Real Estate Investing in Kahului, Hawaii (96732)

Everything the listing leaves out — vacancy, rent trend, cap rate, landlord climate. All free.

Maui County • Population: 25,889 • Data updated: September 2026

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Should you buy in 96732 (Kahului, HI)? Our answer, based on the numbers below.

🏠 For Homebuyers
CAUTION
Grade D (47/100)

Proceed carefully. Weak appreciation or affordability makes this a harder case for most buyers.

📈 For Investors
MIXED
3.0 / 5 (47/100)

A middle-of-the-road market. Workable, but the best opportunities may be nearby ZIPs rather than this one.

⚠️ Risks to Know
1 flag
  • High price-to-rent: Price-to-rent ratio 33.4 — hard to cash-flow at these prices.

What’s happening in Kahului, HI (96732)?

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3.0/ 5

Investability

Overall investment appeal

3.0/ 5

Appreciation

Long-term value growth

3.0/ 5

Cashflow ROI

Rental yield potential

Avg Home Value $1,015,446
Avg Monthly Rent $2,538
1% Rule ✗ Does Not Meet
Median Income $98,520
% Renters 35.3%

Market Analysis: 96732 Kahului

The 96732 ZIP in Kahului, HI is a local-operator market. Outside capital chasing a $1.0M entry has to pair deep knowledge with the discount.

Distressed does not mean uninvestable. It means the margin for error is thinner. ZIP 96732 rewards the prepared, punishes the overconfident, and leaves the math unchanged either way.

Within HI, ZIP 96732 trails on several market indicators that neighboring Maui County submarkets outperform. The gap is real and healthy enough to shape underwriting.

Employment concentration in 96732 leans toward sectors with higher volatility. The demographic consequence is income fluctuation that investors need to factor into their pro forma.

The 96732 ZIP fits a narrow investor profile — hands-on, patient, and willing to accept that the cap rate on paper is not the cap rate in reality.

Explore the Data — Click a Tab Below
🏦 Current 30-yr Fixed Mortgage Rate: 6.76% as of Sep 10 Source: Freddie Mac PMMS

Here's what matters if you're considering buying a home in Kahului:

C+ Average
Buy Confidence Score: 60/100
Affordability
0/25
Appreciation
22/25
Stability
13/20
Timing
10/15
Rental backup
15/15
Affordability
Expensive
Homes cost 10.3× the median income
Value Trend
Declining (-2.4%)
How home values changed in the past year
Rental Backup
Strong
Could rent for $2,538/mo if you need to move
Market Conditions
COOL
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
Bottom Line: Mixed signals in this market. Research specific properties carefully and be prepared to negotiate.
❄️
COOL MARKET
Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Metro Area
More inventory, negotiating room for buyers
152 days
Average time to sell
Slow
4.5%
Listings with price cuts
Few Cuts
0.0%
Sale price vs asking
Below Ask
0.0%
Income needed for mortgage
Affordable
📅 Market conditions as of August 29, 2026 — updated weekly from Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI metro data
🏠

Property Strategy for 96732

Which property type performs best in this market?

Best for Cash Flow
2BR
3.8% cap rate
Best for Appreciation
5BR
+8.7% 5yr CAGR
Best Overall Value
2BR
$204,015/bedroom
📊 Compare All Property Types →
Type Median Value Est. Rent Cap Rate 5yr CAGR $/Bedroom
2BR $408,031 $2,150 3.8% +6.9% $204,015
3BR $1,001,930 $2,800 2.0% +7.5% $333,977
4BR $1,107,030 $3,470 2.3% +7.8% $276,757
5BR $1,204,550 +8.7% $240,910

Market Trends

Home Value History (with trend line)

$1.1M$978K$813K$648K$483K$318KJul 2006Jul 2016Jul 2026

Rent History (with trend line)

$2,713$2,675$2,638$2,600$2,562$2,525Feb 2026May 2026Jul 2026

📊 How Does 96732 Compare?

Metric 96732 Kahului Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI Hawaii
Home Value $1,015,446 $1,015,446 N/A $824,731
5-Year CAGR 5.1% 5.1% N/A 5.4%
Avg Rent $2,538 $2,538 N/A -
Cap Rate 2.0% 2.0% - -
💡 Why Invest in 96732? Click to expand

With a 3/5 investability rating, this ZIP shows solid fundamentals for buy-and-hold investors.

A healthy rental market with 35% renter-occupied households ensures tenant availability.

📊 See where this ZIP ranks in our Best-of lists →
A great house in the wrong ZIP is still a bad deal — screen every market by cash flow & cap rate.
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Landlord Ground Truth

Real numbers from people who own or manage rentals in ZIP 96732 (Kahului, HI). Anonymous, moderated, never written by AI.

