What’s Going On in Black Point? Black Point, a secluded and prestigious community nestled between Diamond Head and Kahala on Oahu’s southeastern shore, is making headlines for an unusual reason—there isn’t a single home for sale right now.
The “We Need Inventory” Spotlight David Buck of Harcourts Island Real Estate recently shared this insight during his weekly “We Need Inventory” series. While the broader Oahu market is seeing rising inventory, especially in condos, Black Point stands apart with zero active listings.
Why the Scarcity? Black Point is a tiny, exclusive pocket of luxury real estate. Homes rarely change hands, and when they do, they often sell quickly and quietly. In fact, only three homes sold recently:
The lowest-priced sale: just under $2M for a cozy 2-bedroom bungalow inside the gated area.
The highest-priced sale: $6.6M for an oceanfront estate facing Hawaii Kai.
With an average sales price of nearly $4 million, it’s clear that homes here are not only luxurious but also highly sought-after.
A Neighborhood With History Black Point isn't just exclusive—it's iconic. It’s previously been home to Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku and actor Tom Selleck, among others. Its prime oceanfront location and tight-knit community make it a legacy destination for elite buyers.
What This Means for Sellers If you or someone you know owns property in Black Point and has even considered selling, now might be the ideal time. With no competition on the market, seller leverage is at an all-time high.
📞 For inquiries, contact David Buck at 808-371-3509
Oahu's real estate market saw two very different stories unfold in June 2025—one of resilience in the single-family home sector, and another of growing opportunity in the condo market.
Single-Family Home Market Shows Growth
Sales of single-family homes increased 12% from the previous year, with 289 homes sold compared to 258 a year prior. However, the median price crept up just 0.4%, reaching $1,125,000. Notably, homes are taking longer to sell—now averaging 24 days on the market, up from just 15 last year. Inventory is also growing, with 861 homes available versus 653 the year before—a 31.9% increase. Still, the months of remaining inventory sits at 3.7, indicating a relatively balanced market.
Condos: A Buyer’s Market Emerges
Condo sales were flat, rising just 0.8% year-over-year. However, median prices fell 3.8% to $510,000. Perhaps the most striking stat: inventory for condos surged by 47%, from 1,729 to 2,542 active listings. At least that's better than the 60% increase we saw a few months back. The days on market for condos jumped from 26 to 40 days, and the months of remaining inventory now sits at 7—well above the 6-month threshold that the National Association of Realtors defines as a buyer’s market.
What This Means for Buyers and Sellers
Buyers have more options and greater bargaining power—especially in the condo segment. For sellers, particularly those with single-family homes, demand is still strong but patience is required as properties take longer to move.
Conclusion
Oahu’s market is changing. If you're thinking of entering or exiting the market, now is the time to align with an expert who can help you navigate the shifts.
📞 Ready to make a move? Contact David Buck at 808-371-3509 to get insights tailored to your neighborhood or condo complex.
Kakaako is undergoing a major transformation in 2025, and this update gives you the inside scoop on the biggest developments you need to know about.
The centerpiece? A new pedestrian bridge across Ala Moana Boulevard is now open, offering easier access to the oceanfront and elevating the area’s walkability.
You’ll also find a growing skyline featuring:
Victoria Place: Already completed and known for its privacy and lack of retail.
This surge of high-quality developments by names like Howard Hughes Corporation and Kobayashi Group is redefining Honolulu’s luxury living. If you’re in the market for a sleek, amenity-rich condo in the heart of the city, Kakaako is where it’s happening.
Whether you’re buying, selling, or investing, staying informed is key—and this video is your go-to guide. Looking for more info on new construction in Kakaako, give David a call at 808-371-3509.
If you're a veteran or active-duty service member eyeing a move to Hawaii, your VA loan benefits might be your greatest asset. In a recent 4th of July real estate breakdown, expert David Buck shared key updates and insights on the VA loan landscape across Oahu.
