Can you legally rent out a Kauaʻi home on Airbnb?

Only with a valid Vacation Dwelling Exemption (VDA) or Nonconforming Use Certificate (NUC). Kauaʻi County froze new permits in 2018 for most residential zones. Homes without existing permits cannot operate STRs under 180 days. Verify permit status before assuming rental income — penalties run $10,000+ per violation.

What's the property tax rate on Kauaʻi homes?

Rates depend on use classification. Owner-occupied residential pays roughly $3.05 per $1,000 assessed value. Vacation rentals and investor-owned homes pay $9.40–$10.85 per $1,000. A $1.5M home costs $4,575/year owner-occupied or $14,100+ as a non-resident investment. Homeowner exemptions reduce assessed value by $160,000 for primary residents.

How much does homeowners insurance cost on Kauaʻi?

Expect $3,000–$8,000 annually for standard coverage. Coastal and flood-zone properties require separate policies that can double premiums. Hurricane coverage is mandatory for financed purchases — the state-run HWRF provides wind coverage when private insurers decline. Budget 1–2% of home value for total annual insurance.

Are Kauaʻi home prices dropping?

Median prices flattened in 2023–2024 after pandemic peaks but haven't corrected significantly. Limited inventory (under 250 active single-family listings islandwide) keeps downward pressure minimal. Price reductions happen on overpriced listings, not market-wide. Track days-on-market in your target area for negotiating leverage.

What's the difference between fee simple and leasehold on Kauaʻi?

Fee simple means you own the land outright. Leasehold means you own the structure but lease the land — typically from estates like Grove Farm or Princeville Corporation. Leasehold rents reset periodically and can spike. Most Kauaʻi single-family homes are fee simple; always confirm title type before offers.

How long does closing take on Kauaʻi?

Cash deals close in 14–21 days. Financed purchases take 30–45 days, sometimes longer if mainland lenders lack Hawaiʻi experience. SMA permits, survey delays, and title issues extend timelines on coastal or agricultural parcels. Use a local escrow company familiar with Kauaʻi County processes.

Do Kauaʻi homes come with water meters?

Not always. County water meter availability varies by area — Westside and rural parcels may require catchment systems or private well permits. Confirm active meter or meter commitment letter before closing. New meter applications in high-demand areas face multi-year waitlists.

SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES

Kauaʻi Homes for Sale

Every active single-family residence on Kauaʻi — affordable Kapaʻa to Kukuiʻula estates. Live MLS, fee simple only.

189 active listings

Live HIS MLS · 189 active

Active Kauaʻi homes

See all Kauaʻi homes →

Showing 169–189 of 189 listings

Type

Ownership

Beds

Price

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4971 HANALEI PLANTATION RD, PRINCEVILLE, HI 96722 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$12,700,000

4 BD · 7 BA

4971 Hanalei Plantation Rd

Hanalei · Princeville

5,834 sqft · 311 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

5527 WEKE RD, HANALEI, HI 96714 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$4,950,000

3 BD · 3 BA

5527 Weke Rd

Hanalei

1,040 sqft · 316 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

HomePrice Drop

$8,500,000

4 BD · 4 BA

3582 Rice St

Nawiliwili · Lihue

2,457 sqft · 324 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Keller Williams Honolulu

3320-B WAWAE RD, KALAHEO, HI 96741 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,595,000

3 BD · 4 BA

3320-b Wawae Rd

Lawai Homesteads · Kalaheo

1,834 sqft · 333 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Charlee & Associates, Ltd.

3770 ALAOLI WAY, #2302-H, LIHUE, HI 96766 exterior

FractionalPrice Drop

$475,000

3 BD · 4 BA

3770 Alaoli Way, #2302-h

Hokuala · Lihue

2,026 sqft · 336 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Kauai Realty, Inc.

4179 LIHOLIHO RD, PRINCEVILLE, HI 96722 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$2,195,000

3 BD · 3 BA

4179 Liholiho Rd

Princeville

2,086 sqft · 347 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Aloha Sotheby's Intl Realty - Kaua'i

5-6920 KUHIO HWY, HANALEI, HI 96722 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$7,250,000

5 BD · 5 BA

5-6920 Kuhio Hwy

Wainiha · Hanalei

3,064 sqft · 371 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Kauai

7330 ALEALEA RD, HANALEI, HI 96714 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$4,000,000

3 BD · 3 BA

7330 Alealea Rd

Wainiha · Hanalei

2,406 sqft · 385 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

2815 Ke Alaula Street, Koloa, HI 96756 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$4,900,000

3 BD · 4 BA

2815 Ke Alaula Street

Kukuiula Residential Subdivision Ph Iii - A · Koloa

2,048 sqft · 390 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of COMPASS

5-7130 KUHIO HWY, #J3 Aug/Sept - #5, HANALEI, HI 96722 exterior

FractionalPrice Drop

$219,000

2 BD · 2 BA

5-7130 Kuhio Hwy, #j3 Aug/sept - #5

Wainiha · Hanalei

850 sqft · 452 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Corcoran Pacific Properties

