Condos make up roughly two-thirds of Honolulu’s housing, a trend driven by limited land, preservation priorities, and a large workforce serving tourism, government, finance, and business. With nearly 70% of Hawaii’s population living on Oahu, vertical living has been the practical solution since the 1960s.
Prices range from studios under $200,000 in older buildings to $20M+ penthouses in Honolulu’s top luxury projects, including
Ilima and
Park Lane.
Most condos in Honolulu require minimum 30-day rentals, with many buildings mandating even longer terms. Only a small number qualify for legal short-term vacation rentals. Investor-oriented condo hotels include the
Ilikai,
Waikiki Sunset, and
Waikiki Banyan. Lifestyle-focused options include
Ritz-Carlton Waikiki and
Ka Lai Waikiki.
The Three Main Regions 1. Metro Honolulu (Waikiki, Kakaako, Ala Moana) Home to 90%+ of all Honolulu condos, this area includes the city’s highest density of high-rise buildings, shops, beaches, and restaurants.
- Waikiki
Hosts 130+ condos, including most of Honolulu’s condo hotels. Buildings are generally older, but popular newer residential towers include The Watermark (2008), Lanikea at Waikiki (2005), and Allure Waikiki (2009).
Best for buyers wanting beaches and urban activity.
- Kakaako
Honolulu’s fastest-growing neighborhood, between Ala Moana and Downtown. Two master plans - Ward Village (Howard Hughes) and Our Kakaako (Kamehameha Schools) - are transforming the area with new condos, shops, and wider streetscapes.
The city’s luxury concentration is here, including Hokua, Waiea, Victoria Place, Alia, Kalae, Launiu, Melia and Ilima.
- Ala Moana
Known for Ala Moana Center and Beach Park. Once dominated by older condos along Atkinson Drive, the area shifted with One Ala Moana (2014) and Park Lane (2017).
Recent projects include Azure Ala Moana, Sky Ala Moana, Renaissance Residences Honolulu, and Muse Honolulu.
2. Diamond Head The Diamond Head region includes a few distinct condo areas. The
Gold Coast is the best-known, with 16 irreplaceable oceanfront buildings from the 1950s–60s along Kalakaua Avenue. Nearby are small low-rise clusters such as Pualei Circle, plus a number of CPR-style homes in the surrounding neighborhood that are legally structured as condos.
3. Hawaii Kai Honolulu’s easternmost region, offering a mix of low-rise and high-rise condos. Several properties are located directly on Hawaii Kai Marina, often in townhouse-style layouts.
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