FAQ
Waikiki real estate questions
What do condos cost in Waikiki?
As of October 20, 2026, Waikiki condos averaged about $701,000 on our MLS search, or about $1,000 per square foot. About 840 condos were listed, including units under contract, averaging about 680 square feet. No single-family homes were listed in Waikiki that day. Figures change daily, so ask us for recent sales in any building you like.
Source: our MLS search, October 20, 2026.
Are Waikiki condos fee simple or leasehold?
Most are fee simple. On October 20, 2026, about 105 of 838 Waikiki condo listings on our MLS search, about one in eight, were leasehold, at an average list price near $178,000. With leasehold, you own the home or unit but lease the land under it for a set term. A 2025 state DBEDT report notes that land rents often surged when leases were renegotiated, and an unrenewed lease could mean losing access to the land and the structure.
Source: our MLS search, October 20, 2026; DBEDT: Hawaii property ownership report (2025).
Can I use a Waikiki condo as a short-term rental?
Generally only in resort-zoned areas and a few mapped apartment-zoned areas. The city Department of Planning and Permitting says Ordinance 22-7, signed April 26, 2022, allows short-term rentals in the Resort District and in specific apartment-zoned areas mapped in the ordinance. It also created a registration system starting in October 2022, with annual renewals. Building rules can be stricter, so confirm zoning, registration and house rules for any unit first.
Source: City DPP: STR summary and checklist; HiCentral: What is a short-term rental?.
Is there a Skyline rail station in Waikiki?
No. HART's plan does not include a Waikiki station. Skyline is open from East Kapolei to Middle Street, and Segment 3 to Ka'akaukukui (Civic Center) Station is under construction. HART lists Kaka'ako and Ala Moana as the final two stations, to be built in a separate phase.
Source: HART: current project scope; HART: stations.
How do I check if a Waikiki condo is in a flood or tsunami zone?
Look up the address on the state flood map and the city's tsunami evacuation map. The DLNR Flood Hazard Assessment Tool shows FEMA flood zones by address or TMK, and FEMA's Flood Map Service Center is the official source. For tsunami zones, the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency links to the City and County of Honolulu's interactive map. Check any Waikiki home before you make an offer, and ask your lender early about flood insurance.
Source: DLNR: flood maps; Flood Hazard Assessment Tool; FEMA Flood Map Service Center; HI-EMA: tsunami evacuation zones; City tsunami evacuation map.
