Quick answer (updated November 13, 2026): The four main Hawaiian islands are four different housing markets. In October 2026, Oahu single-family resales had a $1,150,000 median and condos a $499,000 median (Honolulu Board of REALTORS, HiCentral MLS). October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show $1,179,000 for houses and $634,500 for condos in Maui County, $1,300,000 for houses and $734,000 for condos on Kauai, and $514,500 for houses and $535,000 for condos on Hawaii Island. Choose an island below; each island page then links to its major areas.
Oahu figures are Honolulu Board of REALTORS resales, released November 6, 2026, and do not include new-home sales. Maui, Kauai and Hawaii Island figures are October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report, effective November 2, 2026). Maui County totals include Lanai and Molokai. Medians are not asking prices, and a typical house in one town can be far from the island number.
Buyers often start by asking which island to live on. The better first questions are how you want to spend ordinary days, how you will get here, and what a realistic budget buys in that market. I'm Tony Kawaguchi. My team is based on Oahu, and we have been selling in Hawaii since 2005. For neighbor-island purchases we help buyers through eXp Realty's statewide network, including referrals to agents who work those areas every day.
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Oahu is the urban and job center of the state, with Honolulu condos, a wide range of suburban neighborhoods, and Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL), the largest airport in Hawaii. In October 2026, the Honolulu Board of REALTORS reported a single-family median of $1,150,000 on 239 resales and a condo median of $499,000 on 339 resales. Those figures do not include new-home sales. The Communities page has the Oahu area guides.
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Maui is several small markets on one island: Central Maui towns, sunny South Maui, cooler Upcountry, the North Shore, and West Maui, including the Lahaina rebuild area. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) put the Maui County single-family median at $1,179,000 on 59 sales and the condo median at $634,500 on 68 sales. Those county totals include Lanai and Molokai. The Maui page links to each major area.
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The Big Island is larger than the other Hawaiian islands combined, with dry west-side coasts, wet east-side towns, upland pasture, and the widest price range of the four. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show a single-family median of $514,500 on 170 sales and a condo median of $535,000 on 38 sales. North Kona houses sold around $1.0 million that month, while Puna houses sold at a $342,000 median. The Big Island page links to each major area.
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Kauai is the smallest of the four main markets, and the priciest for houses. A single belt highway does not go all the way around. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show 31 single-family sales at a $1,300,000 median and 21 condo sales at a $734,000 median. District house medians in that October report ranged from $930,000 in Waimea to $2.6 million in Hanalei. The Kauai page covers the districts, rental rules and taxes.
KauaiThere is no single best island. Use this short comparison as a starting point, then open the island guide. Lifestyle notes below are about housing, daily pace and access, not about who should live where. Flight facts come from the official Hawaii Department of Transportation Airports site and the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport website; check current airline schedules, because routes change.
| Island | Lifestyle, in brief | Flights | October 2026 prices |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oahu | The urban and job center of the state, with Honolulu condos and a wide range of suburban neighborhoods. More daily traffic than the other islands. | Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu is the largest airport in the State of Hawaii. From HNL you can fly to the neighbor-island airports. | Houses $1,150,000 (239 resales); condos $499,000 (339 resales). Honolulu Board of REALTORS, HiCentral MLS. |
| Maui | Several small markets on one island: Central Maui towns, sunny South Maui, cooler Upcountry, the North Shore, and West Maui. | Kahului Airport (OGG) is the main commercial airport. The state also lists Kapalua Airport (JHM) and Hana Airport (HNM). | Houses $1,179,000 (59 sales); condos $634,500 (68 sales). October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report). County totals include Lanai and Molokai. |
| Big Island | Larger than the other Hawaiian islands combined, with dry west-side coasts, wet east-side towns, upland pasture, and the widest price range of the four. | Ellison Onizuka Kona International Airport at Keahole (KOA) and Hilo International Airport (ITO) are the main commercial airports. The state also lists Waimea-Kohala Airport (MUE). | Houses $514,500 (170 sales); condos $535,000 (38 sales). October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report). |
| Kauai | The smallest of the four main markets, with one belt highway that does not go all the way around, and the highest October house median. | Lihue Airport (LIH) is the commercial airport. | Houses $1,300,000 (31 sales); condos $734,000 (21 sales). October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report). |
It depends on how you want to live, how you will get here, and what you can pay. Oahu has the most jobs, services and housing types, and the state's largest airport in Honolulu. Maui is several small markets, from Central Maui towns to resort coasts and Upcountry. The Big Island is the largest island and had the lowest October 2026 single-family median of the four. Kauai is the smallest of the four main markets and had the highest October 2026 house median. Start with this page, then open the island guide for the one that fits.
Hawaii Island (the Big Island) did in October 2026. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show a Hawaii Island single-family median of $514,500 on 170 sales and a condo median of $535,000 on 38 sales. That is an islandwide median; North Kona houses sold around $1.0 million the same month, while Puna houses sold at a $342,000 median.
On Oahu, the Honolulu Board of REALTORS reported a single-family median of $1,150,000 on 239 resales and a condo median of $499,000 on 339 resales. October 2026 median prices (Title Guaranty Hawaii market report) show $1,179,000 for houses and $634,500 for condos in Maui County (including Lanai and Molokai), $1,300,000 for houses and $734,000 for condos on Kauai, and $514,500 for houses and $535,000 for condos on Hawaii Island.
Oahu, for most mainland and international itineraries. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) in Honolulu is the largest airport in the State of Hawaii, and from HNL you can fly to the neighbor-island airports, including Kahului on Maui, Lihue on Kauai, and Kona and Hilo on the Big Island, according to the official HNL website. The other islands also have their own commercial airports. Check current airline schedules; flight options change.
Yes. Hawaii real estate licenses are statewide. I'm Tony Kawaguchi, and my team is based on Oahu. For neighbor-island purchases we work with buyers through eXp Realty's statewide network, including referrals to agents who work those areas every day. Call or text (808) 201-3577, or use the contact form on this page.
The Maui County totals in the Title Guaranty Hawaii market report do include them. In October 2026 that report counted 3 single-family sales on Lanai and 4 on Molokai within the 59 countywide single-family sales. This site does not yet have separate pages for Lanai or Molokai.
No. A statewide average hides the differences that matter when you buy. In October 2026, single-family medians ranged from $514,500 on Hawaii Island to $1,300,000 on Kauai, and condo medians ranged from $499,000 on Oahu to $734,000 on Kauai. Shop the island, then the area.
Pick the island first, then look at recent sales and the rules that apply there, such as vacation-rental zoning or, on the Big Island, lava zones and insurance. Use the island buttons on this page, or call or text (808) 201-3577 and tell me what you are looking for. I will send listings, recent sales and the questions to ask before you write an offer.
Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty (RB-21841). Selling in Hawaii since 2005. Phone (808) 201-3577. The Kawaguchi Group is based on Oahu; for neighbor-island purchases we work with buyers through eXp Realty's statewide network, including referrals to agents who work those areas every day. This page is general information, not legal, tax, insurance or financial advice. Market statistics are deemed reliable but not guaranteed and can be revised. Photos are of the general area and are not listings.