The beauty of the Hawai’ian Islands is unsurmountable. Pristine beaches, volcanoes that provide a stunning backdrop for those passing by, deep and lush tropical vegetation. Perhaps the most beautiful island in the chain is Kaua’i. John Eric Home sat down with Andrea Healey, a resident of this paradise, who shared her views on this remarkable place to call home.
JEH: How would you describe living on Kaua’ii?
AH: Healthy and peaceful, like being in an oasis bubble. Kaua’i is a special place and the most authentic island among all the Hawai’ian islands. It has remained not as developed compared to the others. Values are emphasized on self-care, workout, good nutrition, quality time with friends and family. As I am a workaholic, this environment is a good reminder and balance for me.
JEH: How did you find yourself living on the island?
AH: I took a trip to Kaua’i 12 years ago to rejuvenate myself, and I found love. He was already living on Kaua’i for many years but like myself was not from here. We got married six months later. I took a leap of faith and one year later moved permanently to start my new life on Kaua’i with my new husband. Being a French Canadian, I really love where I am from, and I did not want to move. But my husband who had been living on Kaua’i did not want to leave the island – who could blame him, right? – so I chose to move for him, despite my poor English then. Ha! It took me a little adaptation period, but now there is nowhere else I’d rather be. Now we have a 7-year old son, a dog, and our dream home. Dreams really do come true!
JEH: What is your absolute favorite aspect of living on Kaua’i?
AH: The breathtaking views. Everywhere you look, at all times, no matter the weather, it’s beautiful. I never cease to be impressed. Kaua’i is very biodiverse. You drive only 30 minutes to find a new landscape and temperature. For example, the North Shore is more green and lush because it tends to rain a bit more, but the South Shore is dryer and sunnier and you can see cactus. The West side has the beautiful Waimea Canyon where it’s cooler. Without traffic, you can actually drive the entire island in 3 hours.
JEH: What is your least favorite aspect of living on Kaua’i?
AH: The pace of the island and the traveling distance to the Mainland or other countries. Even though I appreciate how relaxed it is here, it can be frustrating when you are trying to do business or get things done. Island time is a real thing! Kaua’i is an island in the middle of the Pacific Ocean, so traveling takes longer and can be expensive.
JEH: Can you please tell us about one or two of Kaua’i’s hidden treasures?
AH: Kaua’i is full of hidden treasures! Even after living here for 12 years, I’m still exploring and discovering, so it’s hard for me to narrow it down to only two. My personal favorites are the Shipwreck Hiking Trail and Anini Beach. But, if I tell you more, they won’t be hidden treasures anymore! Ha!
JEH: So many people daydream of moving to an island paradise. What would you say to those readers who have always thought of moving to Hawai’i and Kaua’i specifically?
AH: I would say that life is short, so waste no time on making that dream come true. Whether it is part-time or full-time. Despite the reality of work and chores, living on Kaua’i feels like being on permanent vacation. It’s almost stress-free. I am grateful every day for this life.
JEH: You are a real estate broker, what can you tell us about the current real estate market on the island?
AH: It is still hot despite the interest rates going up because of the lack of standing inventory and the remaining high demand. Kaua’i was, is and will always be a desirable place to live or visit. While more and more people decide to work remotely, they decide: Why not do it from a beautiful place? And in terms of second-home or investment property, short-term and long-term rentals are also in big demand here. I think that within this year, prices might settle, but not go down because of the high desirability compared to other markets where it may go down a little bit.
JEH: What was it like to buy your own dream home on the island?
AH: The way I got my dream home in this robust market… it’s an interesting story. I saw it, felt in love with it, and sent a video to my client about it. Yes, I was representing a client at the time. They loved it too, we made an offer, and they got it. I put a backup offer in contingent on selling the house that we were living in at the time. The next day my clients called to cancel the escrow because they decided that they wanted something else, and my backup was accepted. I got my house in escrow within a week and closed on the other one in 40 days. We never thought we’d move, especially in this market. I guess it was meant to be, and we made it happen. We moved 10 minutes away but could not be happier with our new home.
JEH: If someone is coming as a visitor, what are the top three sites or activities that they must see or do?
The first would be to visit the North Shore – Hanalei Bay and Hanakapia – and hike to the waterfall. The second would be to visit the West Side. There you can hike the Waimea canyons and beach and relax at Polihale state park. The third would be to bike down the Royal Coconut Coast bike path in Kapaa. For more ideas, you can check out my To Do on Kaua’i list. (https://andreahealey.oceanfrontsir.com/To-Do)
JEH: Can you share with us two stories about life on Kaua’i – (one that our readers would not expect)?
AH: Coming from the city of Montreal, Quebec, I used to eat later. Between 7-8pm – you know the European style. When I moved to Kaua’i, I quickly realized that the restaurants’ kitchens close around 8-9pm max. The Kaua’i lifestyle is a daytime life. People go to bed early and wake up early to enjoy the beautiful sun. It’s definitely not an island for nightlife.
Also, Chickens/roosters on the loose became a tourist attraction after Hurricane Iniki (1994) freed them from their cages. They are pretty, but crow at any time of the day, not just in the morning. And if you are in their way and their babies are around, they will chase you. I’m speaking from experience! It happened while I was showing a property. I got spooked!
JEH: Are there any other facets of Kaua’i that you feel our readers would be interested in knowing?
AH: There are so many interesting tidbits!
There is more sand on Kaua’i than on all the Hawaiian Islands combined. The spacious green space and many beaches allow people to have privacy and not feeling too crowded. That was incredible during Covid. Without the tourism, residents had so much space to play around. It felt empty.
If you are creative and hard-working, Kaua’i is a place full of opportunities. There is always room for new businesses that can support tourism but also local residents.
One more – Kaua’i used to be called Monk Island because there used to be more men than women. It’s gotten better over time, but it’s definitely not the best island when you are single and looking to date. It’s more a couple or family island. Most single people are transient or are here to focus on themselves and not looking to date.
