By Benjamin Finnerty (S), REALTOR® (RS-83812) with Keller Williams Realty Maui · Kīhei, Maui · 808-481-9748

Quick Answer: In September 2026, Maui’s single-family median was $1,150,000, slightly above Oʻahu’s $1,110,000, below Kauaʻi’s $1,490,000 and more than double Hawaiʻi Island’s $499,000, per Hawaiʻi REALTORS® county data. Maui’s $660,000 condo median was about 26% above Oʻahu’s $523,000. Year to date, Maui’s home median ($1,219,000) is down 6.2%.

I’m Benjamin Finnerty, a REALTOR® in Kīhei with Keller Williams Realty Maui, and one of the most common questions I hear from people planning a move is how Maui vs. Oʻahu home prices compare, and where Kauaʻi and the Big Island fit in. The September 2026 numbers, released in early October, give a clean side-by-side look. Here’s what they show and how I’d read them if you’re choosing an island.

How Do Maui vs. Oʻahu Home Prices Compare Right Now?

For September 2026, Maui’s single-family median was $40,000 higher than Oʻahu’s, and Maui’s condo median was $137,000 higher. But the two islands are moving in different directions: Oʻahu’s home market is steadier, while Maui’s medians have softened this year.

Here is the September 2026 snapshot, compared with September 2025:

County	Single-family median	Single-family sales	Condo median	Condo sales
Maui	$1,150,000 (−11.0%)	52 (−7.1%)	$660,000 (+1.1%)	72 (+56.5%)
Oʻahu	$1,110,000 (−3.9%)	293 (+6.2%)	$523,000 (+2.8%)	375 (−8.1%)
Kauaʻi	$1,490,000 (+11.2%)	18 (−51.4%)	$726,500 (−11.4%)	6 (−64.7%)
Hawaiʻi Island	$499,000 (−14.6%)	136 (−21.4%)	$604,500 (−5.5%)	32 (−34.7%)
Statewide	$1,027,000 (+0.2%)	499 (−7.9%)	$540,000 (+1.9%)	485 (−6.7%)

Source: Hawaiʻi REALTORS®, September 2026 statewide statistics, compiled from HiCentral MLS (Oʻahu), REALTORS® Association of Maui, Kauaʻi Board of REALTORS® and Hawaiʻi Information Service. Released October 2026.

Which Hawaiian Island Has the Highest Home Prices in 2026?

Kauaʻi does, both for September and for the year so far. Its year-to-date single-family median through September 2026 is $1,300,000, up 8.3%. One caution: Kauaʻi closed just 18 homes and 6 condos in September, so a single sale can swing its monthly median a lot. The nine-month numbers are a better guide:

County (Jan.–Sept. 2026)	Single-family median	Change	Condo median	Change
Kauaʻi	$1,300,000	+8.3%	$845,000	−3.4%
Maui	$1,219,000	−6.2%	$655,000	−6.8%
Oʻahu	$1,180,000	+3.1%	$515,000	+2.0%
Hawaiʻi Island	$555,000	−0.9%	$625,000	−1.2%

Source: Hawaiʻi REALTORS®, year-to-date through September 30, 2026.

Year to date, Maui is still the second most expensive county for single-family homes, but it’s the only county where both the home and condo medians are down more than 6%.

Why Are Maui Condos More Expensive Than Oʻahu Condos?

Maui’s condo median ($660,000 in September) sits well above Oʻahu’s ($523,000) mostly because of what’s for sale. Many of Maui’s condos are resort-area units in Kīhei, Wailea, Kāʻanapali and Nāpili, while Oʻahu has a large stock of older urban condos and co-ops in Honolulu. A median reflects the mix of units that sold that month, so this isn’t an apples-to-apples price per square foot comparison.

What stands out on Maui is activity: 620 condos closed countywide through September, up 21.1% from 2025, even as the year-to-date median fell 6.8%. Some of that reflects owners reassessing their plans under Bill 9’s vacation rental phase-out.

Is the Big Island Really That Much Cheaper?

On paper, yes: Hawaiʻi Island’s September single-family median was $499,000, less than half of Maui’s. But that countywide number blends very different markets, from lower-priced areas in Puna and Kaʻū to resort properties on the Kona and Kohala coasts. If you’re comparing a specific lifestyle, such as a home within a few miles of a resort beach, compare like with like rather than the county medians.

What Do These Numbers Mean for Buyers Choosing an Island?

They suggest Maui buyers have more negotiating room than a year ago, while Oʻahu prices have held up better. On Maui, September’s median days on market was 134 for single-family homes and 199 for condos, per the REALTORS® Association of Maui. That gives buyers time to compare properties and ask questions.

Inventory is a key part of that picture. In September, Maui had 7.8 months of supply for single-family homes and 12.1 months for condos, per RAM’s Monthly Indicators. Anything above roughly six months is generally considered favorable to buyers.

My Take: What I’m Telling Buyers Comparing Maui With Other Islands

The headline I’d take from this report is that Maui’s single-family median is now within about $40,000 of Oʻahu’s, and Maui condo sales are up 56.5% from a year ago. One thing that surprised me this year has been the value I’m seeing in condos, and I’ve been talking with buyers about that, specifically hotel-zoned and business-zoned condos. That’s not a prediction about where prices go next. It’s a read on today’s pricing compared with the past few years.

If you’re choosing between islands, I start with a conversation about the kind of lifestyle you’re looking for, because the islands offer significantly different ones: Hawaiʻi Island with its open spaces; Oʻahu, the most populous island, with urban living and everything that goes with it; Maui, which is more like a suburban island, with the benefits that come with that kind of environment; and Kauaʻi, which is different from all the other islands, with its lush, jungle-like landscape. Then compare a specific property type in a specific area, using the most recent sales. Monthly medians, especially on Kauaʻi and Maui, can move a lot with a handful of sales, so I’d weigh the year-to-date numbers more heavily.

For Maui specifically, I’d look closely at the zoning and vacation rental status of any condo before writing an offer, because Bill 9 and the hotel rezoning votes can change what a unit is worth to you. My September 2026 Maui market breakdown, Maui home prices by area and Q3 2026 sales analysis go deeper on those local numbers.

FAQ

Is Maui more expensive than Oʻahu?
For single-family homes in September 2026, slightly: $1,150,000 on Maui vs. $1,110,000 on Oʻahu. Year to date it’s $1,219,000 vs. $1,180,000. Maui’s condo median is noticeably higher.

Which island had the most home sales in September 2026?
Oʻahu, with 293 single-family and 375 condo sales. Maui had 52 single-family and 72 condo sales.

Are Maui home prices going down?
The year-to-date single-family median through September 2026 is down 6.2% and the condo median is down 6.8%. That describes the past nine months, not a forecast.

Where does this data come from?
Hawaiʻi REALTORS® compiles it from each county’s source: HiCentral MLS, the REALTORS® Association of Maui, the Kauaʻi Board of REALTORS® and Hawaiʻi Information Service.

Ask Benjamin

If you’re weighing Maui against another island, I’m Benjamin Finnerty, and I’m happy to pull recent Maui sales for the type of property you’re considering so you can compare real numbers. Call or text 808-481-9748 or email benjamin@the808team.com.

Sources: Hawaiʻi REALTORS® September 2026 statewide statistics (data from HiCentral MLS, REALTORS® Association of Maui, Kauaʻi Board of REALTORS® and Hawaiʻi Information Service); REALTORS® Association of Maui Monthly Indicators, September 2026; Maui Now (Oct. 9, 2026); Honolulu Star-Advertiser (Oct. 7, 2026).