Moving to Kailua, HI: Essential Tips for 2026

Kailua is the beach town people picture when they dream about moving to Oʻahu. It has white-sand beaches, trade winds, a walkable town center and a real small-town feel, just over the mountains from Honolulu. About 40,514 people lived in the Kailua census area in 2020, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. If you're planning a move here in 2026, here's what it costs, where to look, and how to make the move go smoothly.

What homes cost in Kailua in 2026

The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® (HBR) reports Kailua as part of its Kailua–Waimānalo region. Here are its 2026 year-to-date numbers for January through August, from HBR's Local Market Update:

• Single-family homes: $1,685,000 median on 177 sales, about flat from 2025. Homes sold in a median of 13 days.
• Condos and townhomes: $752,500 median on 61 sales, with a median of 31 days on market.

For comparison, the September 2026 island-wide medians were $1,110,000 for single-family homes and $523,000 for condos (HBR Monthly Stats Report). Kailua is one of the most expensive places on Oʻahu to buy a house.

There's a bit more to choose from now, though. At the end of August, 92 single-family homes were for sale in the region, up 44% from a year earlier.

Kailua neighborhoods at a glance

HBR also reports by MLS neighborhood. These groupings often have only a few sales, so treat them as rough guides. These are January–August 2026 medians.

• Kailua town: This is the walkable core, with most of Kailua's condos and townhomes. The Kailua Town condo median was $715,000 on 43 sales.
• Enchanted Lake and Keolu Hills: These are family neighborhoods around Kaʻelepulu Pond, a short drive from the beach. Enchanted Lake's single-family median was $1,799,000 on 29 sales, and Keolu Hills' was $1,350,000 on 19.
• Lanikai: Lanikai is the famous beachside enclave with very few sales. Its median was $4,145,000 on 14 sales.
• Beachside and the Kailua Beach area: Homes near Kailua Beach Park and Kalama Beach Park are some of the most sought-after on the island.
• Maunawili and the Pali side: Here you'll find larger lots, more rain and more privacy, close to the Pali Highway.

To browse homes by area, visit my Kailua neighborhood page.

Kailua vs. Kāneʻohe

Next door, the Kāneʻohe region's single-family median was $1,277,500 for January through August 2026, about $400,000 below Kailua–Waimānalo, according to HBR. You give up the walkable beach-town center, but you get more house for the money and quick access to the H-3. Read my Kāneʻohe neighborhood guide if you're weighing the two.

Property tax: why the home exemption matters in Kailua

Honolulu taxes owner-occupied homes and many higher-value homes that aren't owner-occupied very differently, and at Kailua prices, the difference adds up. Here are the City's rates for July 2026 to June 2027 (City and County of Honolulu):

• Residential: $3.50 per $1,000 of net taxable value. If you live in the home, the home exemption takes $120,000 off its taxable value ($160,000 if you're 65 or older).
• Residential A: This rate generally applies to homes assessed at $1 million or more that don't have a home exemption. It's $4.00 per $1,000 on the first $1 million and $11.40 per $1,000 above that.

Here's what that means for a home assessed at the $1,685,000 median:

• If you live in it, with the home exemption: about $5,478 a year.
• As a second home or rental, under Residential A: about $11,809 a year.

If you're moving here full time, file for the home exemption right after you close. The City says claims filed by September 30 take effect the following tax year. It also says the exemption goes up to $140,000 ($180,000 for owners 65 or older) on July 1, 2027.

Schools and family life

Kailua's public schools include Kailua Elementary, Kaʻelepulu Elementary, ʻAikahi Elementary, Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School, Kailua Intermediate and Kalāheo High School. There are private and faith-based options nearby too. Assignments go by address, so check the Department of Education's school finder for any home you're considering.

For families, the big draws are the parks, the beaches and Kawainui Marsh, plus youth sports at Kailua District Park and a library in town.

Getting around

Most Kailua residents drive to Honolulu over the Pali Highway, or use the Likelike or H-3 through Kāneʻohe. Traffic varies a lot by time of day and weather, so test-drive your commute at rush hour before you buy. TheBus connects Kailua with Kāneʻohe and town. Inside Kailua, a lot of daily life is walkable or bikeable, especially if you live near town.

The Skyline rail line doesn't come to the Windward side. It runs from East Kapolei to the Kalihi Transit Center, according to HART.

Adventist Health Castle, the Windward side's hospital, is right in Kailua.

Your moving plan

Shipping your car

Matson's published rate to ship a standard vehicle from Long Beach or Oakland to Honolulu is $1,790, effective June 7, 2026. Matson has also suspended shipping electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids (Matson), so if you drive an EV, check with other carriers before you make plans. Once your car arrives, Hawaiʻi law gives you 30 days to register it or get an out-of-state permit.

Your budget

Kailua's everyday costs are high, like the rest of Oʻahu. Electricity, groceries and insurance surprise most mainland movers. My Oʻahu cost-of-living guide breaks it all down and links to a free calculator for building your own monthly budget.

Financing

Freddie Mac's 30-year average was 7.40% in early October 2026. At Kailua prices, every bit of rate matters. If you're a veteran, or you're open to it, ask about assumable VA or FHA loans. My buyer's guide to assumable loans explains how they work.

Your first few months

• Rent first if you can. A few months in Kailua will show you which streets get the wind, the rain and the traffic.
• File your home exemption as soon as you close on a home you'll live in.
• Get on a few local lists. For weekly Oʻahu housing notes, join my free newsletter, Hawaiʻi Home + AI.

Frequently asked questions

How much does a house cost in Kailua, HI?

The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® reported a $1,685,000 single-family median for the Kailua–Waimānalo region for January through August 2026. Condos and townhomes had a $752,500 median.

Is Kailua more expensive than Kāneʻohe?

Yes. For January through August 2026, the single-family median was $1,685,000 in Kailua–Waimānalo and $1,277,500 in Kāneʻohe, according to the Honolulu Board of REALTORS®, a difference of about $400,000.

How much is property tax on a Kailua home?

For July 2026 to June 2027, an owner-occupied home assessed at $1,685,000 would owe about $5,478 a year at Honolulu's $3.50 residential rate after the $120,000 home exemption. The same home without the exemption, taxed as Residential A, would owe about $11,809.

How much does it cost to ship a car to Oʻahu?

Matson's published rate for a standard vehicle from Long Beach or Oakland to Honolulu is $1,790, effective June 7, 2026. Matson has suspended shipping electric vehicles and plug-in hybrids. After the car arrives, you have 30 days to register it or get an out-of-state permit.

What public schools are in Kailua?

Public schools include Kailua Elementary, Kaʻelepulu Elementary, ʻAikahi Elementary, Lanikai Elementary Public Charter School, Kailua Intermediate and Kalāheo High School. Check the Department of Education's school finder for the school assigned to a specific address.

Moving to Kailua is a big step, and having someone local on your side makes the whole thing easier, from shipping your car to finding the right street. Reach out to me here and let's plan your move. I'd love to help you settle into Kailua.