The Most Expensive Neighborhoods in Kamuela, HI for 2026

The local real estate market in Waimea, commonly known as Kamuela, HI, currently shows a median sale price of approximately $977,000. Buyers interested in luxury real estate in Kamuela, HI will find a distinct upper tier. Homes spend an average of 111 days on the market, and with about 6.4 months of supply, you have a reasonable window to look carefully before committing.

Understanding where the real money lives here requires understanding the town's split geography. The 96743 zip code contains both modest upcountry ranch homes and high-end oceanfront estates along the Kohala Coast - two entirely different pricing tiers sharing the same address. That distinction matters more than almost anything else when you're trying to make sense of what you see online.

Kamuela's Wealthiest Enclaves at a Glance

Aggregation sites routinely show conflicting median prices for Kamuela because they draw their boundaries differently. NeighborhoodScout places the Waimea/Kamuela median real estate price around $794,378; BestNeighborhood.org cites $819,625. Neither number is wrong - they're just measuring different slices.

Active listing data tells a sharper story on the luxury end. Recent metrics from Homes.com show a median list price of $1,875,000, and Movoto reports a September 2026 median list price of $1.99 million, or roughly $1,005 per square foot. That's the market you're shopping in if you're looking at the upper tier.

Top-Tier Resort Communities

Most local listings make it clear that the resort and coastal enclaves are where the highest prices concentrate. If you want peak luxury, your focus should be on the gated, oceanfront communities tied to the Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani resorts.

Subdivisions like Mauna Kea Fairways North, Kohala Waterfront, Champion Ridge at Mauna Lani, and Ke Kailani are where the high-water marks get set. Sales in these communities regularly reach well into the tens of millions.

Upcountry Estates

The coastline isn't the only place where serious money shows up. The upcountry areas offer a different kind of wealth - land, privacy, and elevation. A 2018 Pacific Business News ranking of Hawaii's wealthiest zip codes placed Kamuela 16th statewide, trailing only Holualoa on the Big Island.

Up here, you're looking at expansive acreage tied to the legacy of Parker Ranch. You give up immediate ocean access and get cooler temperatures, historic ranch architecture, and panoramic views of the coastline from a distance. It's a genuine trade-off, not a consolation prize.

What Defines an Upscale Area on the Big Island

The 96743 zip code carries a median household income of $101,468 for 2024, according to the American Community Survey. That's a sharp increase from prior years, though the figure shifts depending on which source and which year you're looking at.

Other data providers report different income figures based on whether they're measuring the zip code or the specific Census Designated Place. Places.us.com cites an older estimate of $88,416; DoorProfit's profile shows $77,966. None of these figures contradict each other - they're just drawing from different years and different boundaries.

Income and Real Estate Benchmarks

What those varying numbers tell you is how diverse the Kamuela population is. The local economy supports working agricultural families in the town center and high-net-worth individuals purchasing secondary or tertiary homes on the coast - sometimes within a few miles of each other.

The real estate benchmarks in the most exclusive sections have almost no relationship to local wages. Values there are driven by external investment and resort amenities, not by what people in Waimea earn at their day jobs.

Amenities That Command Premium Prices

In the top pricing tiers, custom architecture built around indoor-outdoor living isn't a selling point - it's an expectation. Oceanfront lanais, infinity pools, and direct golf course frontage come standard.

Exclusivity and security carry their own premium. Gated access, private beach clubs, and proximity to high-end resort dining at Mauna Kea or Mauna Lani add real dollars to an asking price - and buyers at this level know it.

Luxury Homes for Sale in Kamuela, HI

Inventory is tight, with roughly 34 active listings currently on the market. Homes have recently sold for about 97% of their asking price on average, which tells you sellers aren't feeling much pressure to negotiate.

The top end of the for-sale market reaches roughly $47,000,000, according to price ranges cited by Homes.com and Island Properties. That ceiling represents the pinnacle of local oceanfront estate pricing.

The Top of the Market

The specific highest-priced listing shifts as properties move in and out, but the $28.9 million to $47 million range is where the ultra-luxury cap currently sits. Those properties are almost exclusively in the resort enclaves.