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Investability
Good
Cap Rate
2.0%
Low
5yr Growth
+5.1%
Moderate

📊 Market Snapshot

Home Value $1,015,446
Monthly Rent $2,538
Price-to-Rent 33.4:1
1% Rule ✗ Fails

💰 Return Metrics

Gross Yield 3.0%
Cap Rate 2.0%
5-Year IRR 7.0%

📈 Home Appreciation

1-Year -2.4% ▼
3-Year CAGR +1.0% ▲
5-Year CAGR +5.1% ▲
10-Year CAGR +6.4% ▲

🏠 Rent Trends

1-Year N/A
3-Year CAGR N/A
5-Year CAGR N/A
Negative Leverage — IRR / Tax Play Cap Rate: 2.0%  |  30yr Rate: 6.8%
Leverage reduces cash returns at current rates.

The current 30-yr mortgage rate (6.8%) exceeds the estimated cap rate (2.0%). Financing reduces your cash-on-cash return below the cap rate. Markets like this may still make sense as IRR plays — factoring in appreciation, depreciation, and a future refinance when rates drop.

Run an IRR Analysis →

⚠️ Risk Signals

Composite view of factors that can impact a ZIP's stability and your downside risk.

Vacancy
5.8%
Low risk
Landlord Climate
4.0/5
Friendly
Value Trend (5yr)
+5.1%
Stable
Eviction process: Fast Rent control: Favorable

Demographics in 96732

Population: 25,889

💰 Median Household Income
$98,520
This area
$98,520
State
$87,967
USA
$74,580
🏠 Renter Occupied
35.3%
This area
35.3%
State
37.4%
USA
34.0%
💼 Unemployment Rate
2.4%
This area
2.4%
State
-27.4%
USA
3.7%
🎓 College Educated
25.5%
This area
25.5%
State
-0.9%
USA
33.7%
👤 Median Age
43.8 years
This area
43.8 years
State
-1.2 years
USA
38.9 years
🏚️ Vacancy Rate
5.8%
This area
5.8%
State
18.6%
USA
10.5%
👥 Population by Ethnicity
Asian 57.2%
Other/Mixed 29.4%
White 12.1%
Hispanic/Latino 3.4%
Black/African American 1.2%
👶 Under 18
21.1%
This area
21.1%
USA
22.0%
👴 65 and Over
21.3%
This area
21.3%
USA
17.3%
📊 Poverty Rate
2.6%
This area
2.6%
USA
11.5%

Crime & Safety

🚧

Crime & Safety Data Coming Soon

We're integrating comprehensive crime statistics including violent crime rates, property crime, and safety scores to help you make informed investment decisions.

Expected: Q1 2025

🎓 Schools in 96732

B+ Avg School Grade
5 Schools
16.2:1 Avg Class Size
$19,381 Avg Per Pupil

Schools in This ZIP Code

A Very Good

Lihikai Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
697 Students
👨‍🏫
15.8:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
A Very Good

Pomaikai Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
585 Students
👨‍🏫
16.7:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Kahului Elementary School

📚 Pre-K – 05 Elementary
👥
814 Students
👨‍🏫
15.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maui Waena Intermediate School

📚 06 – 08 Middle
👥
1,126 Students
👨‍🏫
17.1:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
B+ Above Average

Maui High School

📚 09 – 12 High School
👥
1,908 Students
👨‍🏫
16.3:1 Class Size
💰
$19,381 Per Student
About Repit School Scores

Traditional school ratings rely heavily on standardized test scores, which often reflect family income more than school quality. Repit takes a different approach.

We evaluate schools based on factors that research shows actually impact educational outcomes:

  • Class Size — Smaller classes mean more individual attention
  • School Funding — Resources available for programs, staff, and facilities
  • Community Factors — Neighborhood characteristics that influence student success
  • School Environment — Size, type, and structure

Scores are updated annually using federal education data.

🎓 Nearby Colleges & Universities

2 Nearby 944 Off-Campus Students
C
IBS School of Cosmetology and Massage
64 students · 1.2 mi
C
University of Hawaii Maui College
2,647 students · 1.4 mi

Investor Insight: With 944 students living off-campus nearby, this area has strong rental demand from the college population.

Frequently Asked Questions

What do rentals go for in Kahului, HI?

Rental rates in Kahului, HI average $2,538/mo. Tenant demand and $1.0M home values make the yield look reasonable by investor standards.

What investment strategy works best in Kahului, HI?

In Kahului, HI the notable play is typically careful cash-flow rentals with hands-on management. The combination of $1.0M prices and $2,538/mo rents suits that approach.

Does Kahului, HI make sense for an investment property?

The 3.0/5 investability rating in Kahului, HI reflects its $1.0M prices and $2,538/mo rents. Investors generally consider it a solid option within HI.

Do rentals sit vacant long in Kahului, HI?

Expect elevated vacancy in Kahului, HI. Rents at $2,538/mo are absorbed by the tenant base without meaningful lag.

Can owner-occupants cash flow in Kahului, HI?

Kahului, HI offers a tougher house-hacking opportunity. Small multifamily or rent-by-the-room plays can pair well with the $2,538/mo rent level.

You know 96732 now. You don’t know where it ranks.

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How 96732 ranks in Kahului-Wailuku-Lahaina, HI

Every ZIP in this metro, ranked. Free.

Cash Flow → Appreciation → Affordable →
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