West of Princeville, on Kauai’s North Shore, is the soulful surfer Town of Hanalei. With timeless beauty abound, this small town is home to everything from historic places, to contemporary art galleries, to a world famous crescent-shaped beach – Hanalei Bay. Hanalei has officially hit the map.
Natural Surroundings
Upon entering this new world of immaculate beauty, you are immediately in awe by weeping waterfalls cutting through larger than life emerald mountains. As if that was enough, turn your head the opposite direction and gaze upon some serious surf breaks and two miles of white sandy beach. The majority of the crescent is protected from big waves. Above all, beginners and keiki (children) alike can learn to surf without fear of large, rogue waves.
When you drop into the heart of the Valley you immediately feel protected, real, and away from the noise. In other words, should you catch it, the Down-to-Earth vibe has cast its spell on many who never return to the mainland. With only one entrance and exit, it's easy to disappear into the relaxed state of mind. If you're an avid snorkeler, Tunnels Beach and Ke'e Beach at the end of the road offer some of the best snorkeling on the island.
Taro
At the foot of Hanalei’s misty green mountains you’ll discover fields of Kalo (Taro). These heart-shaped plants grow intensely green in flooded patches and used to make poi, a Hawaiian staple starch that you can taste at any Kauai luau. You can get a good view of this emerald quilt of land from the Hanalei Valley Lookout. Note that these taro farms are on private property. Be sure to stop by The Hanalei Taro & Juice Co. for some homemade Hawaiian goodies.
Health and Wealth
It’s no surprise Kauai draws the Elite A-Lister’s and Celebrities to the world-famous beaches and secluded hideaways. Escaping mainland distractions for Kauai’s island paradise proves time and time again a healthy reset. Hanalei offers peaceful mom n’ pop shops; playful and beautiful natural surroundings; fresh, organic and local eats where farm-to-table is not just a luxury – it’s standard practice; plus, Hanalei is refreshingly resort-free.
In addition, as if you’re not secluded enough on a 33-mile wide island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, out of 31,000 homes, 143 are on the iconic and cultural Weke Road in Hanalei – that’s 0.4%!
What’s The Hanalei Real Estate Market Like?
Hanalei is a very special place. It it quaint and small ready for full-time or part-time residents. In 2018, homes sold ranged in price from $520,000 up to $14,000,000. The median sold price for a single-family home in 2018 was $3,000,000. The majority of homes in Hanalei were built in the 1970's. Hanalei is comprised of Waipa, Wainiha, and Ha'ena communities. Hanalei is a highly desirable real estate community of Kauai.
The homes have experienced a nice appreciation in value over the past 10 years of over 21%; making any purchase a fortuitous investment.
As one of the most visited towns on the island, Hanalei is filled with legal vacation rentals ready to be purchased. Although, some houses are not located in the County's Zoning VDA (Visitor Destination Area) special permits are grand-fathered into the Zoning laws. Therefore, Contact me to find out which homes offer special permits.
Opportunity Zone
Hanalei and Ha’ena are located in the first Kauai certified Opportunity Zone, allowing Qualified Opportunity Funds to invest in Kauai’s north shore real estate. According to the IRS, over 8,700 Opportunity Zones in all 50 states were added to the US tax code as an economic development tool, designed to spur economic growth and job creation, by providing tax incentives to taxpayers. Two of which are located on Kauai.
