Kauai Real Estate Update- Ocean Views, Pool, AC & a $500,000 Transformation $2,995,000
I just listed an incredible home in Lihue. This four-bedroom, three-and-a-half-bath home sits on nearly one and a half acres with views of the ocean, mountains, and surrounding open space. A (very) recent $500,000 renovation has transformed the property into a home that feels current, refined, and exceptionally well executed.
To find out what Sold, went Under Contract and what was Just Listed last week on the island click here: Kauai Real Estate Update April 6 to 12, 2026
Poipu Beach Real Estate Update- To find out the real estate activity in Poipu Beach since the beginning of the year click here: Poipu Beach Current Market Analysis
For the Kiahuna Plantation click here: Kiahuna Plantation Current Market Analysis
Another Sewage Spill And Another Storm For Kauai
The storm hit Kauai on Wednesday and Thursday was a steady downpour, Friday had scattered showers. Kauai was impacted but not much and it was the usual suspects; Hanalei Bridge was closed and Poipu Beach Parking Lot turned back into Poipu Lake.
The storm caused a sewage spill at the Waimea Wastewater Treatment Plant that resulted in 140,000 gallons of sewage spilled and the County Of Kauai stated they believe the spill reached the Kikiaola Small Boat Harbor. The spill was due to “high flows from the heavy rains”.
The Kikiaola Boat Harbor is located on Kaumualii Highway just past the Waimea Plantation Cottages.
FinCEN Reporting Requirements Are Off The Table…For Now
Last week I had posted a video about FinCEN which is a requirement for title companies in the U.S. to paper trail the money from cash transactions. But this has changed ( thank you Jay S. for the heads up!)
On March 19, 2026, a federal court in Texas struck down the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network Residential Real Estate AML Rule, finding that FinCEN exceeded its authority under the Bank Secrecy Act and violated the Administrative Procedure Act. The rule is currently no longer in effect. FinCEN stated that, while the court order remains in place, reporting persons are not required to file real estate reports and will not face liability for failing to do so.
Neither the U.S. Department of Justice nor FinCEN has said whether they will appeal. If they do, the DOJ could ask the court to temporarily reinstate the rule while the appeal is pending.
I contacted a local title representative here on Kauai and she said: “We are currently on hold with FinCen reporting. They stated that we are not required to submit information and that we would not be held liable for not reporting for the time being. We’re unsure how things will be proceeding or if the decision out of Texas will be appealed.”
The Property Got An Accepted Offer. Want to Know the Price? So Do I
One of the first things that happens when a property goes under contract—whether I represent the buyer or the seller—is I get the same question: “So... what did it sell for?”
Sometimes it is a buyer who had been quietly watching the property, mentally circling it for weeks. Other times it is a seller in the same neighborhood or condo complex who wants to know what the neighbor got.
Different people, same question. And the answer is: I don’t know. Or I may not be at liberty to say.
The only people who know the contract price are the buyer, the seller, and their agents. “Under contract” simply means a price was agreed upon and escrow was opened. The actual number stays confidential.
There is a good reason for that. If everyone knew a seller accepted $50,000 under asking, and the deal later fell apart, the next buyer would come in assuming that is now the number. Maybe, maybe not. There could have been terms that made were appealing, price is only one part of the deal.
And there is the legal aspect too. Agents are also not allowed to disclose the accepted price unless the seller says they can, and sellers almost never do.
So when a property goes under contract and you immediately want to know what it sold for, that won’t happen. But, you will find out when it closes and the price hits the MLS.
Oahu, Maui and Big Island Real Estate 2026 vs 2025
Last week I published the real estate activity at the end of the first 3 months on the island of Kauai. This week I have the data for all of the islands.
Here are the highlights:
🏝️ Maui and Oahu only two up in their Median Price and number of Residential Home sales.
🏝️ Maui is the only island seeing an uptick in their number of Condominium Sales
🏝️ The Big Island is the only one up in the Median Price
