The 3 Puakea Subdivisions: 2026 Edition

Driving north along Akoni Pule Highway (Highway 270) from the Kohala Coast resorts past Kawaihae harbor, there is a long apparently empty stretch after Kohala Ranch and the lower North Kohala gated communities.

Thanks to the communityʻs success at protecting the view planes on the makai (ocean) side of the road, the whale watching this time of year is priceless. Finally, just before the road bends east towards Hawi town, a handful of homes and gates dot the acreage on both sides of the highway. Those are the three horse-friendly subdivisions: Puakea Ranch, Ranch at Puakea, and Puakea Bay Ranch.

The last time I wrote about all three ranch communities was twelve years ago. Time for an update!

Puakea Bay Ranch – 10 Acre Parcels, Equestrian Trail

Letʻs start with the largest and best-known of the three communities. Puakea Bay Ranch was created with more than thirty ten-acre lots – some original owners bought more than one lot to create a compound or larger buffer. The common area park at the oceanfront is great for whale-watching, if not a good place to actually get in the water. The Ala Kahakai National Historic Trail runs through both Puakea Bay Ranch and the Ranch at Puakea, allowing for hiking in both directions along the coast.

For the horse-owner, equestrian trails ring the outside of the entire community, making it the only one of the three Puakea subdivisions set up for riding. While very few of the properties have a barn or arena, many property owners – vacant land or residential – have a couple of horses grazing on unused land.

Puakea Bay Ranch also has the largest minimum residential square footage requirement at 4,000 sq. ft. The architectural style guidelines are flexible and existing homes at Puakea Bay Ranch range from Balinese-style pod homes to Mediterranean to contemporary…and of course Kohala Coast resort-style.

There are currently only one home asking $3,595,000 and two vacant lots for sale at Puakea Bay Ranch. There is a big difference in pricing between the lots that are arranged with their long side parallel to the ocean (current active listing at $400,000 has a barn and arena), and the three almost-oceanfront lots along the appropriately named Haleakala View Place, one of which is listed for $1,298,500.

Ranch at Puakea – Oceanfront Cove and 20-Acre Lots

There are only three oceanfront lots and 10 ocean view parcels at the Ranch at Puakea, on the south boundary with Puakea Bay Ranch. One oceanfront lot already has a home on it. The two vacant lots have different ownership, but are currently listed as a single offering, 50+ acres of coastline, sunset and Maui views asking $8 million.

Non-oceanfront lots are approximately 20 acres and have multiple choices for building sites with those classic coast views. Lot 8A asking $1,259,000 comes with approved building plans and site work done and happens to be one of my favorite lots where I once grazed my horses (not my listing though!). Having approved plans is good as these lots are in an archaeologically sensitive area and additional studies are required during the permitting process.

Whereas the oceanfront at Puakea Bay Ranch is steep, dangerous cliff, the lots at Ranch at Puakea have access to this sweet cove.

Puakea Ranch – Mauka (Inland) of the Highway

If you run a search for “Puakea Ranch” you will likely come up with the website for the historic portion of the original Puakea Ranch, which has been carefully renovated and operated as a fully permitted, award-winning vacation and wedding destination with an established clientele. While not in the MLS, Puakea Ranch is currently listed by a commercial brokerage for $8,200,000. The hospitality business listing includes four guest cottages sleeping 16 on 32 acres, two pools, and historic ranch ambiance. Although the use permits have real value and are increasingly harder to obtain, the property could also become a family small ranch compound. I know this property well so contact me directly if you are looking for a unique, historic Hawi heritage property.

Technically this Puakea Ranch property is but one of nine lots in a (non-gated) subdivision also called Puakea Ranch. One of the undeveloped lots is currently listed. Lot 9 is asking $1,894,999 for 43 acres (listed by an Oʻahu brokerage).

Available properties come and go, but the three distinct choices at Puakea near Hawi each offer something for a buyer wanting an ocean/sunset/Maui view home on acreage – or just the acreage to build to your own specifications.