land.  In West Maui, many local landowners saw this as a way to retain ownership of their land and derive income from the lease rents.  Leases were typically set for 99 years,

Rare Offerings of Beachfront Homes and Lots in both Kaanapali and Kapalua

Kapalua Oceanfront and Beachfront Homes and Lots for Sale:

Unlike the Wailea/Makena area, there are to just eight oceanfront residential homesites that are a part of the Kapalua Resort:  five beachfront homesites at Kapalua Place, along with a home situated on Hawea Point, Alaelae Peninsula, and Mokuleia Point.

The quiet enclave of Kapalua Place is comprised of eight lots overlooking the white sandy beach of Oneloa Bay toward Molokai. The gated community was developed in 1989, with spacious homesites ranging from just over a half acre to 1.7 acres.

At the time of this post, there are four offerings at Kapalua Place, one homesite and three homes--all are beachfront. 

MAUI REAL ESTATE STATISTICS: Jan-Sept 2017 vs. Jan-Sept 2016

THE CONDO AND HOME MARKETS | Key Metrics

Comparing key metrics through September 2017 Year Over Year with 2016:

While there are more new home listings, there were fewer new condo listings through Sept. 2017.  Other key indicators show increases in Pending Sales, Number of Sales, Median Sales Prices, and Average Sales Prices, while Days on Market till closing is down.  Our busy season begins in Mid Nov, tends to quiet down first two weeks of December, and then remains active

The Realtor's Association of Maui has released it's monthly report on Maui's real estate statistics for July 2017.   

While there are fewer properties to sell when compared with 2016 and inventory is down, the Median Sales Price is up.  For more information read: Maui Real Estate Statistics.

The resort market trends are also showing an upward trajectory, particularly condos in the resort areas of Wailea, Makena and Kapalua.  Condo and home sales are down in Kaanapali.  Home sales are also down in Kapalua, while up in Wailea.  Though it should be noted--with such a small sampling, the statistics can vary widely at any given time.  

To put it in perspective, there are 1877 condominiums and 1181 homesites in the Wailea Resort and 219

A Look at the Resort Markets as compared with the overall Maui Real Estate Market.

Maui's Resort Markets of Kaanapali, Kapalua, Wailea 

January 1-July 31, 2017 vs. January 1- July 31, 2016

Comparing the YTD sales in the resort markets with the same period in 2016, we are seeing more condo sales in Kapalua and Wailea and Makena, while in Kaanpali, condo sales is down. Inventory is increasing in the condo markets, with the exception of Wailea, which has an absorption rate of just 9.2 months.  Part of the substantial growth in the Kapalua Condominium Market can be attributed to sales at the Montage Residences Kapalua Bay with 3 sales ranging from $3.795-$6.475M (which is the highest condominium sale on record for 2017 on Maui), and Coconut Grove