Assumable VA Loans: A New Trend VA loans with locked-in low rates from years past are now being offered to buyers as “assumable” loans. That means military families could inherit sub-3% mortgage rates—a rare deal in today’s market.
Hawaii's High BAH Rates: A Powerful Wealth-Building Tool Hawaii boasts some of the nation’s highest Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) rates. When paired with 100% VA financing, this gives service members a real opportunity to build equity instead of renting or living on base.
Million-Dollar VA Loans: No Cap, No Problem Since 2020, VA borrowers in Hawaii are no longer limited by loan caps, enabling qualified buyers to finance homes above $1M with zero down. High-value neighborhoods are increasingly seeing VA-financed homes in the $1.5M–$2M range.
Top Neighborhoods for VA Loans on Oahu According to MLS data, areas like Ewa Plain, Central Oahu, and Metro Honolulu lead the island in VA transactions. While regions like North Shore and Diamond Head saw fewer deals, they still offer unique lifestyle perks.
More Than Just Data—It's About Lifestyle Beyond numbers, the video captures the beauty of Hawaiian life. Scenes from Waikiki’s canoe regatta and veterans' events on the 4th of July remind us that Hawaii isn’t just a place to invest—it’s a place to live fully.
Thinking About Buying or Selling in Hawaii? David Buck has over 24 years of local real estate experience. Whether you're PCSing in or preparing to list a VA-financed home, he’s ready to guide you.
📞 Reach David at 808-371-3509 for a personal consultation.
Aloha, this is David Buck and I can't believe it's been over a decade since I did my third HGTV episode of Hawaii Life and we're back at the same picnic bench here in Maunalua Bay where I did an episode with Keala and Dan Lee. In that episode we started off here and they're talking about their housing pains and what they're looking for. They're living in a little 500 square foot single family home.
What this is not going to be today is something like Cobra Kai where it's going be a huge success on YouTube (although I love for that to happen) or get a Netflix spin off off of this. However, I think for those of you that enjoy real estate and looking at people looking at homes, I think you'll get a lot of kick out of this. What we're going to do today is what I've done for a few other HGTV episodes is cover what happened back then and what prices have come to today with over a decade of appreciation.
We're gonna start this off this episode with the summary of the homes that we looked at. We saw three properties that is very unique in this episode in the sense that they weren't all in one neighborhood. They were all over the island and just to take a step back they had a budget of like $600,000 to $750,000 looking for a three bedroom two bath and most importantly you're gonna want to stick around to the very end because there's something really cool I'd like to show you of where Dan and Keala are in their lives now. We'll also cover some of the things that happened during the episode that we weren't allowed to share on air.
Kuliouou Beach Park Intro Summary
We are back at Kuliouou Beach Park and this is where I did the summary of the properties that is going to be showing Keala & Dan. What's super unique about this episode is the variety of the properties that we were looking at. First we saw a single family home that's almost a hundred years old in Punchbowl. Then, second we saw a condo right around the corner here in Hawaii Kat at Kaimala Marina and then third we drove all the way out to Ewa Beach to see a newer construction home in Hoakalei.
This is where we did that summary Kuliouou Beach Park a beautiful place here in East Oahu and now let's go take a revisit at some of the homes that we look at and see what's happened between now and them as far as pricing goes.
Punchbowl Home on Lusitana Street
Okay so the first home we filmed with Keala Dan was this home 1911 Lucitana Street here in Punchbowl Crater. This home is now over a hundred years old and back then they're asking $719,000 and it ended up selling for $700,000. It was a big house it was almost 3,000 square feet under roof. Okay, so back in 2014 the median sales price for a home here in Punchbowl was $732,500 and now just this during this past six months it was at $960,000 so that's going to be a 31% increase over just over a decade. Maybe that's not the best return on money but it did go up in value. Once again it's a hundred year old house and Punchbowl does have a lot of older construction.
