How We Ended Up Buying a Home in Waikoloa Village

Buying a home on the Big Island of Hawaiʻi?
That idea wasn’t even on our radar, not at all!
But life has a funny way of surprising you.

We were living on Maui at the time, and my husband was transferred to a hotel on the Big Island. I was pregnant with our second child, and our first son was just 18 months old.
So our top priority was finding a place where daily life would be as smooth and stress-free as possible.

We were deciding between Waimea and Waikoloa. I liked Waikoloa’s sunny, dry weather. My husband preferred the cooler air of Waimea.
In the end, Waikoloa won out—not because I insisted (just so we're clear! haha)  Mainly because it was closer to his work.

Waikoloa Village had everything we needed: schools, a post office, a bank, medical offices, a pool, a golf course, even tennis courts.
The beach was nearby, and Kona Airport was just a 30-minute drive away. It was basically perfect for a growing family.

Now, here’s where it gets interesting… The home search all started with a phone call from my father in Japan.He had seen a newspaper ad featuring a famous actor promoting a peaceful retirement in paradise, and said, “We’re thinking of buying a house on the Big Island!”

But the property? Turned out to be too far, and maybe not even real! It was in Pāhoa—about 1.5 hours from Waikoloa Village. Not the best location for elderly parents visiting their grandkids.

So instead, we thought: What if we buy a 3-bedroom house here, so they can stay with us when they visit?” With their generous help, our home search officially began.

I still remember flipping through a real estate magazine at the local supermarket. One agent’s photo just stood out. Her smile felt so warm and genuine, I decided to give her a call. And that turned out to be the best decision ever.

We instantly clicked. I felt like I could trust her completely.

✅ Our must-haves were simple:

• A large yard

• 3 bedrooms, 2 bathrooms

• Not necessarily brand-new, but clean and well-maintained
  
  

Believe it or not, we fell in love with the very first house she showed us. Once our offer was accepted, I kept driving by the house again and again. I was that excited!

Life in the home was so convenient:

• Preschool was a one-minute drive

• Elementary school, just two

• The beach was 20 minutes away

• On windy days? The community pool was just three minutes by car

We even had a little home office custom-built in one corner of the house—it was almost perfect.

Fast forward to now…

I hear my kids’ friends calling out, “Hi Aunty Akemi!”, and every time, I feel like I truly belong here. I didn’t do anything special,just tried to be respectful and kind to people around me.
And little by little, real friendships formed. Warm, genuine connections.

Waikoloa Village was already a great place 25 years ago, but it’s grown even better. Now we’ve got a second shopping center, a gym, and even a home improvement store. It’s an amazing place to raise a family - and to call home.

🎥 Want to see how it all looked in real life? The video’s just below, take a peek! 

That’s how we ended up buying a home in Waikoloa Village. Life has taken many turns since then, but I’ll always remember that first step into our new life on the Big Island.

📩 Thinking about life on the Big Island?
Whether you're just starting to explore or ready to find your perfect home, I’d love to help. Feel free to reach out anytime.

I'll be here to support you with honesty, care, and local insights.

And hey, if you ever lose my contact info, just search "myhawaiiagent akemi". You’ll find me! 😉