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How's the Kauai real estate market right now?
By Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty (RB-21841). Selling in Hawaii since 2005. Updated November 10, 2026.
Kauai's October 2026 numbers moved a lot, because the sample is small. Title Guaranty's Kauai Residential Sales Report, compiling the Kauai Board of REALTORS' statistics and effective November 2, 2026, counted 31 single-family sales at a median of $1,300,000. That was 34.0% fewer sales than October 2025, and the median was 18.5% lower than a year earlier. Year to date, though, the single-family median was still $1,300,000, up 5.9%, on 287 sales, down 16.6%. In other words, one month can look like a drop even when the year's mid-point has not broken.
Condos tell a similar "don't over-read one month" story. October had 21 condo sales at a median of $734,000, up 4.9% from a year earlier. That looks busy next to September, when only 6 condos sold — a 250% jump in volume from a very thin prior month. Year to date, 179 condos had sold, down 22.8%, at a median of $845,000, down 0.8%. For island context, see my Kauai real estate guide.
What a 31-sale month can and cannot tell you
On Oahu, a few hundred closings in a month give you a sturdier median. On Kauai, 31 house sales are spread from Waimea to Hanalei, and a couple of high-end closings — or the absence of them — will move the number. That is why I read October and the year-to-date figure together. The October median matched the year-to-date median at $1,300,000, but October was down 18.5% from October 2025, while the year-to-date median was up 5.9%. Both can be true if last October's mix was more expensive, or this October's mix was more modest.
The district breakout in the same report shows how wide the island is, even in one month:
- Hanalei: 6 single-family sales at a median of $2.6 million, and 4 condo sales at a median of $1.1 million.
- Koloa: 6 single-family sales at a median of $1.4 million, and 10 condo sales at a median of $687,000 — the busiest condo district in October.
- Kawaihau: 9 single-family sales at a median of $1.1 million, and 3 condo sales at a median of $1.3 million.
- Lihue: 3 single-family sales at a median of $1.3 million, and 3 condo sales at a median of $487,000.
- Waimea: 7 single-family sales at a median of $930,000, and 1 condo sale at $650,000.
A $1,300,000 "Kauai median" sits between Waimea and Koloa and is nowhere near the Hanalei mid-point. I would not price a Waimea house off a Hanalei sale, or the reverse.
What it means for buyers
Use the year-to-date median as a rough island benchmark, and then ignore it in favor of the district and the actual listings. Thirty-one house sales in October means the inventory you see this week matters more than the headline. Condo buyers should also remember that September had only 6 sales; October's 21 closings are a rebound from a thin month, not proof that every project suddenly got busy. If you are comparing islands, the Hawaii statewide page puts Kauai next to Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island.
What it means for sellers
Year-to-date house sales are down 16.6%, so there is less activity than last year, even though the year-to-date median is up 5.9%. That combination usually means buyers are still paying for the right property, and they are not bidding up everything. Condo sellers are working with fewer year-to-date sales (down 22.8%) and an almost unchanged year-to-date median. I would set a list price from recent sales in the same district, and I would be slow to treat a one-month swing — up or down — as a new normal.
Related market pages: Oahu, Maui, and the Big Island. Call me at (808) 201-3577.
Kauai housing market FAQ
How is the Kauai real estate market right now?
In October 2026, Kauai single-family homes sold at a median of $1,300,000 on 31 sales, down 34.0% in sales and 18.5% in price from October 2025. Condos sold at a median of $734,000 on 21 sales, down 8.7% in volume and up 4.9% in price. Year to date, the single-family median was still $1,300,000, up 5.9%. Figures are from Title Guaranty's October 2026 Kauai report, effective November 2, 2026, compiling Kauai Board of REALTORS statistics.
What is the median home price on Kauai?
The October 2026 single-family median was $1,300,000, the same as the year-to-date median through October, which was up 5.9% from the first ten months of 2025. The October condo median was $734,000; the year-to-date condo median was $845,000, down 0.8%. District medians in October ranged from $930,000 in Waimea to $2.6 million in Hanalei.
Why do Kauai market numbers swing so much from month to month?
Because the island closes a relatively small number of sales. October had 31 single-family sales and 21 condo sales. September had only 6 condo sales, so October's condo volume jumped 250% without requiring a completely different market. A handful of higher- or lower-priced closings can move a monthly median even when the year-to-date median is stable.
Is the Kauai market down if the October median fell 18.5%?
Not necessarily. The October single-family median was down 18.5% from October 2025, but the year-to-date median was up 5.9%, and both periods show a $1,300,000 median in 2026. The yearly comparison can change with the mix of homes that happened to close in that month. I look at both figures, then at comps in the same district.
How do prices compare around Kauai?
In October 2026, single-family medians were $2.6 million in Hanalei (6 sales), $1.4 million in Koloa (6 sales), $1.3 million in Lihue (3 sales), $1.1 million in Kawaihau (9 sales), and $930,000 in Waimea (7 sales). Those are one-month figures on small counts, so I treat them as a snapshot, not a formal appraisal of a given house.
How is the Kauai condo market doing?
October's 21 condo sales at a $734,000 median were up 4.9% in price from a year earlier and up sharply from a 6-sale September. Year to date, 179 condos had sold, down 22.8%, at a median of $845,000, down 0.8%. Koloa led October volume with 10 condo sales at a $687,000 median; Hanalei's 4 condo sales had a $1.1 million median.
Where can I read more about living on Kauai?
Start with my Kauai real estate guide. This page is for current market figures and live listings. If you are comparing islands, use the Hawaii statewide market report as well.
How can I talk with Tony about buying or selling on Kauai?
Call or text The Kawaguchi Group at (808) 201-3577, or use the contact form on this site. I'm Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), with eXp Realty (RB-21841).
Sources
- Title Guaranty, Kauai Residential Sales Report, October 2026, effective November 2, 2026, compiling Kauai Board of REALTORS statistics.
- Kauai Board of REALTORS, MLS Sales Statistics.
- Title Guaranty market statistics index: tghawaii.com/market/.
Tony Kawaguchi, REALTOR (RS-66616), The Kawaguchi Group, eXp Realty (RB-21841). Selling in Hawaii since 2005. Phone (808) 201-3577. This page is general information, not personalized financial, tax or legal advice; consult the appropriate licensed professional for your situation. Market statistics are deemed reliable but not guaranteed and can be revised as late sales are reported.