Data provided by the Hawaii Information Service (HIS) as of September 1, 2026, and is deemed reliable but not guaranteed. All figures are subject to change. This post is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment, legal, or financial advice.
The island-wide condo median for the Big Island in August 2026 was $496,500, down 13% year over year. Read that headline and you might conclude the condo market is broadly softening.
Then look at Kamuela.
Kamuela (Waimea) recorded 7 condo sales in August 2026, up 40% from 5 in August 2025. The median price was $2,695,000, up 68% from $1,600,000 in August 2025. The median days on market was 20 days, down 85% from 132 days in August 2025.
Fewer than three weeks to sell. At $2.695 million. With a 68% year-over-year price increase.
That is not the same market as the $496,500 island-wide condo median describes. It is not even the same category of conversation.
The August 2026 condo report illustrates something that the Coldwell Banker Island Properties commentary specifically calls out: with relatively few condo transactions island-wide, contrasting local market trends continue to have an outsized influence on overall metrics. There were 30 total condo sales across the entire Big Island in August 2026. Seven of them were in Kamuela at a median of $2.695 million. Those 7 transactions are mathematically significant within a pool of 30.
Kailua-Kona, with 12 condo sales at a $496,500 median, pulled in the opposite direction. The island-wide median is the average of these two very different realities. It describes neither one accurately.
For Buyers and Sellers who are evaluating specific sub-markets rather than the island-wide aggregate, this distinction is essential. A condo Buyer in Kailua-Kona and a condo Buyer in Kamuela are operating in markets with completely different pricing trajectories, velocity, and competitive dynamics in August 2026.
A 20-day median days on market at $2.695 million is a data point worth examining carefully. It means that premium condominiums in Kamuela were not sitting. They were meeting Buyers who had already decided, who knew what they wanted, and who acted when the right property appeared.
That Buyer profile is consistent with what global research from REALM and Altrata identifies about ultra high net worth second-home acquisition: Buyers at this level move with decisiveness when they find the right property in a community they already understand and value. The 85% reduction in days on market from 132 days in August 2025 to 20 days in August 2026 reflects a shift in Buyer confidence and readiness in the Kamuela premium market that is directionally significant.
Kamuela has been one of the most consistently strong-performing sub-markets on the Big Island throughout 2026. In March 2026, the single-family median was $1,700,000 with a 50% volume increase year over year. In June 2026, 7 single-family sales at a $1,500,000 median with 98-day days on market. The condo segment in August 2026 at $2.695 million and 20-day days on market adds a premium-tier condo dimension to that sustained premium performance story.
For Buyers considering the Kamuela market, whether for its upcountry lifestyle, its proximity to the Kohala Coast resort communities, or its own distinct community character, the August 2026 data suggests that waiting for a better opportunity in this market is not a strategy supported by the current evidence.
To explore what is currently available in Kamuela and across the Big Island luxury market, visit marcoinkona.com/active or connect with Marco A. Silva for a current market conversation. Learn more about the Big Island communities Marco serves.
What was the median condo price in Kamuela in August 2026?
The median condo sales price in Kamuela (Waimea) was $2,695,000 in August 2026, up 68% from $1,600,000 in August 2025, according to Hawaii Information Service data as of September 1, 2026.
How quickly did Kamuela condos sell in August 2026?
The median days on market for condos in Kamuela was 20 days in August 2026, down 85% from 132 days in August 2025. This is the fastest transaction pace recorded for the Kamuela condo market in recent reporting periods.
Why did the Kamuela condo market perform so differently from Kailua-Kona?
Kamuela and Kailua-Kona attract different Buyer profiles at different price points. The Kamuela premium condo market at $2.695 million serves ultra high net worth Buyers seeking upcountry luxury, often in connection with the Kohala Coast resort communities nearby. The Kailua-Kona condo market at $496,500 serves a broader, more financing-sensitive Buyer audience that has been more affected by rate movements and supply dynamics in 2026.
What does the Kamuela condo data mean for the broader Big Island luxury market?
The Kamuela data confirms that demand for premium Big Island properties remains active and decisive at the upper end of the market. A 20-day median days on market and 68% year-over-year price appreciation reflects Buyers who are motivated and well-capitalized. This is consistent with the sustained premium demand visible in the Kohala Coast single-family market and the record-setting transactions that have occurred in the Hualalai community in 2026.
Is Kamuela a good market for luxury Buyers in fall 2026?
The August 2026 data shows active demand, rising prices, and very fast transaction velocity in the Kamuela premium condo segment. Buyers considering Kamuela should be prepared to act with decisiveness when the right property appears. Contact Marco A. Silva through marcoinkona.com/contact to discuss current availability and market context.
Where can I explore current Big Island luxury properties?
Visit marcoinkona.com/active for current properties, marcoinkona.com/communities for an overview of Big Island neighborhoods and resort communities, or contact Marco A. Silva for a personalized market consultation.