Note: This page is predominantly a list of all existing luxury condos for sale in Honolulu. For new - to-be-built - luxury condos go to our New Condo Projects page and for the ultimate in penthouse living visit our new grand penthouse page.
The Hawaii good life has been a captivating ideal since the first Polynesians landed their canoes on these picture-perfect shores. Much has changed since then, especially in Honolulu, with its central role in business and government accelerating build up in the past century.
One constant, though, is the desire to reach new heights in our Island lifestyle using both the natural beauty of the Island and the imaginations of architects and designers. It's produced the noted luxury properties that stand today, but has also created a new wave of upscale living that's only now starting to arrive.
Ask anyone where that wave is strongest and you'll get one answer: Kakaako. The property between Downtown and Ala Moana has become Hawaii's ground zero for innovation in daily living, with a little more of its vision materializing each day.
Units have already sold very quickly in the first two Kakaako projects, the Waiea and the Anaha, based on the strength of what they'll offer to residents. It's true that the duo will deliver the kind of ocean views that create long lines at the sales office, but that's merely the beginning. These buildings are intended to be the benchmark for luxury living in Honolulu, boasting some penthouses never before seen in Honolulu.
Waiea & Anaha start by having a new level of standard features for Hawaii luxury condos, such as over-sized walk-in closets, freestanding bathtubs, wine refrigerators and ceilings that come no lower than 9 feet, just to start. Those aren't options. They're in every single unit.
The amenities are lavish as well, like resort-style locker rooms in their fitness facilities, both steam and sauna rooms, concierge services and private dining rooms that have catering services and chef's kitchens to provide every kind of culinary delight for your guests. The biggest eye-grabber? At the Anaha you can wade in the glass-bottom pool that cantilevers out beyond the building, 7 stories up from the ground!
They also take those ambitions to the outside of the condos. The Waiea's back wall is a multi-story sculpted glass design modeled on a fishing net in mid-cast that has 3-D elements. The Anaha looks like as if it was made with building blocks, with alternating groups of floors that jut out to the right or left from the block below it. This is what the future of urban living, at its very best, looks like.
One of the selling points of Kakaako is being so close to the top shopping of the Ala Moana Center. Then there's One Ala Moana, the condo building that's INSIDE the shopping center. It takes full advantage of this placement and has some of the most incredible grand penthouses in Honolulu. That includes a part of the building set aside for personal shoppers from the mall stores to bring over items for residents to look over, try out and, yes, purchase right there. That tells you everything about the clientele they're looking for to move in at this address.
Your home here has zoned central A/C, floor-to-ceiling double paned glass windows, gourmet kitchens stocked with names like Sub-Zero, Wolf & Miele, and it's all brightened by lighting that's architecturally designed. Those windows maximize the views of the Pacific Ocean, something the majority of units here have over the top of the mall.
Like the Waiea & Anaha, One Ala Moana is intended to not only provide the best in amenities, but to ensure you can take care of almost every daily need from within your residence. That's why they've upped the expectations, with luxury guest suites for your friends and family, private lounges, dog parks, children's play areas and the concierge service to handle all kinds of other things.
It's not so much that these are conveniently at your door, it's that you get them at the highest possible standard. You have no need, or desire, to go anywhere else. Why would you when the best is at your fingertips?
Waikiki has had its own entries in the luxury category, such as the recent years additions of the Allure Waikiki, with its 32K sq ft of private gardens to enjoy, or the Trump Waikiki that has all the extras and touches you immediately associate with that inescapable name. There's also The Watermark, which roots itself in the tropical environment with the open-air lobby and pool surrounded by palm trees, is noted for having a staff that provides exceptionally service.
The famous Waikiki Landmark, which greets you on the Kalakaua Ave entrance to the district, was built with such lavish features, such as the Olympic sized pool and garage doors on some interior parking spaces, that the condo prices proved too expensive for the market of the 1990's. Fortunately, it's now caught up.
