South Kihei Ocean View Condos – $300K

The Kamaole Sands: a blue chip rental property across the street from Kamaole III Beach. Perimeter units with partial ocean views begin in the low $300K’s.

Many of my clients plan to live on Maui for extended periods when they retire, and I always encourage them to think about how the prospective condo will fit once they make that move. I’m currently working with a couple who is shopping for a vacation rental condo, loves the conveniences and beaches of South Kihei, and cannot envision themselves living on Maui without at least a peek of the ocean from their lanai or living room. They have a ceiling of around $300,000.

They want to buy in a property that has a good rental following, and one in which they’ll be comfortable as longer term residents living the beach lifestyle, for a few months of every year.

The narrowing down process led us to three excellent properties, all of which fit their criteria.

My favorite, and the priciest of the three, is the Kamaole Sands. The southernmost of the three. It is possible to buy a view unit at this tropical 15-acre resort, which is situated directly across the street from fabulous Kamaole III BeachPark, in the low $300K’s—although it will be in one of the perimeter buildings, 8 or 9. Unit 4-208, which has a bit of an ocean view (MLS# 341458) is listed at $325,000. It’s not a short sale—a recent REO (bank owned) in the same building sold for $280,000.

The view from Kamaole Sands 4-208.

The view will not exactly knock you off your lanai chair—it’s more of a slice of the ocean, and Keonekai Avenue sits just below. But there is no mistaking that patch of blue: it’s the ocean, it is beckoning, and it is a two minute walk from the condo. The Kamaole Sands has a spectacular pool, the grounds upkeep is impeccable, the units are spacious (nearly 900 sq. ft.), they have two baths, and they rent very well.

Some of the units in the more desirable interior courtyard (buildings 5, 2, and 10 in particular) also have views, and are priced $50,000 – $100,000 higher.

A few properties to the north, the Kihei Akahi presents perhaps the best value in this price range if view is the primary criteria. The Kihei Akahi is situated directly across from Kamaole II Beach, another fantastic soft sand playground with pristine reef and crystal clear water. The grounds are more modest, the two pools kind of small, but there are tennis courts and barbecue areas. It also has a very strong rental following, although the rates are down slightly from Kamaole Sands. There are legitimate ocean view units here in the low to mid $300K’s.

Kihei Akahi C-312, a bank-owned unit listed at $260,000.

Unit C-312 (third floor, building C) is a bank-owned deal, at $260,000 (MLS# 329703): it was originally priced at $399,000, and I believe it will sell quickly now. It has a bit of a view. One floor up, C-409 (MLS# 343734) is listed at $349,900, and up one more story, C-505 (MLS# 343527) is listed at $379,000.

This southern stretch of Kihei Road embraces many different lifestyles. I have a friend who lives in a condo on Kihei Road, and his unit is literally 100 feet from the sidewalk. He acknowledges that it can get noisey when his lanai door is open, but he tells me: “I’m from New York City. This isn’t really noise.” His ocean view is incredible, and every morning he sips his coffee and watches the south Maui active beach lifestyle unfold all around him. The joggers, paddle boarders, swimmers, lifeguards, and passers-by form a morning rhythm, and he loves being in the middle of it. He’s mitigated the noise with very effective double insulated windows, and a heavy duty lanai slider.

Kihei Kai Nani Unit 200 offers a complete immersion in Kihei’s beach lifestyle and a great ocean view, at $335,000.

This 1-bedroom unit at the Kihei Kai Nani, located just a few properties north of the Kihei Akahi, reminds me of his setup. The ocean view from unit 200 (MLS# 341666), priced at $335,000, is nothing less than spectacular, and the sand is about 25 seconds from its front door. Two of Kihei’s favorite watering holes—Moose’s and Fred’s—are about the same distance away. If your style is a bit more subdued, and you want some nighttime quiet to go along with your slice of view, unit 239 (MLS# 342296), listed at $295,000, might be more in line.