Waianae is a string of beaches and caves in Oahu's northern foothills
Blending the Hawaiian words for water (wai) and the mullet fish (anae) that are no longer farmed here as they were long ago in Waianae’s brackish backshore pools, the Waianae area still enjoys its oceanside home amid a broad base of towering hillsides. The air is slightly drier here than on Oahu’s other side, and you’ll often see random high-altitude clouds easing across Waianae’s green peaks. This northwestern expanse of Oahu stretches from the neighborhoods of Waianae and Makaha along an approximately 13-mile-strand of beaches and caves up to Oahu’s northern tip.
The water goes from light turquoise to dark blue off the coast near Waianae.
Waianae's pristine beaches, like Pokai Bay and Makaha Beach, draw surfers and sunbathers alike.
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Hut-style homes, cottages and bungalows in a remote oceanside location
Jeffrey Samuels, Realtor with Jeffrey Samuels Realty who has sold hundreds of properties in the Waianae area explains, “People seek out Waianae to get away from downtown bustle and enjoy a more remote feel. I consider it an alternative paradise to other parts of Oahu. And even though you can purchase for less here, Waianae has some of the best beaches on the island. Here, you get lots of white sand that’s not eroding, and the water goes from this amazing light turquoise to dark blue. There’s also such a rich diversity of home types here. You can find everything from $150,000 condos to homes on huge 1- and 2-acre lots in the gated Mauna Olu Estates.”
Throughout Waianae, this variety of homes includes Quonset hut style homes, casual beachside plantation bungalows, brightly painted beach cottages, and custom ocean-view and oceanfront properties with pools. You can also find larger Mediterranean-style stucco homes, and contemporary estates on large parcels with sweeping mountain views. Sunny town houses surrounded by green peaks and chic beachside condominiums are also part of the residential fabric.
Unique Quonset Hut Style Homes Line the Streets of Waianae.
Unique custom homes can be found in Waianae.
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Seaside schools offer hospitality courses and traditional learning
Hawaii Department of Education operates roughly 10 schools here, and most get C ratings from Niche. Public school students can attend Nanaikapano Elementary School and Waianae Intermediate School before moving up to Waianae High School which rests on a grassy lawn facing the water. Waianae High School’s Career and Technical Education Center offers more than 10 pathways of study from Culinary Arts to Marketing Management to Sustainable Hospitality. The public Ka Waihona o Ka Na’auao Charter School, which also faces the open blue surf, is an alternative school of choice for kindergarten through eighth grades.
Waianae students start at Nanaikapono Elementary School.
Unique custom homes can be found in Waianae.
Waianae's older students attend Waianae High School.
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Surfing, snorkeling and salt breezes define beach life
Escape to the seaside Kea’au Park to breathe in the salt air washing across its flat grassland. Or, sink your toes into the bright sand at the 40-acre Nanakuli Beach Park — also known as Kalaiana’ole Beach Park — where dazzling cerulean surf brushes the uncrowded beachfront. Living in Waianae, you can cruise the roadway right along Yokohama Bay, or plant your umbrella on the shore of the valley at Makaha Beach Park, a favorite spot for local snorkelers and surfers. Golfers enjoy teeing off at Makaha Valley Country Club’s William F. Bell-designed course that weaves along rolling lowland terrain through dense trees.
Marine life thrives in the waters off Waianae, making it an excellent spot for snorkeling and diving.
Waianae residents can have a picnic at Nanakuli Beach Park.
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Dining choices range from local specialties to international cuisine
Local skippers dock their watercraft at the serene Waianae Small Boat Harbor and walk over to Spinners Café, known for their delicious banana pancakes, macadamia nut butter and kalua pork. And you won’t want to miss the Puerto Rican, Colombian and Caribbean specialties, from empanadas to coconut pudding, at Coquito’s Latin restaurant.
Samuels adds, “The Countryside Café is also a great place for breakfast. You can sit on the deck overlooking the ocean, without any of the tourist buzz. The owners are local, and they serve generous portions. Their Portuguese fried rice is a favorite.” You can easily shop for all your essentials at retailers including Long’s Drugs in the Nanakuli Village Center. Or, you can find a selection of casual shops and eateries in a low-key shopping center in Waianae. You can also score top surf brands along with some pretty amazing shave ice at the locally-created Kainalu Surf Shop.
