About Portlock Portlock is the premier residential oceanfront neighborhood in the Hawaii Kai region, located at the base of Koko Head, consisting of about 120 properties - a mix of older well-kept single level homes among newer stunning luxury estates. Portlock homes for sale are typically valued from $1.5M for a fixer-upper to $15M plus for the utmost luxurious estates and sit on generous sized lots ranging from 11,000 sq ft to 1 acre plus, making it some of the most sought after real estate in Honolulu.
Insight to Portlock Homes Only about 40 Portlock homes are directly on the ocean, well situated and protected from off-shore winds, enjoying a picture perfect westerly sunset view across Maunalua Bay with the striking Diamond Head Crater in the distant center. The most notable property on the ocean is the sprawling, tropical and grand 5.5 acre Kaiser Estate with private boat harbor in the 500 block of Portlock Rd, formerly owned by Henry Kaiser, industrialist and developer of the Hawaii Kai community.
To the surprise of many, the real estate in Portlock only includes the homes on Portlock Rd and about 8 properties along the oceanside of Kalanianaole Hwy. Blending together seamlessly, the adjacent Koko Kai and Triangle neighborhoods are sometimes mistaken as belonging to Portlock. Together these 3 neighborhoods form a pleasant desirable quiet community of wide gently rolling streets with modest west facing elevations, protected from easterly trade winds, wrapping around the base of the imposing Koko Head.
Koko Kai is home to about 130 properties along Poipu Dr including and south of 274 Poipu Dr, as well as adjacent streets Lumahai Pl, Lumahai St, Poipu Pl and Hanapepe Lp. Koko Kai homes for sale are typically valued in the $1.5M to $5M range and feature some dramatic cliffside estates with stunning sunset and ocean views.
Triangle, just north of Koko Kai, is home to about 300 properties on the oceanside of Kalanianaole Hwy, including Kalalau St, Nawiliwili St, Polihale Pl, Makaweli Pl, Makaweli St, Poipu Dr north of 274 Poipu Dr, Lunalilo Home Rd and Pilaa Pl. The majority of Triangle homes for sale are valued in the $1M to $3M range.
Both Koko Kai and Triangle association design guidelines differ from Portlock’s, including additional building height restrictions of 16 ft from the highest corner of the buildable footprint. Allegedly, and controversial, a couple of homes might have set precedent and built beyond the allowable height limit.
Portlock Neighborhood The Portlock shoreline along Maunalua Bay offers calm oceans and a sandy beach up to about 281 Portlock Rd. Going further south properties feature seawalls and eventually ocean cliff frontage with increasing wave action.
There are 3 parks in the Portlock, Koko Kai, Triangle community, including well-known Koko Kai Beach Park, a great place to enjoy sunset picnics above the popular and daring China Walls surf spot.
Tranquil and peaceful, yet with all Hawaii Kai’s conveniences close by, including marina front restaurants, Costco, several water sport options, snorkeling at Hanauma Bay and more, makes Portlock real estate a very special treasure, desired by many.
The price range of houses for sale in Portlock is $1.25M to $17.75M with a median price of $2.28M, median interior of 3,197sf and median land size of 14,956sf.
The median price of houses sold in Portlock year-to-date (Jan - Sep 22, 2017) is $2.19M. In previous years it was $1.89M (2016), $1.79M (2015), $2.16M (2014), $1.85M (2013), $1.6M (2012), $1.48M (2011), $1.3M (2010), $1.34M (2009), $1.81M (2008), $1.58M (2007), $1.4M (2006), $1.46M (2005), $1.3M (2004), $948K (2003).
14 houses have sold in Portlock year-to-date (Jan - Sep 22, 2017). In previous years, the total number of houses sold were 25 (2016), 24 (2015), 18 (2014), 27 (2013), 35 (2012), 21 (2011), 25 (2010), 18 (2009), 17 (2008), 29 (2007), 37 (2006), 41 (2005), 26 (2004), 34 (2003).
On average Portlock houses were on the market for 72 days before they were sold (Jan - Sep 22, 2017). In previous years it was 125 days (2016), 114 days (2015), 129 days (2014), 101 days (2013), 92 days (2012), 101 days (2011), 67 days (2010), 105 days (2009), 130 days (2008), 100 days (2007), 90 days (2006), 67 days (2005), 82 days (2004), 101 days (2003).
The average days on market for Portlock houses before sold were 60 days August 2017 compared to 121 days August 2016.
The ratio of Portlock houses sales price vs list price were 97.4% August 2017 compared to 89.4% August 2016.
4 Portlock houses were sold August 2017 compared to 1 house sold August 2016.
The total dollar volume of houses currently for sale in Portlock is $107.96M and the sold dollar volume year-to-date (Jan - Sep 22, 2017) is $30.39M. In previous years sold dollar volume was $48.64M (2016), $51.06M (2015), $38.13M (2014), $71.45M (2013), $78.62M (2012), $38.62M (2011), $51.72M (2010), $33.37M (2009), $39.63M (2008), $69.64M (2007), $64.17M (2006), $74.81M (2005), $44.39M (2004), $39.91M (2003).
The most recent sale in Portlock was a house located at 124 Poipu Drive, sold for $1.93M on Sep 08, 2017. It had 2106sf of interior. 9 other recent sales include: 153 Nawiliwili Street (2,325sf) sold for $1.52M on 8/31/2017. 111 Nawiliwili Street (2,958sf) sold for $1.25M on 8/14/2017. 80 Poipu Drive (4,072sf) sold for $2.72M on 8/4/2017. 320 Poipu Drive (1,915sf) sold for $2.28M on 8/3/2017. 239 Kalalau Street (2,652sf) sold for $1.56M on 7/28/2017. 116 Makaweli Street (2,005sf) sold for $1.62M on 6/13/2017. 7 Lumahai Street (2,890sf) sold for $2.1M on 6/1/2017. 274 Portlock Road (4,102sf) sold for $2.95M on 5/26/2017. 43 Lumahai Street (3,387sf) sold for $3M on 5/22/2017.
18 of the houses have ocean views, 18 have Diamond Head views and 17 have mountain views.
Portlock History This part of Oahu was once the site of ancient Hawaiian fishing spots, which they kept secret and passed on through generations. Now it is an upscale neighborhood named for Nathaniel Portlock, a member of Captain Cook's crew for his 3rd, and last, voyage. Portlock returned to Hawaii as the captain of his own ship, becoming the first European to sail into Maunalua Bay.
He only did some brief trading with the islanders, but did record that this part of Oahu was not well populated, probably due to a lack of freshwater sources.
Portlock has been prime real estate for some time due to the vista of both the bay & Diamond Head residents enjoy. Still, most of the original Portlock houses weren't built until the 1940's & 50's. What put it truly on the map, though, was Henry Kaiser's arrival in Hawaii during the later phase of that development.
Not only did he build the Hawaiian Village - now the Hilton Hawaiian Village - he also literally created what we know today as Hawaii Kai. His Portlock home attracted just as much attention, however.
Built to please Mrs. Kaiser, it featured a pink mansion plus 2 oval houses to hold her many pink poodles. In the greenhouse? Pink roses. The Kaisers entertained a constant stream of celebrities here, filling the society pages on a weekly basis. The Kaisers may no longer be with us, but the allure of Portlock's real estate hasn't diminished one bit. After them, this neighborhood had a new, high profile that it still enjoys.
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