Keauhou Real Estate

Keauhou is a resort and residential community on the South Kona coast, about 6 miles south of historic Kailua-Kona village. It combines the Kona Country Club championship golf course (36 holes across the Ocean and Mountain courses), Keauhou Bay, the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa (formerly Sheraton), and a mix of single-family homes and resort condos. Real estate at Keauhou ranges from attainable single-family neighborhoods (Kahakai Estates, Kona Vistas) to oceanfront condo complexes (Kanaloa at Kona, Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club, Keauhou Punahele) and a small tier of custom oceanfront estates along the South Kona shoreline.

Keauhou Market Snapshot

The 2026 Keauhou market trades at a single-family median sale price near $1.1M and a condo median near $650K, with oceanfront single-family estates reaching $3M–$8M per Hawaii Information Service MLS data as of May 2026.

Keauhou inventory typically turns at 60–110 days on market when priced to recent comps. The market here is broader and more diverse than the Kohala Coast resort cluster — Keauhou serves full-time South Kona residents, second-home buyers, condo investors targeting short-term rental income, and a small ultra-luxury oceanfront tier. The combination of golf, marina, and diverse housing stock distinguishes Keauhou from the more single-focus North Kona resort communities.

A Brief History of Keauhou

Keauhou has been culturally significant to Native Hawaiians for centuries, with Keauhou Bay long serving as a launching point for canoe traditions and ocean activities. Modern resort development began in the 1960s and 1970s with the Kona Country Club courses, the original Kona Surf Hotel (now the Outrigger Kona Resort & Spa), and the resort-zoned condo complexes that define much of the coastal Keauhou inventory. Single-family residential development expanded through Kahakai Estates, Kona Vistas, and other neighborhoods that grew alongside the resort core.

What Schools Serve Keauhou

Keauhou is served by the Kealakehe complex of the Hawaii Department of Education, with elementary feeders depending on residence location and high school to Kealakehe High in Kailua-Kona (Hawaii DOE, 2025–2026).

West Hawaii Explorations Academy (WHEA) is a regarded public charter school nearby, and Hawaii Preparatory Academy (HPA) in Waimea is the dominant private school option for full-time families.

Neighborhood Character and Daily Life

Daily life at Keauhou mixes resort amenity access (Kona Country Club, the Outrigger resort, Keauhou Bay) with full-service residential community infrastructure — a more diverse daily rhythm than the gated coastal Kohala Coast resorts.

What stands out about Keauhou compared with North Kona’s coastal resorts is the residential breadth and the South Kona character. The community supports a real cross-section of Hawaii Island buyers — retirees in Kahakai Estates, condo investors at Kanaloa and Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet, full-time families using the Kahalu‘u beach corridor for snorkeling and ocean access, and a small ultra-luxury tier along the oceanfront. The Kona Country Club’s two courses and the Keauhou Shopping Center provide a more grounded daily rhythm than gated resort communities.

Architecture and the Built Environment

Keauhou housing stock spans a wide range — 1960s–80s plantation-Hawaiian single-family homes in Kahakai Estates and similar neighborhoods, 1970s– 80s resort-zoned condo complexes along the shoreline, and a smaller tier of modern custom estates built in the 2000s–2020s. Single-family floor plans typically run 1,500–3,500 square feet; oceanfront custom estates reach 4,000–7,000+ square feet. The architectural language is more varied than the design-controlled Kohala Coast resorts.

Where Keauhou Sits

Keauhou sits at approximately 19.5667° N, 155.9625° W on Hawaii Island. The map below centers on the community.

Commute and Connectivity

Keauhou sits about 25 minutes south of Kona International Airport (KOA) via Kuakini Highway and Ali‘i Drive. Kailua-Kona village is 10 minutes north along the coast road. The Kahalu‘u Beach corridor for snorkeling and the Keauhou Shopping Center for everyday provisioning are inside the community footprint.

Adjacent Communities

Keauhou sits south of historic Kailua-Kona village, with the Kahalu‘u Beach corridor between. The South Kona coast continues south toward Honaunau and the coffee country. Comparable North Kona resort options live at Hualalai Resort and the broader Kohala Coast.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Keauhou real estate cost in 2026?

The 2026 Keauhou single-family median sale price runs near $1.1M and the condo median near $650K, with oceanfront single-family estates reaching $3M–$8M per Hawaii Information Service MLS data as of May 2026. The market spans entry-level condos to ultra-luxury oceanfront.

What is the difference between Keauhou and Kailua-Kona?

Keauhou sits 6 miles south of historic Kailua-Kona village and is anchored by the Kona Country Club, Keauhou Bay, and resort-zoned condo complexes. Kailua-Kona village is the historic town center with Ali‘i Drive, Hulihe‘e Palace, and a denser commercial corridor. Both share the West Hawaii dry-side climate but Keauhou is more resort-residential and Kailua-Kona is more historic-town.

Can I short-term rent at Keauhou?

Resort-zoned condo complexes at Keauhou (Kanaloa at Kona, Keauhou Kona Surf & Racquet Club, Keauhou Punahele) generally permit short-term vacation rentals under Hawaii County V (Resort) zoning. Single-family neighborhoods are typically more restrictive. Verify zoning and HOA rules per property during due diligence.

What golf courses are at Keauhou?

The Kona Country Club operates 36 holes at Keauhou — the Ocean Course (originally designed by William F. Bell, redesigned by Robin Nelson) and the Mountain Course (designed by William F. Bell). Both are open to public daily-fee play with member programs available.

How does Keauhou compare to the Kohala Coast resort communities?

Keauhou is more diverse and more accessible than the gated Kohala Coast resorts — it supports a real cross-section of full-time residents alongside condo investors and a small luxury tier. Pricing is meaningfully lower than Mauna Lani or Mauna Kea for comparable resort condo product, and the South Kona location offers a different lifestyle profile (closer to Kailua-Kona village, more diverse daily fabric).

Talk to KE Team Hawaii About Keauhou

KE Team Hawaii — Kai Ioh and Emil Knysh of Compass — represents buyers and sellers across Keauhou single-family, resort condo, and oceanfront inventory. Reach out for product-specific guidance and comparisons against Kailua-Kona and the Kohala Coast. Start a conversation or browse live featured properties.