DIAMOND HEAD

The Diamond Head area of Oahu is home to over 400 private residences which stretch like a skirt around the front of this extinct volcano to Black Point. Distinguished homes have been located on this site since the 1920's. On the Kapiolani Park side, La Pietra, a Florentine villa built for the Dillingham family in 1921 is located off Poni Moi Road and is now home to the Hawaii School for Girls. Oceanfront at Black Point, you will find Shangri La, one of the area's most significant residences architecturally - the Hawaii home of Doris Duke. In 1994 one of the most expensive homes built in the islands, the Hemmeter Estate, sold for $12.5 million - considerably less than its original asking price of $63 million at the top of the real estate market just a few years earlier.  The current market offers average home prices of $4 million, reaching up to $8 million.

KAHALA
One of the most famous neighborhoods in the world, Kahala, begins at Fort Ruger (Triangle) Park where Diamond Head Road meets Kahala Avenue and meanders over 1.5 miles through 1,000 plus homes to the Kahala Hotel & Resort and Waialae Country Club, home of the Sony Open. Waialae Kahala, another name for this area of Honolulu, derives its name from Waialae Springs which supplied water for the chiefs of the area and later chicken, cow, pig, mint and pikake farmers who were the area's main residents. Farmer's Road, one of the main connecting streets, took old-timers in open cars on dirt roads to "the country," for shave-ice and hamburgers at local favorties where the Kahala Mall is now located. Kahala and Aukai Avenues were developed as half-acre lots in the 1920's and 30's for 25-35 cents per square foot, leasehold. Later the subdivision grew in the early 1950's where homes sold for $9,500 to $35,000. In the late 80's, early 90's those same 10,000 sf homes commanded over $1,000,000. Newer custom luxury appointed homes are now the norm with average real estate prices in the mid $2 million range, while oceanfront Kahala Avenue homes continue to command significantly higher prices depending on location and size. 

WAIALAE IKI

On the slopes directly above the Waialae Country Club in Honolulu is a ridge line neighborhood known as Waialae Iki, an area of over 1,000 homes known mostly for upscale residences with outstanding views of Diamond Head, Koko Head and the ocean. In earlier times, taro, sweet potatoes, tobacco, bananas, and sugar cane were grown by a large native population along the shore and Waialae Iki was originally planted in pineapple. It was later developed in 1965 and sold off in 8,000 to 30,000 sf lots at $3 to $3.50 per sf. ($35,000 to $50,000 for sloping lots). Today, Waialae Iki has matured and now includes the original subdivision - average homes prices above $1,000,000 - as well as a gated subdivision at the top of the ridge, Waialae Iki 5, featuring newer larger homes priced considerably higher.  Visit the Waialae Iki 5 Community Association or the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board.

KALANIANAOLE HIGHWAY
 
                                                                            

This luxury neighborhood on Oahu is the oceanside stretch of Kalanianaole Highway beginning at the end of the Waialae Country Club through a 3 mile long stretch of luxury neighborhoods such as Wailupe Circle, Niu Beach and Paiko Peninsula . Altogether there are approximately 185 beach-front homes along this south facing stretch of East Oahu; ranging from the mid $1 million to mid $3 million range depending on location and age.  Visit the Waialae-Kahala Neighborhood Board.

PORTLOCK
 
This posh neighborhood comprised of nearly 600 large, elegant view and waterfront homes is located on the south western slopes of Koko Head - the back side of Hanauma Bay. Portlock is the most prestigious section of Hawaii Kai which was developed in the early 1960's by Henry Kaiser of the Kaiser Aetna fame. This modern and well laid out community encompasses nearly 6,000 acres with half-open spaces, 258 acres of marina-front (12 miles of water frontage) and 3,500 acres of residential, commercial and resort zoned areas. The late Mr. Kaiser used to reside on the best water front real estate in the Portlock area - attesting to its prime intrigue. He had 7.2 acres on 5 parcels with 900 linear feet of ocean frontage. Today, in the Portlock area there are no future plans to develop higher up the slopes of Koko Head, however the homes built here rest on larger than average, 12,000 -15,000 sf parcels attracting Buyers who willing pay more for the additional land. Average homes prices of just under $4 million; topped by a $15.9 million dollar sale in 2007.

KAILUA BEACH / LANIKAI

Located on windward side of Oahu, just 20 minutes to downtown Honolulu lays perhaps the best 4 mile stretch of beach anywhere in the world. Beachfront homes along this picturesque coastline are blessed with cool trade winds, the scent of Hawaiian tropical foliage and views of the Mokulua Islands as well as the majestic Koolau mountain range. There are approximately 225 Oceanfront homes along Kailua/Lanikai Beach. With the demand for beachfront properties increasing so goes the price. Many of Oahu's most spectacular homes are located along these shores. Even many of the off-water locations offer such gorgeous views that they easily fall into the million dollar plus range. Far from the crowds of Waikiki both Lanikai and Kailua Beach are neighborhoods for the young at heart with swimming, kite-surfing, sailing, kayaking, golfing or biking. Prices in this casual / luxury neighborhood range from $1 million + range and can soar well beyond depending on location, beach frontage and condition.  In 2008 a spectacular estate of 2+ acres fetched a record smashing $22,000,000.  Visit Honolulu Magazine's Kailua website or the Kailua Neighborhood Board.

From Kaena Point on the West side to Turtle Bay Resort and the Polynesian Cultural Center on the East, Oahu’s North Shore offers some of the most spectacular beachfront real estate on the island. Visitors and local surfers alike are attracted to the monster waves that roll in during the winter months make this the world’s premier surfing destination. Whale watching is also prominent during this time of year but during the summer months, surfers take a break and make room for pristine diving and snorkeling. The North Shore transitions with a sense of calm that befits its country setting. For the luck few that call the North Shore home they know and appreciate what a family-oriented community it really is. The main hub is Haleiwa; officially designated a historic, cultural and scenic district in 1984 and the site of Queen Liliuokalani’s summer home. Haleiwa is also known for its great restaurants, shops and art galleries. Further north, famous surf spots like Pipeline and Sunset line the coast past Waimea Bay. It is along this corridor that lies some of the most expensive real estate on the island. There are less than 400 ocean front residences on the North Shore so as supply and demand goes so does the price. In the late 90’s the average beachfront cottage was less than a million dollars. Today that same cottage could be as high as $2.5 million and most new homes are in the $3.5 million and above range. Vist The North Shore Chamber of Commerce  or the North Shore Neighborhood Board.