Kalaoa Real Estate

Local insight from Penn Henderson, one of the top realtors in Kona Palisades.

Properties for Sale
Oceanview Big Island Hawaii real estate with tropical garden and sunset backdrop.
HOMES
Oceanfront luxury estate in Kona with volcanic mountain views and lush landscape.
LAND
NORTH KONA, HAWAI‘I

North Kona’s Residential Haven

Nestled on the slopes of Hualalai, the Kalaoa area in North Kona offers a peaceful escape with breathtaking ocean views, cooler elevations, and a welcoming community. Known for its blend of serene neighborhoods and sprawling estates, Kalaoa encompasses several distinct communities, including Kona Palisades, Kaloko Mauka, and other nearby hillside neighborhoods.

This area offers a relaxed yet convenient lifestyle, just minutes from Kailua-Kona and the Kona International Airport.

Kalaoa Real Estate - Kona Palisades Homes for Sale
→ Wainani Estates, Lower Kalaoa

A Perfect Balance of Convenience and Serenity

Living in Kalaoa means enjoying a quieter lifestyle without sacrificing convenience. The area’s proximity to Kailua-Kona ensures that residents are just a short drive from shopping, dining, and entertainment, while still enjoying the peace and privacy of hillside living.
 
For outdoor enthusiasts, the area offers easy access to hiking trails, beaches, and the stunning landscapes of Hualalai.

KALAOA Real Estate

2025 Sales Data

Median Home $
vs. Previous Year
Median Condo $
vs. Previous Year

EXPLORE

Kalaoa Properties

Get to Know

Kalaoa

Real Estate Options for Every Lifestyle

Kalaoa’s real estate market is as diverse as its terrain, offering something for everyone.
 
From cozy homes in family-friendly neighborhoods like Kona Palisades to expansive estates in Kaloko Mauka, the area caters to a variety of preferences and budgets.
 
Many properties are perched along the hillside, offering sweeping views of the Pacific Ocean and the Kona coastline. The region also includes agricultural lots, providing opportunities for farming or creating your own tropical retreat.

  • Luxury outdoor living on Big Island Hawaii with ocean views and resort-style amenities.
  • Big Island Hawaii rainforest trail with lush greenery and sunlight filtering through trees.
  • Hawaii Big Island real estate: Kona and Kohala Coast balcony with hammock, lush greenery, and island.
  • Modern Kona estate with ocean views, outdoor living, and tropical landscaping.
Aerial view of Big Island Hawaii homes in a lush, tropical neighborhood near Kona and Kohala Coast.

Kona Palisades

Kona Palisades is a well-established neighborhood within Kalaoa that offers a mix of single-family homes, many of which feature panoramic views of the coastline and Kona sunsets.
 
The community is known for its peaceful streets and more affordable housing options.
 
Conveniently located near shopping, dining, and the airport, Kona Palisades provides a comfortable lifestyle with easy access to amenities.

FAQ

Common Questions About Kalaoa Real Estate

The area just north of Kailua-Kona and directly upslope from the airport, running from the shoreline up the lower flank of Hualalai into the Kaloko and upper Makalei areas. About 12,000 people live here, which makes it one of the more populated parts of North Kona and one of the least understood by buyers, partly because it goes by several names. You will see it listed as Kalaoa, Kaloko, Kona Palisades, or Palisades-Kaloko depending on the source. Practically speaking, it is a collection of residential neighborhoods on a hillside with excellent access to both Kailua-Kona and the Kohala Coast.

Value and views, mostly. Kalaoa generally gives you more house and more land for the money than comparable properties in town, with a 2025 median around $1,100,000 for the Palisades and Kalaoa area, compared with higher figures closer to the water. The sloping terrain means a high percentage of properties have real ocean views. What you give up is walkability and the vacation rental corridor, since this is residential and rental eligibility is limited. Town is ten minutes down the hill, Costco and Home Depot are right here, and the airport is essentially next door. Buyers who plan to live here full-time often end up in Kalaoa after starting their search on Alii Drive.

A wide spread. Kona Palisades and the established subdivisions hold many solid, unremarkable residential homes on quarter-acre to acre lots, many with ocean views, built between the 1970s and the 2000s. Move upslope into Kaloko and Makalei, and you find larger parcels, coffee farm estates, and custom homes with serious view corridors and more privacy. Condition varies considerably. This is an area where a good inspection earns its fee, and where the difference between two houses on the same street can be substantial once you look past the view.

Better than almost anywhere else on this coast, which is genuinely the underrated feature. Kailua-Kona’s business district is 10 minutes or less away. The airport is minutes away, which matters more than people expect when family visits or when you fly to the mainland regularly. The Kohala Coast resorts are about thirty minutes north. I lived in Kalaoa for five years while working at Mauna Lani, and that commute was a major reason I chose the area, roughly thirty minutes each way compared to close to fifty once I moved into Kailua-Kona.

The outdoor access here is exceptional and undersold. Some of Kona’s best hiking runs through upper Kalaoa and Kaloko, and several of the best beaches on the island sit within a short drive: Kaloko-Honokohau, Pine Trees, Kekaha Kai, Makalawena, and Kua Bay. Honokohau Harbor is right below you, which puts deep-sea fishing, diving, snorkeling, whale watching, and boat charters within a few minutes of the house. Those are my regular spots, and they are a big part of why I recommend this area to buyers who want to actually use the island rather than look at it.

Water, wastewater, and roads. Most of Kalaoa is on county water, but meter availability varies, and on vacant land the presence of a meter can represent a meaningful share of the parcel’s value. Many older homes still have a cesspool, and Hawaii requires conversion by 2050, so factor that into your offer. A number of properties sit on private or shared roads with maintenance agreements worth reading closely. Electricity is expensive here, and photovoltaic is common, so a paid-off, owned system is a real asset rather than a cosmetic one. I check all of it before you write.

Generally no. This is residential territory outside the resort-zoned corridor, so a short-term rental would require a nonconforming use certificate with an unbroken renewal history, and those are scarce. Some subdivision CC&Rs restrict rentals independently. If income is part of your plan, your search belongs in Kailua-Kona or Keauhou instead, and I will tell you that early rather than after you have fallen for a house. If you are buying to live here or to keep a second home, none of this applies.

Kalaoa was my first home on the Big Island, and I lived here for five years, so I know these neighborhoods the way you know a place you have actually lived: which streets hold their views, where the afternoon wind picks up, how the roads behave in heavy rain, and which subdivisions have their act together. Send me what you are looking for, and I will tell you honestly whether Kalaoa fits and, if it does, which pocket you should be looking at.

Talk Story

Every Big Island move starts with a conversation. Tell me what you are looking for, and we will take it from there.

Compass Real Estate in Kona, Hawaii - Penn Henderson, Big Island Real Estate
Penn Henderson of Compass

75-1029 Henry St., Suite 301
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Phone: (808) 345-6214
Email: penn@pennhenderson.com