ALOHA DEC 2025!

2026 Outlook | 79 | Maui Bill 9 | New Year's Sake

Aloha Friends and O'hana,

Happy Holidays from the Big Island!

Here in Hawaii, we may not have snow or chilly weather to mark the season, but there's no mistaking the holiday spirit. The island feels a little brighter this time of year… from twinkling lights and festive gatherings to the warmth you see in people’s smiles. There’s just something about Christmas in the islands.

Wherever you’re reading this from, I hope you're enjoying the season with someone special.

Our home is feeling full again - my daughter is back from New York, and my mom is flying in from Japan to spend Christmas and New Year with us. It’s moments like these that remind me how blessed we are.

As the year wraps up, I had a personal milestone worth celebrating.

I finally broke 80 in golf!

It’s been over 10 years since I first shot an 80, and while only about 5% of golfers ever break that mark (compared to 50% who break 100), it’s not really about the score. It’s about the fun, the people, and the challenge. Still… it felt pretty great. More on my golf journey and Big Island golf lifestyle below.

Maui just passed Bill 9, reducing short-term vacation rentals by 6,000 units in hopes of increasing long-term housing for local residents. While that sounds significant, it’s worth noting Maui has the largest vacation rental supply in Hawaii, about 280,000 units per night, compared to 236,000 on Oʻahu and 217,000 on the Big Island. The Big Island is set to roll out Bill 47 in July. We will keep you informed in 2026!

We held our Christmas party at Old Airport Park(in the lifesyle video above). Back in the 1970s, this was Kona’s main airport before the current one opened. The old runway? It’s now a parking lot where kids learn to ride bikes and practice driving. The former terminal has become a community pavilion, often filled with family gatherings and community events. It’s pretty amazing to think that where we now picnic and play, jets once touched down.

If you’re planning a visit to the Big Island, let’s connect—we’d love to catch up.

As always, I’ve linked the latest Big Island lifestyle video above, along with market insights, local happenings, and a little slice of life from here in Kona.

Thank you, as always, for your trust, support, and referrals. Happy Holidays!!

Mahalo,

Kai

Real Estate Market

DEC 2025 Recap

Each month we share our Market Update — insights carefully gathered and analyzed to help you stay on top of what really matters. If you’d like to receive these updates directly, let us know and we’ll be happy to add you to our mailing list.

Median Prices by Island

Homes | Condo

Oahu : $1,137,325 | $540,500

Maui: $1,292,500 | $693,930

Kauai: $1,200,000 | $828,000

Hawaii(Kona): $1,255,000| $620,000

source: Title Guaranty Escrow

Fresh on the Market: Latest Listings from the Past 30 Days

Ready to explore your next dream property? Here are the newest listings in Kona and across the Big Island Resorts, each offering its own slice of paradise.

Lifestyle

Broke 80 After 10 Years | Big Island Golf Life

This year, I (Kai) played nearly every course on the Big Island, from Mauna Kea and Kukio to Hualalai, Mauna Lani, and even Nanea, which Golf Digest ranks as the #1 course in Hawai‘i since 2013. But my biggest personal news? I finally broke 80.

If you're not a golfer, bear with me. It took over a decade to reach that milestone. And for someone who used to hate golf before moving to Hawai‘i, that’s saying something.

The Big Island offers a rare concentration of world-class courses, both private and public, spread across a landscape that’s as accessible as it is uncrowded. But it’s not just the scenery or the design.

Golf in Hawai‘i feels different. Slower in the best way. Less stressful, more soulful. I see it all the time. Friends, clients, even first-timers who find themselves unexpectedly hooked. Just like I was.

Breaking 80 was a milestone, but what really stuck with me was this: on the Big Island, golf isn’t just a sport. It’s a window into a lifestyle you don’t fully appreciate until you live it.

Big Island

Compass 2026 Housing Market Outlook: What Hawaii Buyers and Sellers Need to Know

One thing many people miss about Hawaii real estate is how selectively the market moves.

The Compass 2026 Housing Market Outlook outlines national trends, but those signals may have a different meaning once you apply them locally.

Nationally, the THREE TRENDS are apparent: "End of Lock-In Effect", "Great-Stay", and "Divided Geography and Prosperity".

We can also see similar trends here. First, the lock-in effect is easing, as the outstanding mortgage rate hit 4.4% this year, the mobility is improving. Second, Hawaii’s resilient job base (2.5% unemployment rate) continues to support pricing and optimism. Third, geography matters: West Hawaii’s luxury market remains active due to long-term, lifestyle-focused ownership. Real Estate is hyperlocal.

Understanding how national trends actually play out here is where the real insight begins, and often what helps buyers and sellers move forward with confidence.

Local Events

KONA JAZZ EXPERIENCE 2026

When: January 18, 2026, 2:30PM

Where: ALOHA THEATER

The Kona Jazz Experience, a benefit concert for the Aloha Theatre will take place on Sunday, January 18, 2026 at 2:30. The concert will feature Bill Noble Jazz Ensemble: an 8 piece band of horns, rhythm section and vocals, under the inspiring and exciting leadership of Bill Noble.

HAWAI'I WOOD GUILD 39th INVITATIONAL MASTERS SHOW - WAIMEA

When: January TBA, 2026

Where: Isaacs Art Center at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy

Experience the artistry of Hawai‘i’s finest woodworkers featuring exceptional handcrafted works by master artisans, the exhibit will be on display at Isaacs Art Center at Hawai‘i Preparatory Academy, Monday–Friday from 9am–4pm. This inspiring, free, and open-to-the-public show is a must-see celebration of skill, creativity, and island craftsmanship.

NATIONAL PARK FEE-FREE DAY HONORING MARTIN LUTHER KING'S BIRTHDAY

When: January 19, 2026

Where: Hawaiʻi, National Park

Celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s legacy with a National Park Fee-Free Day! Enjoy free entrance to our national parks as you explore, reflect, and connect with nature in honor of his birthday. It’s the perfect day to get outside and experience the beauty of our parks—on us.

Islander Sake: New Year's Sake on Sale

2026 is the Year of the Horse, and I kicked it off early with a glass of freshly brewed New Year’s edition sake from Islander Sake.

Let me just say: it was really good.

If you’d like to try it, I can help you get your hands on a bottle. Orders can be picked up right from my office, or if you’re in the mood for a night out, head over to ENGAWA at Hapuna Resort for a special sake-pairing dinner. It's a memorable experience that brings out the best in both the sake and the setting.

Let me know if you’re interested, and kanpai to a great start to the new year.

More Details Here.

KE TEAM

Featured Listings and their Distinctive Lifestyles

Mauna Lani Resort

68-1304 Lot 15 Akea Place

0 BD 0 BA 0 SF NEW PRICE $1,149,000

Shovel-ready homesite comes with HOA approval and a building permits

Mauna Lani Resort

68-1019 Lot 27 Hoe Uli Way

0 BD 0 BA 0 SF NEW PRICE $599,000

An opportunity to build your dream home on a fully-developed homesite

Listing Neighborhood

73-4621 Kukuki St, 96740

0 BD 0 BA 0 SF NEW LISTING $549,000

1-acre ocean-view building site. Currently features a mature coffee farm and a permitted storage

Daisuke 'Kai' Ioh

REALTOR® | RB-19352

Mobile 808.936.6148

kai.ioh@compass.com

www.KETeamHawaii.com

www.KonaFudosan.com

REALM Founding Member

Top 1.5% of US Real Estate Professional 2020-2025