Offering unique beachfront and plenty of housing styles to choose from, Waianae embodies all the beauty and variety of the northwestern Oahu lifestyle.
Written By
Matt Medl
Photography Contributed By
Paul Peck
Video By
Max Gilmore
Interested in learning more about homes in this area?
Reach out to
Raymond Kang,
an experienced agent in this area.
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On average, homes in Waianae, HI sell after 113 days on the market compared to the national average of 58 days. The median sale price for homes in Waianae, HI over the last 12 months is $520,000, up 1% from the median home sale price over the previous 12 months.
Welcome to this spacious Waianae property nestled in the heart of the Leeward Coast. This home offers comfortable island living with ample indoor and outdoor space for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday enjoyment. The generous lot provides room for gardening, outdoor activities, or future possibilities. Conveniently located near beaches, parks, schools, shopping, dining, and recreational
FIRST OPEN HOUSE ON SUNDAY, JUNE 14th from 1-4pm. Beautifully remodeled split-level home in Maili on the Leeward Coast! This 4-bed, 2-bath fee simple residence offers 2,126 sq ft of living on a level 5,575 sq ft lot with mountain views. Remodeled in 2022 and in above average condition featuring split A/C, ceiling fans, solar panel water heater, lawn sprinkler, new double-pane slider windows
FIRST OPEN HOUSE on SAT, 6/13 from 2-5pm. Completely rebuilt from the ground up, this custom Waianae home delivers quality you can see and feel. Double-wall construction, solid wood doors, vaulted ceilings, and tile throughout — every detail has been intentional. The main front home features a fully permitted 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom layout, where a massive 36,000 BTU Mitsubishi split A/C unit in
RARE OPPORTUNITY! Discover the endless possibilities with this over 12-acre level agricultural-zoned property featuring two well-built single-family homes, perfect for multi-generational living, rental income, farming, or creating your own private estate. The first residence offers 4 bdrms/2 baths with 1,875 sq. ft. of interior living space and a spacious open-concept kitchen—ready for your
AMAZING DEAL! Attached 3-bedroom, 1.5-bath single-family home under $400,000 — a rare opportunity for a first-time buyer or investor looking for a value-add project on Oahu. Located in Makaha Village, a pocket neighborhood with just 12 homes set back from the highway. The bones are solid — galley kitchen with marble counters, stainless steel appliances, white shaker cabinets, and industrial pipe
Welcome to your oceanfront escape in Makaha—where mornings begin with sea breezes and end with glowing sunsets over the Pacific. With five bedrooms, two and a half baths, and sweeping ocean views from nearly every room, this private retreat blends island beauty with everyday comfort. Set on 13,510 square feet of landscaped oceanfront land, the property offers rare indoor/outdoor living—perfect
Over 2 acres of AG-2 land in Maili with a 1 bed / 1 bath home already in place. The real value here is the land and what you can do with it. AG-2 zoning allows one farm dwelling per 2 acres, so adding a second home may be possible if you meet the requirements. The agricultural uses are flexible too—grow crops, raise livestock, or build out something like a farm stand, nursery, beekeeping
Experience elevated island living in this beautifully designed single-level home in Mauna'olu Estates, a gated community with 24-hour security. Soaring ceilings and expansive glass doors showcase stunning mountain and ocean views while creating seamless indoor-outdoor flow throughout the open-concept living area. The spacious kitchen, anchored by a large island, custom cabinetry, and quality
Views or upgrades. Space or location. This one didn't get the memo. Maintenance fee includes front yard landscaping, sewer, water, and trash. Situated on a corner lot in Wailana at Sea Country, this upgraded Maili gem delivers ocean, mountain, and sunset views from the primary bedroom lanai. Inside, custom tile, travertine, and wood laminate flooring run throughout, making upkeep effortless.
Beautiful newly constructed home with ADU only with stunning ocean views one block from the beach! 5 bedroom/3 bath with multi family options. Live in one section and rent the other! Custom built in 2021 with just one original owner. 2 electric meters with one water meter. Fully fenced yard on large 7500 sq ft lot. Must see!!
