Hawaii Island

Kohala Waterfront Sales Strong in 2021

Just closed escrow this week on the second Kohala Waterfront property for which we represented buyers this year. Kohala Waterfront is the only community of the lower North Kohala foursome (the others being Kohala by the Sea, Kohala Estates, and Kohala Ranch) that is makai (ocean side) of the highway. It is a mystery to me why it has been a harder sell than the communities on the other side of the road. This is the year buyers finally rediscovered this oceanfront community near the Kohala Coast resorts.

Kohala Waterfront Oceanfront Homes

View of the oceanfront homes on the southern end of the Kohala Waterfront community

Kohala Waterfront: 2021 Year to Date versus 2020 Residential Sales

In 2020, a typical year for sales at Kohala Waterfront, two homes sold. Both sales were under $3 million.

Summary – 2020 Residential Sales Kohala Waterfront
# Lowest Highest Average Median Mode
Listings 2 $2,490,000 $3,199,000 $2,844,500 $2,844,500 N/A
MLS Sale $ 2 $2,385,000 $2,728,000 $2,556,500 $2,556,500 N/A
DOM to sale 2 104 529 317 317 N/A
Sale/Current Price 2 85.3% 95.8% 90.6% 90.6% N/A
Price per Bldg SqFt 2 $1,012 $1,157 $1,085 $1,085 N/A

In 2021, we have already had five homes sold, and days on market, of course, dropped significantly. The average sales price climbed over $3 million, and a non-oceanfront home sold for $4.8 million. What I find interesting, however, is that the price/built square foot is not significantly higher:

Summary – 2021 Residential Sales Kohala Waterfront
# Lowest Highest Average Median Mode
Listings 5 $2,495,000 $5,000,000 $3,518,980 $3,499,900 N/A
MLS Sale $ 5 $2,000,000 $4,800,000 $3,335,000 $3,325,000 N/A
DOM to sale 5 0 92 30 27 0
Sale/Current Price 5 80.2% 100.0% 93.9% 96.0% N/A
Price per Bldg SqFt 5 $718 $1,651 $1,101 $1,040 N/A

Note to buyers: getting a good deal is not impossible in this market, just rare. We represented the buyers of the home shown in the “lowest” column above, and their views are not too shabby:

Kohala Waterfront Ocean Views

Kohala Waterfront: 2021 Year to Date versus 2020 Vacant Lot Sales

In 2020, two lots sold at Kohala Waterfront. Year to date we have seen EIGHT sales of vacant land this year!

Summary
# Lowest Highest Average Median Mode
Listings 8 $400,000 $1,200,000 $651,056 $529,725 N/A
MLS Sale $ 8 $395,000 $1,200,000 $643,125 $535,000 N/A
DOM to sale 8 0 500 216 169 0
Sale/Current Price 8 94.3% 102.1% 99.0% 100.0% 100.0%
Sale/Original Price 8 85.1% 102.1% 95.4% 97.7% 100.0%
Price per Land SqFt 8 $11 $59 $29 $23 N/A
Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail through Kohala Waterfront

Kohala Waterfront residents can hike the oceanfront in both directions following the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

My Favorite Reason to Love Kohala Waterfront: the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

I recently wrote about Kohala Kai, the community of larger land parcels just to the north of Kohala Waterfront, as well as about the Hawaii County preservation fund commissioners visit to this stretch of leeward North Kohala Coast. 

Both of these posts described the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, managed by the National Park Service, that passes along the shoreline, allowing miles of hiking and historical/cultural education.

Educational Signage on the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail

Educational signage on the Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail, provided by residents of Kailapa Hawaiian Homestead

I recently had the good fortune to hike the portion of the trail that passes through Kohala Waterfront with the President of the homeowners association, Kohala trail advocates, and residents of the Kailapa Hawaiian Homestead community to the south, who help maintain the trail and provide signage.

If you are interested in Kohala Waterfront or other oceanfront Kohala Coast subdivisions, please let me tell you more about how you can become part of the stewardship community to preserve the special history of these places.

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