Build: Kohala Coast Big Island

One of the frustrations I hear most often from buyers on the Big Island’s Kohala Coast is that there are no newly built homes to purchase. It’s a valid point; the inventory for brand new homes is extremely limited. The vast majority of new homes are built by homeowners, for themselves, not by developers or spec builders.

Here are two neighborhoods I think are ideal for building your new home on the Kohala Coast.

Mauna Lani Resort: Ke Kailani

Ke Kailani is located inside the Mauna Lani resort. A private, gated, oceanfront community, lots are for sale between $430,000 and $8 million. There is a beautiful oceanfront community center called The Grotto, complete with infinity pool, shaded gathering pavilion, two hot tubs, open-air entertainment pavilions, barbecue areas, and prep kitchen. A second community center exists at Hana Pono Park, with adult and children’s swimming pools, a state-of-the-art fitness center and locker room and a gathering pavilion for meetings and entertainment (the perfect place to throw a watch party for something like Game of Thrones). All of this is included with your monthly HOA fees, which are among the lowest of all resort communities on the Kohala Coast.

The Grotto at Ke Kailani

Additionally, because Ke Kailani is located within the Mauna Lani resort, every home and lot owner has access to the Mauna Lani Beach Club and Nanea Restaurant, plus special rates at Mauna Lani’s two championship golf courses.

One of the hidden secrets about Ke Kailani is that there is no time limit for building after buying a lot. That means you can effectively land bank without any penalty, and still use all the private community amenities listed above. If you already own property in another community nearby such as Puako or Waikoloa Village, buying a lot is a great way to access high-class resort amenities at a fraction of the cost of buying another already-built property.

Waikoloa Village: Kilohana Kai

Kilohana Kai is a hidden gem of a residential neighborhood on the north side of Waikoloa Village. With more than 50% of the lots sold, there is still an opportunity to buy some of the quietest and arguably most private lots in the community. Prices start around $175,000 for 10-12,000 square feet of land, and many of these parcels have outstanding ocean and mountain views.

Not ready to build quite yet? No problem. There is no time limit requirement for building, so you can still enjoy the amenities of the Waikoloa Village lifestyle, and land bank, instead. Waikoloa Village amenities include:

• Trent Jones Jr. Golf Course
• Tennis
• Swimming Pool
• Grocery
• Bank
• Post Office
• Restaurants

In either case, if you are ready to buy and build in either Ke Kailani or Kilohana Kai, we have recommended architects and builders for both communities that can guide you through the process. It’s always best to work with professionals who are local experts in their craft, for the best results. Build or land bank. The choice is yours.