Kaimala Marina Town Home in Hawaii Kai
The second home that we looked at was actually a condo out in Hawaii Kai, Kaimala Marina. The second property I showed Keala and Dan was here at Kaimala Marina in Hawaii Kai. This is direct waterfront on the marina and was a three bedroom three bath and at the time they're asking $678,000 and it sold (over asking) for $680,000. Fast forward to today there hasn't been a sale in the last year but the last two sales of that size on the water average $1,150,000 and today there's one in the market for $1,488,888. Now, based on the average sale price of those last two sales that's a 69% increase. That's not a bad return on money for roughly a 10-year hold.
Hoakalei Ka Makana Home
The third and final property which is going to be out at Hoakalei in Ewa Beach this is gonna be a newer construction home which is quite unique and different compared to anything else we've seen. Okay now the third home I showed Keala Dan back then was this home here is probably in my opinion the most beautiful of all three properties we looked at. This was 91-1825 Waiaama Street here in Hoakalei Kamakana. Back then, the home was listed at $699,000 as a three bedroom three bath with over 1800 square feet of living area sold at $670,000. Then, what we'd like to do is we go through and look at what's happened in the market since then so back then the median sales price was $700,000 which seems pretty cheap compared to today and now the median sales price over the past six months here in Ka Makana were $1,237,500 that's a 77% increase just over the past decade.
A lot has changed since. Back then, there was only one phase of Hoakalei here at Ka Makana and since then there's been three more developments. The first of which is gonna be Kipuka which is the only gated community. Then, there is Kuapapa which was done after that. There's a number of nice golf course homes I've been selling in both of those developments and then the final phase there's one that's going on currently so Kekainani is gonna be directly on the ocean here in Hoakalei. I'll take you through a spin there just to give an idea of what those homes look like. They're selling directly on the ocean with unobstructed views and they're gonna be a much higher price point as I mentioned. The median price here in Ka Makana now is like just over $1.2 million. Whereas those Kekainani ones are gonna be around $2-3 million starting. But, they're newer construction on the ocean.
Ke Kainani in Hoakalei
The fourth and final phase of Hoakalei that I mentioned is Ke Kainani. They definitely saved the best for last. This is directly on the ocean here and there's three model homes that are now set up and it's an incredible product that they're turning over. Like I said, save the best for last. They are very grand high-end model homes that they have here and I'm sure the finished product is be really nice so if you have questions about anything here in Hoakalei at Ewa Beach, I'm here to help at 808-371-3509.
Okay now that we summarize Hoakalei, let's get back to that special treat I want to show you and see what Dan and Keala ultimately did with their decision.
Reunited with Dan and Keala Lee
David: Alright so here we are 10 years later I'm with Keala and Dan and a lot has changed in your world. Did you guys have fun when we did that episode?
Dan: Oh totally.
David: Yeah okay well a couple things have a lot to change in their world to be honest first we'll talk about real estate then we'll talk about fun.
Keala: Okay
David: So, of all the three homes we looked at that day which one you think... I'll just refresh your memory. What do you think went up the most in value the first one we was Punchbowl and then we did one at that Kaimala Marina in Hawaii Kai and then the third one we did was Hoakalei out in Ewa Beach. Which one do you think went up the most in over a decade?
Dan: I'm betting on Hawaii Kai.
David: That's a good that's a very good bet and you're very close.
Keala: I'm betting Punchbowl.
David: Yeah but ..You also you got a 30% chance. Yeah so basically so basically Punchbowl actually went up the least.
Keala: Oh wow.
David: So the Punchbowl Home only went up 31% considering a 10 years of ownership but if you can remember how old that home was?
Keala: Yes.
David: But it's a killer location. It's close to Downtown. I was doing the math. It's probably over a hundred years old now.
Keala: Oh wow.
David: Dan you were close. Kaimala Marina now this is I what I did was just run numbers. That's a three-bedroom on the water and I looked at that and that went up about 69%. Yeah and then what's shocking to me was the Hoakalei home in Ewa Beach was up 77%, which is just wild because typically when I'm talking real estate here in market cycles normally the west side of the island is the last to appreciate and the first to depreciate in a correcting market.
