Hayden Fennoy, REALTOR® (S), RS-87220 · eXp Realty · The Kawaguchi Group Call / Text (808) 642-6119  ·  [email protected]
Hayden FennoyHawaiʻi Island · eXp Realty

Know the land before you buy the home.

Kona and Big Island real estate, from the ground up.

Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, downsizing, selling or moving to the island, I start with the land: lava zones, water, rainfall and true monthly costs. Honest answers, and no manufactured urgency.

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Hayden Fennoy, REALTOR® (S) with eXp Realty, Kona
Meet Hayden

Aloha, I'm Hayden.

REALTOR® (S) · RS-87220 · eXp Realty

I live and work in Kona, and my job is helping you find your piece of paradise here: the right part of the island first, then the right home. Buying, selling, moving up or downsizing, you get straight answers and no pressure.

More about me

On this island, elevation, rainfall, water and lava zone change within a few miles. Whether you're moving across town or across the ocean, the right home starts with the right place.

Neighborhoods at a glance.

Twelve parts of the island, each with its own guide to the land, climate, water and lava zone. Figures are area medians; conditions vary by parcel.

North Kona

Kailua-Kona

West Hawaiʻi's commercial center, from condos along Aliʻi Drive to homes on the slopes above town.

~264 ft · 31 in rain/yr North Kona

Keauhou

Around Keauhou and Kahaluʻu bays at the south end of Aliʻi Drive: condos, golf communities and homes upslope.

~517 ft · 39 in rain/yr North Kona

Hōlualoa

A coffee-country village above Kailua-Kona on Hualālai: village lots, farms and rural acreage.

~3,241 ft · 45 in rain/yr South Kona

Kealakekua & Captain Cook

South Kona above Kealakekua Bay, home to Kona Community Hospital, with farms, acreage and homes.

~2,036 ft · 53 in rain/yr North Kona

Kona Palisades & Kalaoa

Established subdivisions upslope of Kona International Airport, with larger lots farther up.

~349 ft · 19 in rain/yr South Kohala

Waikoloa Village

An inland planned community in South Kohala: homes, townhomes, condos and golf communities.

~646 ft · 11 in rain/yr South Kohala

Kohala Coast

The leeward resort shoreline, from Waikoloa Beach Resort to Mauna Kea Resort, plus Puakō. Many homes carry HOA fees.

~49 ft · 9 in rain/yr South Kohala

Waimea (Kamuela)

Upcountry ranch town between the Kohala Mountains and Mauna Kea: in-town homes, pasture and acreage.

~2,894 ft · 39 in rain/yr North Kohala

North Kohala (Hāwī & Kapaʻau)

The island's northern tip around Hāwī and Kapaʻau: small-town lots, rural acreage and farmland.

~640 ft · 58 in rain/yr South Hilo

Hilo

The county seat on windward Hilo Bay, with UH Hilo, Hilo Medical Center and its own airport.

~349 ft · 153 in rain/yr Puna

Puna

The easternmost district, on Kīlauea's flanks: Keaʻau, Pāhoa, Mountain View and large rural subdivisions.

~1,376 ft · 135 in rain/yr Kaʻū

Kaʻū & Ocean View

The island's southern district: Ocean View on Mauna Loa's slopes, and the older towns of Nāʻālehu and Pāhala.

~2,179 ft · 31 in rain/yr

Compare all twelve areas side by side

I know what it takes to start over somewhere new.

I know what it takes to pick up your life and start over somewhere new. I'm a Returned Peace Corps Volunteer who grew up on the west side of Detroit, served in Malawi, lived four years in China, and has traveled to more than 40 countries. Then I came to Hawaiʻi Island and lived everywhere from Hilo to Nāʻālehu before settling in Kona.

My background is in human development and nonprofits, and helping people has always been the point. Real estate is how I do that now. Whether you're buying your first home, moving up, downsizing, selling or making the move to the island, I help you find the right side of the island, the right home, and a real sense of how life works here before you commit.

More about Hayden

Rain, elevation and lava zones change fast here.

Elevation, rainfall, water source and lava zone change a lot over short distances. Each area guide uses public data from USGS, the University of Hawaiʻi, the Census Bureau and the County, with sources and dates on every page.

Clear water over lava rock on the Kona coast

Kailua-Kona

North Kona
Median elevation
264 ft
Median rain
31 in/yr
Lava zone
4
To KOA
~14 min
Area guideCattle grazing on green upcountry pasture

Waimea (Kamuela)

South Kohala
Median elevation
2,894 ft
Median rain
39 in/yr
Lava zones
8 and 9
To KOA
~58 min
Area guideGreen sea cliffs above the ocean in North Kohala

North Kohala (Hāwī & Kapaʻau)

North Kohala
Median elevation
640 ft
Median rain
58 in/yr
Lava zone
9
To KOA
~68 min
Area guidePalm trees and outrigger canoes on a bayfront lawn

Hilo

South Hilo
Median elevation
349 ft
Median rain
153 in/yr
Lava zones
3 and 8
To KOA
~111 min
Area guide

Compare all twelve areasTake the neighborhood quiz

Medians across each area's 2020 Census boundary. Elevation: USGS 3DEP. Rain: UH Rainfall Atlas. Lava zones: USGS (they vary by parcel). Drive: typical light-traffic estimate to KOA. Checked October 22, 2026. Methodology and full comparison →

The Kona-Kohala Coast, beyond the listing.

