Honolulu Senior AdvisorWhat is senior care like in Hawaii Kai, Oahu?
Hawaii Kai is the planned community at Oahu's southeastern tip, built around Kuapa Pond and the marina, with Koko Head, Kalama Valley and Portlock along Kalanianaole Highway. It is mostly single-family homes and townhouses and has an older population than the island overall.
Licensed care here is limited: a newly licensed assisted living facility and a small number of care homes. Families in Hawaii Kai usually compare local options with Kahala, Aina Haina and Kaimuki, about 15 to 25 minutes west.
How many licensed care settings are in Hawaii Kai?
The state's rosters and CMS list 7 licensed or certified long-term care settings in Hawaii Kai: 6 adult residential care homes (5 of them expanded), 0 community care foster family homes, 1 assisted living facility and 0 certified nursing homes.
| Setting | Count | Beds / places |
|---|---|---|
| Care homes (ARCH) | 1 | 5 |
| Expanded care homes (E-ARCH) | 5 | 62 |
| Foster family homes (CCFFH) | 0 | 0 |
| Assisted living facilities | 1 | — |
| CMS-certified nursing homes | 0 | 0 |
| Adult day care centers | 1 | 44 |
About 83% of Hawaii Kai's care homes are expanded ARCHs, and 4 of the 6 report wheelchair access on OHCA's roster. Foster family homes are counted from the March 2026 roster; they are private homes, so we do not name them.
Which care homes are licensed in Hawaii Kai?
OHCA's April 2026 roster lists 6 licensed care homes in Hawaii Kai, with 67 beds; the most common licensed capacity is 5 residents.
| Care home | License type | Capacity | Wheelchair | Latest OHCA report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Casa Colina Care LLC | ARCH Type I | 5 | No | May 2026 |
| E. F. Nicomedes | E-ARCH Type I | 5 | No | Feb 2026 |
| Laniolu Hale at Hawaii Kai | E-ARCH Type I | 5 | Yes | Aug 2025 |
| Pualei Care Home LLC | E-ARCH Type I | 5 | Yes | Oct 2024 |
| Serenity Care Home Hawaii Kai | E-ARCH Type I | 5 | Yes | Mar 2026 |
| Lunalilo Home | E-ARCH Type II | 42 | Yes | Feb 2026 |
Sort and filter these homes with the rest of the island on the full care home roster, which adds license numbers, ambulation and expiration dates.
Is there assisted living or a nursing home in Hawaii Kai?
Hawaii Kai has 1 licensed assisted living facility (The Ivy at Hawaii Kai); there is no certified nursing home in Hawaii Kai, and the closest are Hale Malamalama (2 of 5), Hi'olani Care Center at Kahala Nui (5 of 5), Maunalani Nursing and Rehabilitation Center (5 of 5).
Assisted living pages show each facility's license and OHCA inspection reports; nursing home pages show CMS star ratings, inspections and staffing, labelled as CMS's.
Which hospitals serve Hawaii Kai?
The nearest hospitals in CMS's hospital list are Adventist Health Castle (8.2 miles by straight line) and Kuakini Medical Center (9.4 miles).
Distances run from the center of the area's main ZIP code and ignore traffic, which on Oahu can matter more than miles. Discharge planners at these hospitals arrange many of the island's care home and nursing home admissions.
What should Hawaii Kai families ask before choosing care?
Most care homes in Hawaii Kai are expanded, so ask each one how many nursing-level slots it has and how many are filled.
- Ask every home for its latest OHCA inspection report and read it before visiting.
- Visit at a mealtime and meet the primary care giver, not only the licensee.