I think what's going on there as we went through COVID and so many more people want to be in single-family homes these days than they do in condos. It was a new product at the time, so that's my hypothesis on that.
Keala: It's a beautiful home. Yeah yeah.
David: Now to the fun. I just remember you did the coolest activity of all the episodes I did in all the shows. I saw you got to play James Bond and get on with the jet pack.
Dan: I remember it was going underwater in a jet pack or something like that.
David: Yeah well you're above water right?
Keala: He was underwater more than he was above water.
Dan: That's all I remember.
David: I was so jealous like how come I can't do that? But, I'm not the star, you guys are the stars. Then, I'm like, Keala how come you're not doing that?
Keala: So that adventure was actually my idea and I was so excited and really looking forward to it and I have an adventurous spirit but day before filming we actually found out we were expecting our first child and it was interesting filming knowing this but at the same time it was still brand new. We didn't been to the doctor yet and so we just weren't ready to announce it.
David: Yeah so basically she told the production crew but didn't tell me (spoiler alert) her cousin. Yes. We're related. We're cousins. We'll share that with you now.
Keala: It was so early on that we just didn't feel comfortable like me going on a jet pack in the water but it was very exciting to watch you enjoy my idea.
Dan: You're welcome. Very cool.
David: Very cool. So similar to that episode it's been just over 10 years what many people don't know... I see you sweating. I'm sweating. They film these episodes in the summer but air them in the winter. So like when you see people sweating out here it's we're just turning July right now. Yes. It's hot outside.
But yeah the most fun thing we got some pretty cool. Do you want to share anything?
Keala: Yeah we have two little friends now that have joined our family.
David: So a lot has happened in 10 years. Care to share a little bit more?
Dan: Oh yeah. Hey girls get over here.
David: Look at these cuties.
Keala: This is our 10 year old and our eight year old. You want to jump up? Did you want to jump up?
David: Can you say aloha?
Girls: Aloha.
David: How do you say aloha in Fijian?
Keala: How do you say hello in Fijian?
Girls: Bula. Bula. Bula. Okay. Okay.
Everyone: Aloha and Bula.
David: So we talked about all the three properties that we saw in that episode. But to find out what decision they ultimately made. Because I didn't test you coming into this because you don't track all the markets on the island. But to see what decision they ultimately made you probably want to check out that episode. And the kids are going to watch it tonight.
Keala: We're gonna watch it tonight with the girls.
If you’re eyeing a condo in Kakaako, Honolulu’s trendiest neighborhood, prepare yourself—not just for the sticker price, but for the monthly maintenance fees. In his latest market breakdown, David Buck from Harcourts Island Real Estate reveals the surprising costs hiding behind those ocean-view windows.
Currently, there are 355 condo listings in Kakaako (excluding parking and storage units), and their maintenance fees range dramatically:
139 condos have fees under $1,000/month
161 fall between $1,000 and $2,000/month
34 are between $2,000 and $3,000/month
25 units exceed $3,000/month
The Extreme Ends of the Spectrum
The Block at Waimanu offers studios with fees as low as $179/month—perfect for budget-conscious buyers. Meanwhile, grand penthouse #3800 at Anaha sets a sky-high bar with a monthly fee of $11,229.
David estimates most buyers can expect to pay somewhere between $1,000 to $2,000 monthly in maintenance. So, if you're considering a move to Kakaako, factor these numbers into your financial planning.
If you're searching for a beautifully updated, centrally located one-bedroom condo in Honolulu, Unit 404 at Punahou Sunset is a must-see. With 654 sq. ft. of thoughtfully designed living space, this unit offers a rare combination of comfort, convenience, and value.
Originally built in 1960, the building underwent a major renovation in 2019. The condo now features vinyl plank flooring, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, and a sleek, modern bathroom with dual shower heads. Even the lanai has been enclosed to enhance usable space.
If you're house-hunting on Oahu, chances are you're feeling the squeeze from high mortgage interest rates. With rates climbing from historic lows of around 2.75% to nearly 7%, it’s no wonder many buyers are hesitating.