5201 PUUWAI RD, KALAHEO, HI 96741 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,550,000

3 BD · 2 BA

5201 Puuwai Rd

Kalaheo Homesteads · Kalaheo

2,190 sqft · 504 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Kauai

5359 PAU A LAKA ST, KOLOA, HI 96756 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$2,495,000

3 BD · 3 BA

5359 Pau A Laka St

Kiahuna Golf Village · Koloa

2,616 sqft · 567 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Jeffrey Samuels Realty

5-7330 KUHIO HWY, #B, HANALEI, HI 96714 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,999,000

2 BD · 2 BA

5-7330 Kuhio Hwy, #b

Hanalei

957 sqft · 570 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

7324 ALEALEA RD, HANALEI, HI 96714 exterior

HomeOcean view

$8,000,000

3 BD · 3 BA

7324 Alealea Rd

Wainiha · Hanalei

2,500 sqft · 590 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

7021 HOLO PONO PL, KAPAA, HI 96746 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,779,000

3 BD · 4 BA

7021 Holo Pono Pl

Waioli Gardens Subdivision · Kapaa

3,025 sqft · 595 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Vacation Realty Hawaii LLC

7465-C Koolau Road, Kilauea, HI 96754 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$5,600,000

4 BD · 4 BA

7465-c Koolau Road

Waipake · Kilauea

2,192 sqft · 630 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of COMPASS

04-1176-B KUHIO HWY, #1, KAPAA, HI 96746 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,145,000

3 BD · 2 BA

04-1176-b Kuhio Hwy, #1

Kapaa Town Lots · Kapaa

1,536 sqft · 655 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of eXp Realty

HomeOcean view

$30,000,000

4 BD · 4 BA

1711 Pee Rd

Weliweli Heights · Koloa

2,953 sqft · 700 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Coldwell Banker Island Properties - Kauai

5880 KAHILIHOLO RD, Kilauea, HI 96754 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$7,650,000

4 BD · 4 BA

5880 Kahiliholo Rd

Kalihiwai Ridge · Kilauea

4,482 sqft · 904 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Hawaii Life

04-1176-A KUHIO HWY, #2, KAPAA, HI 96746 exterior

HomePrice Drop

$1,575,000

2 BD · 1 BA

04-1176-a Kuhio Hwy, #2

Kapaa Town Lots · Kapaa

712 sqft · 906 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of eXp Realty

2783 KIAHUNA PLANTATION DR, #811, KOLOA, HI 96756 exterior

HomeMountain view

$1,399,000

2 BD · 2 BA

2783 Kiahuna Plantation Dr, #811

Koloa

1,170 sqft · 1264 days on market

STR

Listing courtesy of Meridian Pacific

Buyer profiles

Who shops this category

Mainland relocator seeking primary residence

You're moving full-time, not vacationing. You need a real house — garage, yard, room for shipping containers of belongings. Single-family gives you space, privacy, and no HOA board meetings. Budget $900K–$1.5M for a turnkey 3-bed in a commutable location.

1031 exchange buyer replacing rental income

Your 45-day identification window is ticking. You need Hawaiʻi real estate that qualifies as investment property. Single-family homes in VDA-eligible zones offer rental upside, but verify STR status before writing offers — Kauaʻi enforcement has teeth.

Multi-generational family consolidating assets

You're buying for parents, kids, or both. Kauaʻi homes with ʻohana units or ADU potential let you house two generations on one parcel. County permitting for second dwellings varies by zoning — confirm entitlements before closing.

FAQ

Frequently asked

Preferred agent

Henry Beam

Real Estate Salesperson, Hawaiʻi · RS-87501

Better Homes & Gardens Real Estate Rainbow Island Properties · RB-23862

Call Schedule

The deep dive

How to actually buy a kauaʻi homes

Kauaʻi single-family homes range from modest Kapaʻa cottages under $500K to oceanfront estates north of $20M. The median sits around $1.1M — roughly double the U.S. average but entry-level for Hawaiʻi beachside living. Inventory spans plantation-era homes, 1980s–2000s tract builds, and new construction in master-planned communities like Kukuʻiula and Princeville. Unlike condos, houses here come with land — and land means due diligence.

Zoning is the first filter. Kauaʻi County enforces strict Agricultural, Residential, and Conservation classifications. A-zoned parcels may restrict rentals, limit subdivision, or require farm-use plans. Before making offers, run any address through Check Address to surface zoning overlays, flood zones, and lava hazard designations. SMA (Special Management Area) permits add 6–12 months to coastal projects.

Inventory turns slowly. Kauaʻi averages 350–400 single-family sales per year islandwide — about one per day. Well-priced homes in Princeville or Poipu move in under 30 days; rural Westside listings may sit 6+ months. Expect cash buyers to dominate the upper tier; conventional financing competes harder below $1.5M.

Shopping smart means comparing micro-markets. Northshore homes carry higher insurance premiums and rainier days. Southshore sees more sun but tighter STR enforcement. Use Kauai Rental Income Tool to model income potential before assuming any home pencils as a rental. The MLS grid above updates hourly — set alerts, watch price cuts, and move fast when comps align.

Ready to make a move on Kauaʻi?

Henry’s licensed Hawaiʻi Realtor partner can pull full comps, walk a property virtually, and schedule a showing the day you arrive.

Talk to a Kauaʻi specialist Or ask Moku first