Kahala real estate is considered the Beverly Hills of Honolulu, offering some of the most expensive
real estate in Honolulu. Located between
Diamond Head homes to the west and the
Waialae Golf Course homes to the east, this sought after beachfront neighborhood consists of approximately 1,200 homes.
See our
video of Kahala Ave luxury homes.
Some of the perimeter streets include Kahala Ave from the 4300 block on, with Aukai Ave, Elepaio St, Hunakai St, Waialae Ave, Kealaolu Ave and back to the ocean. Kahala homes for sale are typically valued between $1.5M for just the land, and up to $20M+ for the ultimate luxury oceanfront estates. Most lot sizes are around 10,000 sq ft with a few 1 acre plus lots.
The Homes Early Kahala real estate development began in the 1920’s with a more extensive build-out during the 1950’s and 1960’s. Kahala homes is today a mix of charming older ranch style homes and newer large two story luxury estates.
Unless you're on the ocean, Kahala homes don’t offer a lot in views. There are only about 40 oceanfront properties on the 1 mile ocean stretch along Kahala Ave. The oceanfront homes east of Hunakai St are on pristine white sandy beach, and the oceanfront properties west of Hunakai St enjoy the privacy of a sea wall. Inherently, the most expensive homes for sale in Kahala are found along the ocean side of Kahala Ave, followed by homes on the coveted Aukai Ave and Kolohala Ave - the latter a beautiful wide street with little traffic.
Kahala residents enjoy a neighborhood with relatively low density, ensured by existing deed restrictions beyond the standard zoning laws (lots in Kahala are either zoned R-10 or R-20). Kahala also has a strong community association, which tend to strongly oppose any attempt of any Kahala home owner to obtain a zoning variance (which would allow for alternative usage beyond single family residential usage).
Kahala real estate appeals to anyone looking for a quiet, prestigious residential neighborhood with spacious roads, luxurious homes on generous level lots, a gorgeous beach and an easy commute into town.
Nearby you'll find the famous
Waialae Country Club, home to the annual Sony Open tournament, and the
Kahala Hotel & Resort, one of Hawaii’s top resorts. Countless prominent celebrities such as the late Whitney Houston have enjoyed the serenity of the beach at the Kahala Hotel.
There are also three splendid popular parks for outdoor activities, including the
Waialae Beach Park. Several public beach access points are available along Kahala Ave, making it convenient to enjoy a stroll along the beach whenever desired.
Shopping at
Kahala Mall is close by with Whole Foods for groceries, boutique shops and a number of excellent restaurants to sample.
Controversial and eccentric Japanese Billionaire investor
Genshiro Kawamoto who purchased hundreds of homes across Honolulu during the Japanese bubble in the late 1980’s also bought 28 homes along Kahala Ave during the past 15 years with an assessed value of about $150M. Unfortunately, due to neglect, his properties lost their exceptional luxury feel, diminishing some of the fine appearance Kahala Ave once had. Kahala residents celebrated when
A&B Properties, a reputable Hawaii developer, purchased 27 of these Kawamoto properties along Kahala Ave in September 2013 for just shy of $100M.
History of Kahala When
Kamehameha the Great made his assault on Oahu, many of his canoes made their landing at Kahala, beginning what would be his most famous campaign in uniting the Islands. That same year, 1795, Native Hawaiians began settling here, starting the first known communities.
Some agriculture activity did go on, but most concerns were pig and cattle farms throughout the 1800's. Following the 1848 Great Mahele land division, all of Kahala came under the ownership of
Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop. Her death transferred those lands to the Bishop Estate Trust, where much of still remains.
The modern Kahala real estate is a product of the upper classes 'discovering' it after World War I. Ponds were filled in, farms were shuttered and mansions started to grow along the beachfront. One attraction may have been that Kahala is completely flat, a rarity on Oahu.
Homes in Kahala have since been the residences of many of the best connected kamaaina, but even they haven't been able to control everything in their neighborhood. The building of the Kahala Hilton in the early 1960's had much opposition from residents, including numerous high-profile families. The rezoning required was still approved by the City Council despite both a planning committee recommendation and a mayoral veto.
One short-term victory they did win was the ability to buy the land their houses stood on from the Bishop Estate. The last lots, all beachfront, were converted from leasehold to fee simple in November of 1986. The Kahala homes that have title to their land do so because of that window of opportunity.
Ultimately, this place is a true Cinderella story. The land once dominated by pig farmers, in a few short decades, turned into the playground of the world's rich and famous. Quite a rise.
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