Down the street you can live the dream of an oceanfront condo in a Waikiki hotel. The Waikiki Beach Tower gives you all the perks of vacation life, like concierge service, valet parking and a doorman, every single day.
One other famous name is only now establishing itself here and that's the 2 Ritz Towers, which will, once complete, set a completely new standard for luxury Waikiki condos, boasting some ultra-luxury penthouse units with private rooftop terrace with plunge pool & more. It will stand on Kuhio Ave when completed, featuring all the amenities that a name synonymous with fine living delivers. That isn't the end of this neighborhood's additions, by any means.
A condotel is in the planning on the current site that holds King's Village - just off Kalakaua Ave - intended to target more affluent buyers.
One last thing to note is that all of these Waikiki properties offer units with ocean views, almost a requirement for a property to truly call itself Luxury in Honolulu.
The Classic Luxury of the Mid-20th Century is what you'll find on the Gold Coast, where the condominiums famously stand closer to the waves than the laws will ever allow again. You'll find none of the recreational extras of the other properties anywhere here. In some cases, not even a pool. Yet, their location under Diamond Head and their privileged position right over the waves, has created a restricted club that is extremely difficult, and very expensive, to get into today.
Residences like Diamond Head Apartments, Colony Beach, Seabreeze and the condos at 3003 and 3019 Kalakaua are possibly the apex of these real estate market heights. Their ocean side units look right out at the swells making their way in, some almost directly beneath their lanais. You're serenaded by the comings and goings of the tides themselves.
In certain cases, owners have actually been able to combine both units on the same story, which often means taking over an entire floor to themselves in this serene paradise. It's not a personal tropical island, but it'll give even that fantasy a run for its money.
Once past Diamond Head, believe it or not, there aren't so many luxury condos for some time. The communities you pass through tend to stick to houses and limits of just a few stories, for various reasons. You'll find a few low-rises, such as the La Pietra townhomes on the western shoulder of Diamond Head, but not much else.
While that may change in the coming years, for now, the vast majority of Hawaii's luxury condos for sale will be found in these areas – Kakaako, Ala Moana, Waikiki and the Gold Coast. They've got it all, though, for every kind of buyer, from the low-frills, high-end locations of the Gold Coast to the innovations that have only the sky as their limit in Kakaako. That's what you call range.
We created a list of the 9 most amazing condos in Honolulu - a mix of to be built and already built luxury & ultra-luxury projects.
1. Waiea Ultra-luxury project and will boast some of the most amazing views in Ward Village. Expected completed: Nov 2015.
2. Gateway Towers Ultra-luxury project by world-renowned Richard Meier. This is the 1st of 2 Gateway Towers, referred to as the Cylinder at Gateway Towers. Expected completion: 2019.
3. Residences at 4607 Kahala Ave Ultra-luxury condo project on a white sandy beach along Kahala Avenue. Boutique with just 6 very large units in 3 structures. Expected completion: 2019.
4. Park Lane Ala Moana Ultra-luxury project made up of 7 100ft tall buildings. Large units with over-sized balconies with barbeque grill to create a single-family home feel. Expected completion: Phase 1 spring 2017 and phase 2 late 2017.
5. Ritz-Carlton Ultra-luxury condotel (hotel condo combined), offering owners the option to rent out their unit to vacationers. Expected completion: 1st tower spring 2016 and 2nd tower spring 2017.
6. Anaha Luxury condo in one of the very best locations in Ward Village. State-of-the-art amenities with tennis court, beach volley court and much more. Expected completion: Summer 2017.
7. Hokua By many, considered Honolulu’s premier luxury condo. The units here are large - starting at 1,500 sq ft plus - and have 9 foot ceiling heights.
8. One Ala Moana Luxury project completed late 2014. Very thoughtful layout of the unit, efficient use of space. Ocean facing units can open windows without noise from a busy street.
9. Trump Tower Completed 2009 as the most luxuruious condo hotel ever built in Honolulu. Great for lifestyle, probably not for good cash flow.
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