The Urban Honolulu market right now
Sales figures: Redfin Data Center, market tracker (Redfin, a national real estate brokerage), Honolulu, HI metro area, May 2026, all residential property types. Typical value: Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI), Zillow Research, August 2026, mid-tier homes, seasonally adjusted. These are area-wide figures, not a value for any one home.
With about 6.5 months of supply, this is a market that leans toward buyers by the usual rule of thumb, and homes sold for about 1.5% below their list price on average.
Show the numbers
| Month | Median sale price |
|---|---|
| May 2026 | $750,000 |
| Apr 2026 | $718,675 |
| Mar 2026 | $720,000 |
| Feb 2026 | $699,000 |
| Jan 2026 | $730,000 |
| Dec 2025 | $735,000 |
| Nov 2025 | $732,500 |
| Oct 2025 | $787,000 |
| Sep 2025 | $745,500 |
| Aug 2025 | $742,500 |
| Jul 2025 | $710,000 |
| Jun 2025 | $750,000 |
| May 2025 | $725,000 |
| Apr 2025 | $696,000 |
| Mar 2025 | $690,000 |
| Feb 2025 | $667,750 |
| Jan 2025 | $748,500 |
| Dec 2024 | $762,500 |
| Nov 2024 | $715,000 |
| Oct 2024 | $720,000 |
| Sep 2024 | $750,000 |
| Aug 2024 | $725,000 |
| Jul 2024 | $727,500 |
| Jun 2024 | $785,000 |
| May 2024 | $689,000 |
Source: Redfin Data Center, Honolulu, HI metro area. Monthly figures, not seasonally adjusted, so some ups and downs are just the time of year.
What the metro area covers
The Census Bureau counts about 998,747 people in the Urban Honolulu, HI metro area. Property taxes, recording fees and some transfer taxes are set county by county, so check the county your home is in.
| County | Population (2024 estimate) |
|---|---|
| Honolulu County, HI | 998,747 |
Towns with the most ZIP codes in the area: Honolulu, Kapolei, Jbphh, Aiea, Ewa Beach, Haleiwa, Hauula, Kaaawa, Kahuku, Kailua, Kaneohe, Kunia.
Population and counties: U.S. Census Bureau, Vintage 2024 population estimates and 2023 metro delineations.
Hawaii rules that affect sellers
Transfer tax
Hawaii's conveyance tax is tiered by price. For a home sold for less than $600,000 it is 10 cents per $100 (15 cents per $100 when the buyer is not eligible for a county homeowner's exemption), rising in steps to $1.00 per $100 ($1.25 for non-owner-occupant buyers) at $10 million and up. State law makes the seller responsible for paying it, and there is no separate county transfer tax.
Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes section 247-2 (rates) and section 247-4 (seller pays)
Seller disclosure
Yes. Under Hawaii's Mandatory Seller Disclosures law (HRS chapter 508D), a seller of residential property must sign a written disclosure statement and deliver it to the buyer no later than 10 calendar days after the purchase contract is accepted. The buyer then has 15 calendar days to review it and may cancel the contract and get the deposit back.
Who handles the closing
Hawaii home sales customarily close through an escrow company rather than an attorney. Companies acting as escrow depositories must be licensed by the state's Division of Financial Institutions.
Source: Hawaii Revised Statutes section 449-5, escrow depository licensing
Also worth knowing
If the seller is not a Hawaii resident, the buyer generally must withhold 7.25% of the amount realized and send it to the state (HARPTA). No withholding is required if the seller certifies on Form N-289 that they are a Hawaii resident, or that the home was their principal residence for the prior year and the price is $300,000 or less.
Source: Hawaii Department of Taxation, Form N-288 instructions
Also worth knowing
The conveyance tax is due within 90 days of the sale, and the deed cannot be stamped for recording until it is paid. By statute the seller pays it, not the buyer.
Checking an agent's license
Real estate agents in Hawaii are licensed by the Hawaii Real Estate Commission (Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Professional and Vocational Licensing). You can look up any agent before you work with them.
Rules checked 2026-09-30. They change, and local practice varies: confirm with your title company, closing attorney or agent before relying on them. This is general information, not legal or tax advice.