Tourists Are Returning to Hawaii, and So Are Vacation Home Buyers – Honua Kai

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Tourism is up in Hawaii, which is a very good sign for Hawaiian real estate. The number one reason buyers purchase a vacation home in any location is because they love it. It goes like this: visit the location, love it, feel like you never want to leave. This is the point where buyers start perusing the real estate and actually, finally, pulling out the checkbook.

According to the Wall Street Journal, tourists’ spending on Hawaiian vacations over the first nine months of the 2012 rose 20% from a year earlier to $9.59 billion, or so says the Hawaii Tourism Authority. If this rate keeps up, spending could reach $13.89 billion for the year, topping the record of $12.63 billion in 2006.

Yes, I said 2006 — the good old days. Count this as more proof that luxury ain’t dead and the rich are spending, well, more than ever.

Now comes a beautiful resort and spa on Maui that offers home ownership in paradise for the first time in 25 years, Honua Kai. All condominium residences in this resort on the famed Ka’anapali Beach are full ownership. They are located on nearly forty acres of the world’s seriously most beautiful beachfront on Maui beach.

And you can see why buyers are getting out their checkbooks: the properties, in HAWAII mind you, are priced from the low $500,000’s to $3,813,900. They range from 580 to over 2,715 square feet. Some of the lanais alone (open, breezy patios) are 3,200 square feet.

My fingers are feeling itchy already: the resort features 628 full-ownership condominium homes situated in two buildings – Hokulani and Konea. A beachfront condo like this in Hawaii for $500,000? 

And get this: almost 72% have closed to date. Bought. Gone. From July 2011 to June 2012 Honua Kai saw a 68% increase in home sales, with 85 purchased homes. In July alone seven juicy sales worth over $6 million closed. That could be because Honua is offering a “Stay & Play” opportunity for resort guests who fall in love with the resort and decide to buy a vacation home. They get a vacation stay for free, which I am definitely going to check out for us, as in, all of us who crave vaca homes.

The homes are studios, one, two or three bedroom homes with open floor plans; some have dramatic ocean views, others take in the mountains. Sizes range from 580 to over 2,715 square feet.

I can live in 580 square feet in paradise, can’t you? Plus I would guess these homes have tenants beating the surf down to lease.

Here’s the deal: According to the Wall Street Journal, more visitors are going to Hawaii. Visitor arrivals in August were up 10% from a year earlier, which should make the final tally for 2012 about  7.89 million. That’s 6.3% higher than in 2011. Where are they coming from?  Japan, folks there looking to escape all the natural disasters they’ve suffered. Guess who is making up the fastest-growing group of visitors: Chinese.

But more Americans are coming, too. The WSJ quoted a flight attendant who said he decided to splurge and come to Hawaii again FINALLY after three recession-era vacas in Mexico. Is this guy just feeling flush or is he scared to death of Mexico. I vote for number two: you couldn’t get me back to Acapulco for a million bucks… well…  maybe for a million. But seriously, it’s Cabo or “Nogo” to anywhere in Mexico right now. Everyone wanting sun and beach goes to Costa Rica and now, once again, the real paradise, Hawaii.

Hang on folks, because I will be kicking the tires out there very soon.  I’ve been to Maui, Molokai and Lanai. I am returning. These homes appear to be stunningly finished out (look at that ogee-edged granite!), but do not worry for a minute, I will check. Here’s the million dollar plus view: West Maui mountains, Kaanapali North Beach, and Molokai and Lanai.

