Buying a Home at Hualālai: What to Know
Updated: 3 days ago
Hualālai is a private resort community built around Four Seasons Resort Hualālai in North Kona. Buyers choose from resort villas, fairway homes, and custom estates, and club membership is purchased separately from the home, so the full cost of ownership is more than the price.
Key takeaways
Hualālai is a resort community around Four Seasons Resort Hualālai at Kaʻūpūlehu.
Property types range from resort villas to fairway homes and custom estates.
Membership in the Hualālai Club is for owners and is purchased separately from the home.
Many owners use their home part of the year, so property management matters.
Where Hualālai is and what it offers
Hualālai sits on the North Kona coast at Kaʻūpūlehu, about fifteen minutes north of the Kona airport. The resort opened in the 1990s and has grown into one of the best known luxury communities in Hawaiʻi.
Hualālai has two golf courses. The Jack Nicklaus Signature course hosts a PGA Tour Champions event each year. The Keʻolu course, designed by Tom Weiskopf, is for members only. Members also have access to a beach club, a canoe club, tennis, and a sports club.
Types of homes at Hualālai
Hualālai offers more choices than most private communities. Resort villas suit owners who want a low maintenance home close to the hotel and its services. Fairway homes sit along the golf courses. Custom estates on larger homesites offer the most space and privacy.
That range also means a wide range of prices. Value depends on the type of home, how close it is to the ocean and the resort, the view, and the condition and age of the home.
Membership and ongoing costs
Membership in the Hualālai Club is available only to property owners, and it is purchased separately from the real estate. A buyer should budget for the membership, the yearly club dues, and the association fees in addition to the price of the home. These amounts are set by the club and the associations and can change, so buyers should ask for current figures.
Some Hualālai homes can be rented, and the rules depend on the specific neighborhood and association. Buyers who want rental income should confirm what is allowed for the home they are considering.
What should buyers check before buying at Hualālai?
Before an offer, review the membership terms, all dues and fees, and the rental rules for the specific home. Check the lava zone, get an insurance quote early, and arrange a full inspection. Owners who will be away for long stretches should line up a local property manager.
Because most Hualālai buyers live off island, inspections and closing are often arranged from a distance.
Selling a home at Hualālai
Hualālai buyers often compare several homes in the resort and next door at Kūkiʻo. A seller should price from recent sales in both, prepare the membership and association documents before listing, and market through the MLS and the eXp Realty network to agents across the country and abroad.
Common questions
Is the Hualālai Club membership included with a home?
No. Membership is for owners but is purchased separately from the home. Buyers should confirm the current terms with the club.
What golf courses are at Hualālai?
Hualālai has a Jack Nicklaus Signature course and the members only Keʻolu course designed by Tom Weiskopf.
Comparing communities? See the guide to Kona luxury resort communities: Kohanaiki, Kūkiʻo, Hualālai, Hōkūliʻa, Keauhou, Waikoloa and Mauna Lani side by side.
Sources: County of Hawaiʻi Real Property Tax Office; Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources, Office of Conservation and Coastal Lands.
About the author: Maile Woodhall (pronounced Miley) is a licensed Hawaiʻi REALTOR (RS-88019) with The Agency Team Hawaii, eXp Realty (RB-21841), born and raised in Kona. Questions? Call or text (808) 482-5800.
Related guides: Buying a home in Kona; Multimillion Dollar Homes and Estates in Kona: What Buyers and Sellers Should Know; How to Sell a Luxury Home in Kona: A Listing Agent's Guide; Buying an Oceanfront Home in Kona: Rules, Costs, and What to Check.
Last updated: October 2026.
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