Resort and club communities come with layers a listing doesn't show: membership terms, association budgets, rental covenants, lava and flood exposure. I help you sort through them before you commit, not after.

I know the island firsthand

I've lived on several sides of Hawaiʻi Island and now live in Kona. I know what's worth seeing in person and what can be checked remotely.

Honest live video tours

On a live video tour I show the light, the view lines, the neighboring roofs and the drive in, not just the flattering angles.

Careful, discreet guidance

Your inquiries stay confidential. I ask for club and association documents in writing, check County records for the parcel, and tell you plainly what's confirmed and what still needs verifying.

Compare 8 club communitiesGet the comparison PDF

An independent guide. I'm not affiliated with or endorsed by any community or club. Membership is subject to each club's approval.

Clear water over lava rock on the Kona coast

Before you fall for a listing, check these first.

Lava zones, insurance and land ownership can change what a home really costs, whether it's a first place in Hilo or a home on the Kohala Coast, so I check them on every property before you make an offer.

01 · Risk

Lava zones

USGS maps the island into nine lava-flow hazard zones, from Zone 1 (highest hazard: the summits and rift zones of Kīlauea and Mauna Loa) to Zone 9 (lowest: Kohala). Boundaries are approximate, so I look up the zone for every property.1

02 · Insurance

Zone drives coverage

Insurers price lava risk by zone. In Zones 1 and 2, private coverage can be hard to find, and many owners rely on the Hawaii Property Insurance Association (HPIA), the insurer of last resort. Get insurance quotes before you remove contingencies.2

03 · Ownership

Fee simple vs. leasehold

With fee simple you own the land. With leasehold you lease it for a set term, and Hawaiʻi rules require leasehold listings to say "leasehold" in the ad. If a price looks surprisingly low, check the tenure first.3

Read the full moving guideRun the true monthly costBuying a vacation rental?

Latest from the blog.

Sourced, plain-language notes on buying, selling and living on the Big Island, plus my Monday market note.

All posts and guides

Green upcountry hills near Waimea
Lush coastline with a sea stack on the Hilo side of the island
Green sea cliffs above the ocean in North Kohala

Get the Big Island Relocation Guide

Places to live, lava zones, water, property taxes and island life in one short read, free.

Prefer to talk? Text or call (808) 642-6119 or send a message.

Your info goes only to me. I never sell or share it. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy notice

Two guides I send every client.

Pick one, tell me where to send it, and the PDF is yours right away.

Big Island Relocation Guide

Places to live, schools, hospitals, lava zones, property taxes and island life in one short read.

Get the free PDF

Kona-Kohala Club Communities Compared

Eight club and resort communities side by side: club type, published fees, rental rules, lava and flood exposure, water and the drive to KOA, plus the questions to ask.

Get the free PDF

Big Island Beach Guide

Nine beaches from Kona to Kaʻū: amenities, lifeguards, state park fees, and how to tell an ocean view from real beach access.

Read the guide Download the PDF
Palm trees along the Hawaiʻi Island coast at sunset

Selling your home here.

You know your home and your neighborhood better than anyone. I price it from recent local sales, then market it so it reaches buyers wherever they're searching, here or online.

What's my home worth?Monthly market report

Past clients, in their own words.

5.0 on Google · 12 reviews

★★★★★

“Moving from the mainland to Hawai'i has its challenges… Hayden went out of his way to view houses with us virtually (even driving to the other side of the island on the weekend)… we closed a day before we arrived on the Island.”

FrankGoogle review, Aug 2025
★★★★★

“He demonstrated a deep understanding of local neighborhoods, pricing trends, and the unique factors that come with buying property in Hawaii. His guidance made a complex process feel manageable and well thought out.”

M. MayerGoogle review
★★★★★

“What stood out the most was how he went above and beyond—not only in helping with the home process, but even taking the time to support me in looking for a job. That level of care is rare!”

Autumn BuchananGoogle review

Start with a conversation.

A free, no-pressure conversation about your goals, timeline and budget. Whether you're buying your first place, selling, moving up or planning a move to the island, I'll tell you the truth.

Know the land before you buy the home.

Text(808) 642-6119Call(808) 642-6119Email[email protected]

Your info goes only to me, to answer your question. Never sold or shared. Privacy notice

Get the guide

Your info goes only to me. I never sell or share it. Unsubscribe anytime. Privacy notice