Kauai Real Estate Update- For a complete list of everything that Sold, went Under Contract and what was Just Listed on the island for the last week click here; Kauai Real Estate Activity August 25 to 31, 2025
Poipu Beach Real Estate Update- Just Listed | Poipu Crater #5 $990,000 (FS)
Currently the only listing available at the Poipu Crater is my new listing unit #5. This unit has very little wear and tear as it’s been used exclusively by the owners and their family for many years. Tiled flooring throughout, renovated Kitchen and Bathrooms. One of my favorite features about Poipu Crater is there is only one shared wall and there are no units above or below you and the setting is perfection; a true tropical oasis. To see more about this listing click here; Poipu Crater #5
For a complete list of all the Fee Simple activity since January 1 click here; Poipu Beach Current Market Analysis
For the Kiahuna Plantation click here; Kiahuna Plantation Current Market Analysis
Cruise Ship Industry Sues Hawaii
Last Wednesday the “Cruise Lines International Association” filed a lawsuit against the State of Hawaii’s new “Green Fee” tax that Governor Green signed into law last May. At this time Cruise Ships are not paying Transient Accommodations tax like Hotels and Vacation Rental homes and condominiums do. This new tax adds .75% on to the Transient-Accommodations tax which is at 13.35% right now and on January 1, 2026 will go to 14%, however that is 14% more than what the cruise ships are paying now.
This fee will be charged to all passengers for the time that is spent in port however, the lawsuit says this new tax violates the “Tonnage Clause” and the “Rivers and Harbors Act” and they are suing the State over it. Cruise Lines International states that this will hurt their business and that they are currently contributing $600 million a year and thousands of jobs to our State.
The State of Hawaii had no comment while they review the lawsuit.
Kauai Looks To Add Regulations To e-bikes
More and more e-bikes have been popping up on our Kauai roads and sidewalks, with that more accidents are happening. On my early Saturday morning walks we’ve seen them on the Poipu Kai greenbelt and it’s a bit jarring; they are silent and come up behind pretty quickly. (Not to mention they shouldn’t be on the sidewalk in the first place.) There are many other areas on Kauai where they are having the same problem.
So, not surprisingly there have been more accidents. There was a statewide bill in front of our Governor for Safe Riding Laws but he vetoed it because it included electric vehicles and he said they needed to be exempt. Instead of waiting for a change at the State level our County introduced Bill 2972 which impose some safety regulations which includes making it illegal for these bikes to be on bike paths, so this gets my vote. To read more about the Bill that was proposed last week click here; Bill 2972
The Kauai Marathon, Poipu Beach
On Sunday the 16th annual Kauai Marathon took place here in Poipu Beach. This happens every year with the exception of 2021 when they did a virtual version. The race started in front of the Kiahuna Plantation, winds up the bypass road through the Tunnel of Trees, then down through Omao, Lawai, Kalaheo and then back to Poipu at the Sheraton Finish Line.
Those of us that live in these areas are prepared and plan accordingly because from the early morning hours until around 10 a.m. it’s a struggle.
This year there were 2,300 runners from 48 states and 18 countries. Around $7K was raised to go to local non-profits
First place was Toa Ota a man aged 22 from Iwaki City, Fukushima Japan at 2:43:38. Second Place was also the first woman winner and that was Steph Bruce from Flagstaff, AZ 41 years old at 2:48:20. The first Hawaii winner was Dan Crevier age 54 from Kihei, Maui at 3:07:13
Affordable Housing on the North Shore
PAL Hawaii along with Habitat for Humanity broke ground on 11 homes in Kilauea for local families that are earning less than 120% of the areas median income which is $159,480 for a four-person household. The buyers will own the homes at “Namahana” and the land will be owned by the land trust; homes will be two to five bedrooms.
Priority is given to applicants who have been on the list the longest and live or work in Kilauea. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife Priscilla Chan along with The Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Foundation have contributed to this project along with other donors.
Kauai Real Estate 2025 vs 2024
The number of homes sold on Kauai’s South Shore and the Lihue area are up but not enough to pull the entire island’s number of sales out of being pretty much even with this same time last year. An interest rate reduction is anticipated this month and I’ll be interested to see how our Kauai real estate market responds to it.
Despite the real estate headwinds Kauai condominiums are facing, the number of sales island wide are pretty much even with last year and the median price is up. The numbers are bumpy but given what this segment of our market has been through it’s pretty amazing.
Below is a graph showing the first 8 months of real estate sales compared to this same time last year.
