Masayako, I have been looking for a home in Hawaii for about a year. Choosing which island is the first step. Here’s my very brief run down:
1) Big Island is the cheapest. Hilo is very wet and more local. There are some homes in beautiful lush areas above the town. Tsunamis are an issue. Oustide Hilo becomes rural. Kailua has a bit of a California vibe and is drier. Beware of SO2 which emanates from the volcano, as it wraps around the island and sweeps across the town. It has known health issues.
Conclusion: Much better value, OK if you like quiet, best bet is probably north of Kailua towards Wailea.
2) Maui is first choice for many. Kihei has it all. Sunny, close to best beaches, but nicer homes are in south Kihei, and are often association run. Beware of N Kihei due to cane burning. Kahului is better value but a very drab place. Lahaina is hot and dry, and a longer drive from Kahului.
Conclusion: Quiet expensive, but some deals out there. Best bet is probably around Kula due to moderate climate. Bummer is Kula (hinterland) is not close to beaches due to poor road infrastructure planning.
3) Oahu has it all. A thriving city, beautiful lush landscape and bigger choice of homes. As with all islands, it has a windward (wet) side and Leeward (dry) side. Diamond Head has some nice homes and is close to Honolulu.
Conclusion: Least likely to find good deals, but housing is hurting. Water and Electricty are in crisis (on all islands) so VERY high utility bills. Best bet maybe Keneohe due to higher precipitation (if you want a lush lawn), and enough sun to drive PVs, and not the most expensive homes either.
I have not researched Kuai, but imagine it is similar to the Big Island. Generally, homes in HI are of a less substantial build than the mainland, but are comparable in price to CA metropolitan areas. Property tax is possibly the lowest in the US.
No Redfin or ZipRealty unfortunately. Not even sure Trulia or Zillow have full data there. Below are the best I have found for listings.