Situated in the charming Sea Country community of Waianae, this short sale presents an exceptional opportunity for buyers eager to renovate a property with untapped potential. Sold As-Is, the home boasts 27 photovoltaic panels and 2 backup batteries, significantly reducing energy expenses while ensuring power during outages. Please note there is an existing PV loan that the buyer must assume as
Welcome to Green Homes at Lualualei! This home just celebrated its 10-year anniversary since construction, but you couldn't tell by looking at it. The whole exterior and interior were just repainted this year! Additionally, the house has been gently lived in so the floors, cabinets, vanities, shower walls, and anything else you can think of, look brand new! This quality-built home is perfectly
Welcome to this spacious Waianae property nestled in the heart of the Leeward Coast. This home offers comfortable island living with ample indoor and outdoor space for relaxation, entertaining, and everyday enjoyment. The generous lot provides room for gardening, outdoor activities, or future possibilities. Conveniently located near beaches, parks, schools, shopping, dining, and recreational
This corner unit is calling you! Welcome to Kahe Kai’s unit F-204, where the views from both bedrooms has you feeling like royalty! And with a thoughtful layout, convenient location to stunning shorelines, and TWO RESERVED parking stalls, you SHOULD be feeling like you’re on top of the world! You’ll enjoy being minutes from gorgeous beaches, shopping centers, restaurants, Koolina, Kapolei, -you
Rare and incredible opportunity in Waianae! This massive 2-story residence at 87-609 Manuu St offers a staggering 10 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, providing endless possibilities for multi-generational living, foster care housing, or a high-yield investment property. This property presents a large opportunity to live in one of the units while renting out the rest to maximize your income. Built in
Pet friendly with solar panels and tons of storage! Home features a carport and gated area large enough for four standard sized cars, fenced yard, large storage closet, three bedrooms, one full bathroom and two half bathrooms. Pets negotiable, no size limit. Large open concept kitchen, dining, living room with large bonus room off the kitchen area. Solar panels keep the electric bill low while
Kauhale Kamaile is a permanent modular housing project in Waianae, Hawaii, specifically designed for homeless families with children enrolled in Waianae schools. The project consists of 15-units, including one- and two-bedroom homes, and aims to provide stability and hope for these families. To provide permanent, affordable housing for homeless families with children in Waianae. Rent includes:
Property Id: 2489647Charming 3BD/BA Waianae home featuring an open-concept kitchen and split AC for year-round comfort. Energy-efficient solar panels help keep electricity costs low.Enjoy a private backyard with a lush lawn and a mature avocado tree, perfect for relaxing or entertaining. Parking is a breeze with a 2-car garage, extended driveway, and available street
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Property Id: 2582347FOR RENT - 1 Bedroom / 1 Bathroom at Makaha SurfsideLooking for a responsible, clean, non-smoking tenant with no pets to rent my recently renovated 1 bedroom, 1 bathroom unit at Makaha Surfside on the beautiful west side of Oahu.Located in Building A on the third floor, this unit offers an incredible opportunity to experience the beauty and peaceful
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**MONTH-TO-MONTH***Prices may vary depending on high/low season, total number of guests, total length of stay, and various other factors!We strongly suggest inquiring so we can confirm your specific price! We book up quickly and more clients are rejected than accepted as Oahu and Beach Close short term legal and licensed rentals are extremely hard to find.UP TO 500mbps WiFI
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Enjoy comfortable island living in this beautiful 3-bedroom, 2-bathroom single-family home in Makaha. Nestled in a lush setting with mature trees, green grass, and stunning mountain views, this property offers privacy, modern conveniences, and excellent energy savings. Available: July 1, 2026. Rent: $2,900.00/mo. Security Deposit: $2,900.00. Location: Short distance to Makaha Elementary School,
Live the island dream in this stunning one bedroom, one bath fully furnished unit at Makaha Valley Towers, offering sweeping panoramic views of the ocean and mountains. Enjoy all utilities included and central air conditioning for effortless comfort. Embrace resort-style living every day of the year!KEY FEATURES:- Property Type: Condominium- Bedrooms : 1- Bathrooms:
Welcome to this charming 3-bedroom, 1-bath home in the heart of Maili. This home was completely renovated in 2022 and features an open floor plan, along with split A/C's throughout, and upgraded kitchen and bath.The home includes a covered carport with a covered parking spot, accessed through a private rolling gate, along with additional storage space. Enjoy the convenience of being just two
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