Ala Moana vs Kakaako Condos: Which Fits Your Honolulu Lifestyle?
February 19, 2026
February 19, 2026
Torn between Ala Moana and Kakaako for your next condo? You are not alone. Both neighborhoods sit in Honolulu’s 96814 and offer beach access, shopping, modern towers, and strong urban convenience. In this guide, you will see how they compare on vibe, buildings, prices, fees, lifestyle, transit, rules, and financing so you can choose with confidence. Let’s dive in.
Ala Moana sits between Waikiki and downtown and is anchored by the open-air Ala Moana Center and Ala Moana Beach Park. The feel is beach and shopping focused, with steady pedestrian flow around the mall and park. You will see a mix of building ages, from mid-century towers to luxury developments.
Kakaako has transformed from an industrial area into a dense, mixed-use neighborhood with the Ward Village master plan at its core. The streetscape features modern high-rises, curated parks, and a growing retail and restaurant scene. It is designed for walkability and urban convenience.
Note on boundaries: Ala Moana and Kakaako touch, and some buildings near Ala Moana Boulevard can be labeled either way. Many market reports combine them for 96814.
Expect a wide range of condos, from 1960s–1980s concrete towers to recent luxury projects with resort-style amenities. Older buildings often offer simpler pools and gyms, while newer luxury complexes add concierge services, private dining rooms, and spa-like features. With the variety of ages, layouts and amenity sets can vary more from tower to tower.
Most Kakaako towers are newer high-rises built from the mid-2010s onward, many within the Ward Village plan. Architecture is contemporary, and large amenity decks and ground-floor retail are common. The master plan creates a consistent streetscape and predictable amenity packages, so choices often come down to specific stacks, views, and how much amenity intensity you want. Learn more about the neighborhood vision in the overview of Ward Village.
Zip-level snapshots for 96814 have shown a median sale price around $888,000. Neighborhood pages often place Kakaako medians in the roughly $650,000 to $900,000 range depending on definitions and time frames, with higher prices in front-row ocean stacks. Ala Moana tends to track in a similar premium band, but individual unit prices hinge on the tower, floor, view, and size.
Recent entry-level outcomes for smaller one-bedrooms or non-front-row units often land in the mid-$600,000 to low-$800,000 range. Luxury resales in newer towers and front-row stacks commonly trade from $1 million to $3 million and higher, with penthouses well above that. Always cross-check a specific address and the latest comps before you write an offer.
On the rental side, area snapshots have shown typical monthly medians around $2,400 for studios, $3,200 for one-bedrooms, and $4,500 for two-bedrooms. Amenity-heavy towers and prime views command higher rents. Newer buildings with broad amenity suites often carry higher HOA dues, while smaller or older buildings can be lower. Reviewing the HOA budget, reserves, and recent minutes is essential before you commit.
If sand and protected swimming are a priority, Ala Moana Beach Park and Magic Island are hard to beat. Many Ala Moana towers sit within a short walk of the park. Explore the setting around Ala Moana Beach Park.
Kakaako has waterfront green space and ocean access at Kakaako Waterfront Park, with lawns, paths, and views. It offers ocean entry points, but it is not the same sandy, protected beach that you will find at Ala Moana. Get a feel for Kakaako Waterfront Park.
Ala Moana delivers unmatched retail convenience with the very large open-air Ala Moana Center. In Kakaako, Ward Village integrates street-level shops, dining, grocery, and public spaces into a walkable grid. See the broader context in the Ward Village overview.
Both neighborhoods are among Honolulu’s most walkable pockets, and many residents live a car-lite lifestyle. Multiple frequent bus routes serve the area, and bike share stations are common. Honolulu’s rail project continues to extend east, with urban stations planned, including Kakaako/Civic Center and Ala Moana. Track segment updates on the official HART construction page.
Oahu has tightened short-term rental rules in recent years, with a minimum stay period applied in most residential zones and evolving enforcement. Building-level rules and zoning carve-outs determine legality for any given unit. Always confirm with the city and the HOA before assuming nightly rental income. You can review policy context at the Honolulu Board of REALTORS overview of short-term rental rules.
Lenders use Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac tools to vet condo projects for eligibility. Projects with deferred maintenance, insurance gaps, litigation, or weak reserves can be flagged as ineligible for conventional loans. Ask your lender early whether a building is warrantable and request documentation. Learn about Fannie Mae’s Condo Project Manager.
Use the same checklist for each building and unit so you can decide with facts, not noise.
If you are choosing between two or three buildings, the best move is to tour at different times of day, pull the condo documents, and speak with your lender about building eligibility. A focused plan will save you time and help you negotiate with confidence. If you want a local, steady hand to guide you through 96814’s options, reach out to Chelsey Flanagan.
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