Zillow recently showed a listing at $28,900,000 - a five-bedroom, eight-bathroom home spanning 7,820 square feet at 68-1339 S Kaniku Dr, highlighted by its expansive oceanfront lanai. That's a useful reference point for what the upper end looks like on the ground.

Architectural Styles

New luxury builds along the Kohala Coast lean into contemporary Hawaiian design - vast sliding glass walls, native wood finishes, minimalist layouts that put the ocean view front and center. The architecture gets out of its own way.

Further inland, the historic upcountry estates read differently. Plantation-style architecture, deep covered porches, large layouts suited for equestrian use or large-scale entertaining. Two distinct aesthetics, and most buyers know pretty quickly which one is theirs.

Finding the Right Kamuela Neighborhood for Your Lifestyle

The upcountry town center and the coastal resorts are about a 15 to 20 minute drive apart down Kawaihae Road. That's close enough to feel connected but far enough that the climate, the pace, and the daily experience are genuinely different. You'll want to decide which version of Kamuela you're buying into.

Proximity to Kailua-Kona and its international airport is another real consideration - especially if you travel frequently or plan to have regular guests coming in.

Options for Professionals and Commuters

If you're commuting to Kailua-Kona or working within Waimea itself, the upcountry neighborhoods tend to make more practical sense. You're closer to local grocery stores, farmers markets, and daily services, and the higher elevation means you'll rarely need air conditioning - which keeps utility costs manageable. It's a practical blend of space and accessibility.

Quiet Retreats and Resort Living

The resort areas attract a different kind of buyer - people looking for a slower pace, retirement-focused amenities, or a well-managed part-time residence. The Kohala Coast delivers premier golf courses, spas, and beaches right outside the gate.

For part-time residents in particular, communities like Champion Ridge or Ke Kailani make a lot of sense. The HOA structures in these areas typically handle landscaping and exterior upkeep, so the property doesn't suffer when you're not there.

Evaluating Livability and Crime Rates in Kamuela

According to NeighborhoodScout, Kamuela has an overall crime rate of 10 per 1,000 residents, placing it near the national average for cities and towns of all sizes. The violent crime rate sits at about 1 per 1,000 residents - roughly average nationally - while the property crime rate is about 8 per 1,000.

Those are baseline numbers. Worth knowing, but not the whole picture.

Understanding the Safety Data

CrimeGrade.org reports that Kamuela earns a B- for violent crime, ranking in the 60th percentile for safety with a violent crime rate of 3.74 per 1,000 residents. A separate zip-code-level crime score from DoorProfit rates 96743 as a B+, indicating crime levels are average relative to other zip codes in the surrounding region.

Different sources, similar story.

Cost of Living Context

The median sale price of approximately $977,000 reflects a market where roughly 18% of homes recently sold above their list price. You'll want to budget for high property values alongside Hawaii's generally elevated costs for groceries and utilities - that's not specific to Kamuela, but it's real.

With 6.4 months of supply on hand, you have a fair shot at finding the right property without being rushed into a decision. That's worth something.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the richest part of Kamuela?

The resort and coastal enclaves. Gated oceanfront communities like Mauna Kea Fairways North, Kohala Waterfront, Champion Ridge at Mauna Lani, and Ke Kailani command the highest prices in the area.

Is Kamuela, HI a wealthy area?

Yes, it ranks among the more affluent areas on the Big Island. The 96743 zip code carries a median household income of $101,468 for 2024, and active luxury listings frequently exceed $1.8 million.

What is the most expensive house in Kamuela, HI?

The top of the market reaches roughly $47 million. A recent example of what ultra-luxury inventory looks like here is a $28.9 million, 7,820-square-foot oceanfront estate at 68-1339 S Kaniku Dr.

Is Kamuela a good place to live?

That depends almost entirely on what you're looking for. The area offers cool upcountry ranch living on one end and sunny, dry coastal resort amenities on the other - and they're genuinely different experiences.

What are the safest neighborhoods in Kamuela?

Safety data is tracked for the 96743 zip code as a whole rather than individual subdivisions. The area maintains an overall crime rate of 10 per 1,000 residents, which NeighborhoodScout considers near the national average.