A million dollar plus view for $500,000? In Maui? Honua Kai, I am heading your way…

 

 

Candy Evans

Candy Evans

20 Comments

  1. […] on forty of the most beautiful beach-front acres ever seen. Guess where the price tag starts? $494,500 I kid you not. All the details are over on SecondShelters… because I get to go kick … This entry was posted in Beach Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, […]



  2. […] on forty of the most beautiful beach-front acres ever seen. Guess where the price tag starts? $494,500 I kid you not. All the details are over on SecondShelters… because I get to go kick … This entry was posted in Beach Homes, Dallas real estate news, emerging real estate markets, […]



  3. Dave Keys on November 4, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    You bet! Resort homes and condos in Maui have never been cheaper! I'm headed back for my umteenth trip to Maui in just weeks. We have a time share at the former Embassy Suites and right next door, the ocean view units are selling for under $500k and some are under $400K. There are some spectacular deals on beautiful real estate all over the island.

    Some of my many Maui photos: <a href="http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/">http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/</a&gt;



    • Candy Evans on January 13, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      Dave can you send us any listings from those ocean view units? Thanks!



  4. Dave Keys on November 4, 2012 at 10:03 pm

    You bet! Resort homes and condos in Maui have never been cheaper! I'm headed back for my umteenth trip to Maui in just weeks. We have a time share at the former Embassy Suites and right next door, the ocean view units are selling for under $500k and some are under $400K. There are some spectacular deals on beautiful real estate all over the island.

    Some of my many Maui photos: <a href="http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/">http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/</a&gt;



    • Candy Evans on January 13, 2013 at 9:25 pm

      Dave can you send us any listings from those ocean view units? Thanks!



  5. Dave Keys on November 4, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Sorry for the bad photo link. Try this: http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/



  6. Dave Keys on November 4, 2012 at 10:05 pm

    Sorry for the bad photo link. Try this: http://davekeys.com/pennycafe/Maui/



  7. Retta on November 5, 2012 at 9:49 am

    Seriously wish I could afford to buy! Alas, I guess I will have to be content with visiting. But 2 weeks a year is just not enough! Anyone need a live in caretaker?
    <a href= "http://www.hawaii-vacation-guide.org">Hawaii Vacation Guide</a>



  8. Retta on November 5, 2012 at 9:49 am

    Seriously wish I could afford to buy! Alas, I guess I will have to be content with visiting. But 2 weeks a year is just not enough! Anyone need a live in caretaker?
    <a href= "http://www.hawaii-vacation-guide.org">Hawaii Vacation Guide</a>



  9. Candy Evans on November 5, 2012 at 11:23 am

    We just returned and this property is fantastic! Retta, you can buy one and lease it, and then stay in it for two weeks a year as maintenance. A lot of owners tell me they are doing this to pay for their retirement home.



  10. Candy Evans on November 5, 2012 at 11:23 am

    We just returned and this property is fantastic! Retta, you can buy one and lease it, and then stay in it for two weeks a year as maintenance. A lot of owners tell me they are doing this to pay for their retirement home.



  11. […] week, I got to experience two fabulous second home communities, one Kukio, near Kona, the other on Kaanapali Beach, on Maui. Trust me, you can not go wrong with […]



  12. […] week, I got to experience two fabulous second home communities, one Kukio, near Kona, the other on Kaanapali Beach, on Maui. Trust me, you can not go wrong with […]



  13. Tony Nobrega on December 16, 2012 at 4:52 am

    Madeira island in Portugal is similar many tourists fall in love with the island and eventually chose to invest on their second home.Madeira island is all about nature and sea they are so close.



    • Candy Evans on January 13, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      Tony, send us some information and samples of listings! I'll have to visit you next!



  14. Tony Nobrega on December 16, 2012 at 4:52 am

    Madeira island in Portugal is similar many tourists fall in love with the island and eventually chose to invest on their second home.Madeira island is all about nature and sea they are so close.



    • Candy Evans on January 13, 2013 at 9:24 pm

      Tony, send us some information and samples of listings! I'll have to visit you next!



  15. […] another positive quarter in the vacation and second home market, it appears that the trend in destination vacation homes has returned.  As the market continues […]



  16. […] continues to strengthen, the trend in vacation, or second homes, is on the rise.  According to Second Shelter, high-end property on the Hawaii Big Island is one of the top locations for affluent vacation […]