National Mortgage Rates From June '21 to June '25
But there’s a lesser-known path to homeownership that could save you thousands: assumable VA loans.
What Is an Assumable VA Loan?
This unique financial tool allows a buyer to take over—or "assume"—a veteran's existing mortgage, preserving the original, much lower interest rate.
Why This Matters
Instead of taking on a 7% loan, you could be locking in a mortgage at 2.5%—an enormous savings over the life of the loan. This option is only available to qualifying owner-occupants and is currently underused due to lack of awareness.
How Many Are Available?
Today, the Oahu MLS shows nearly 200 active listings with assumable VA loans—covering single-family homes and condos across the island, including hotspots like Ewa Beach, Town, Windward Side, and the North Shore.
How to Access the List
A custom-built list separates available single-family homes and condos, so you don’t have to dig through MLS manually. Just contact us to get your copy and start browsing properties that offer better financing than most banks can.
Is this your path to affordable homeownership on Oahu? Call us at 808-371-3509 to explore if an assumable VA loan is right for you.
Nestled at the base of the Ko’olau Range, on the east side of Honolulu, there is an amazing farm for locals and visitors in Waimanalo. They are known for their sunflower event between the months of May and July, then the pumpkin patch in the fall. Below you can see the magnificent view of Mānana, AKA “Rabbit Island”.
They are currently open daily from 9am to 4pm, and closed on Mondays. I would recommend bringing cash for the admission, which is listed on their site below, but they do take cards. Parking is free!
You can walk through and take photos with these amazing sunflowers, but you are not permitted to cut down your own. They do sell their flowers for $3 each, which are cut and replenished throughout the day by their adorable little farm helpers.
They also have an animal farm which contains geese, tortoises, pigs, llamas, and donkeys! There is also a little feed store where you can purchase food to feed the farm animals. This is great entertainment for children and adults who want to feel like children again.
This was a litter of baby piglets nursing and just learning to walk so stinkin’ cute!
Waimanalo Country Farm is a lovely place to visit with friends and family in town. I took my mom because we have always bonded over sunflowers. I have a tattoo in her honor, to remind me of our “Flower Power” and all we have been through together.
'There’s a cute little mart to purchase cut flowers, lemonade with souvenir jars, and snacks. They even serve up a grilled sunflower, which I will have to try next time. My mom and I shared a strawberry lemonade that came in the jar, because she then used it as a vase for her sunflowers when we got home!
I would recommend wearing a hat and sunscreen, bringing an umbrella and wearing comfortable closed-toed shoes for the rocky terrain. “This is a family friendly farm so we require cleavage and bottom halves to be covered up”.
Reservations are only required for: Rustic Nights, After Hour Photo Sessions & Private Picnics.
Is Now the Perfect Time to Sell in Mariners Valley? A surprising real estate trend is unfolding in Hawaii Kai. Mariners Valley — a charming neighborhood nestled at the back of this sought-after area — currently has no active listings. That’s right: not a single home is available for sale.
What’s Behind the Drought? David Buck of Harcourts Island Real Estate highlights this in his latest market update. With only one property under contract at $1.45 million and just two home sales in the last six months averaging $1.419 million, this tight inventory signals an opportunity.
Homes in Mariners Valley, built mainly between 1969 and 1972, remain highly desirable. And since we’re deep in the traditional buying season, the lack of listings could give prospective sellers a competitive edge.
Smart Buyers, Consider This Alternative For those priced out of Mariners Valley’s single-family market, Mariners Village 3 offers a compelling option. As the largest townhome community in Hawaii Kai, it provides generous space and remains relatively scarce as well — with only two units currently listed.
What It Means for You If you're a homeowner in Mariners Valley, now may be the best time in years to list your property. And if you’re in the market to buy, understanding the dynamics of low inventory is key to making smart, timely decisions.
Reach out to David Buck at 808-371-3509 to explore your options today.
