Kauai Real Estate Market Update: Fewer Sales, Higher Prices, and a Market Finding Its Middle After Hurricane Lowell

It is still too early to know the full impact Hurricane Lowell will have on our Kauai real estate market after it passed by the island on September 8th. But in the weeks since, I have noticed a clear shift in how buyers and sellers are approaching the table.

Both Sides Are Moving to the Middle

Some sellers who had been holding firm on overly ambitious prices have either adjusted those prices or taken their properties off the market. At the same time, buyers who expected widespread fire-sale pricing after the hurricane simply are not finding it.

What I am seeing is both sides moving toward the middle. Sellers are negotiating more than they were a month ago, and buyers are getting more pushback than they may have expected.

Will this continue? That remains to be seen. For now, buyers have an opportunity to negotiate a realistic price, and sellers have even more reason to price correctly from the start. After a year in which our market has struggled to find its footing, a little realism on both sides has been a very good thing.

First 9 Months of 2026: Number of Sales

As we head into October, here is how the first nine months of Kauai’s residential market compare to the same period last year. The number of sales is down across most of the island:

• Island Wide: 257 sales, down 13.76% from 298 in 2025
• South Shore: 75 sales, down 31.82% from 110 last year
• North Shore: 49 sales, even with 2025, notable for a region with so many multimillion dollar properties
• Lihue: 28 sales, down 17.65% from 34 last year

First 9 Months of 2026: Median Prices

This is where the story turns around. Even with fewer sales, median prices are holding strong:

• Island Wide: $1,300,000, up 8.33% from $1,200,000
• South Shore: $2,050,000, up 61.26% from $1,271,250
• North Shore: $2,525,000, down 3.45% from $2,615,300
• Lihue: $1,132,500, up 0.44% from $1,127,500

What This Means for You

Fewer homes are selling, but the homes that do sell are holding their value, and in some areas they are selling for considerably more. The South Shore stands out with a lower number of sales but a much higher median price, while Lihue has stayed remarkably steady.

Whether you are buying or selling, the post-hurricane market is rewarding realistic expectations. If you would like to talk through what these numbers mean for your neighborhood or your property, I would love to help.

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Aloha!

Lynda Gill RS Lic. 63088  

Hawai’I Life Real Estate Brokers 808.346.0056  

LyndaGill@HawaiiLife.com