Cottages at Mauna ‘Olu

The Cottages at Mauna ‘Olu is a gated single-family condominium community in Mākaha Valley on O‘ahu’s leeward coast. Stanford Carr Development built 118 detached homes here on 26 acres, with a recreation center, fitness center, and swimming pool for residents, fenced backyards, and staffed gate security.

The community is built, and homes here now come to market as resales — an owner selling on the open market, with no developer sales office or lottery involved.

Mauna ‘Olu at a Glance

The Homes

Stanford Carr offered seven floor plans in three architectural styles — Cottage, Plantation, and Craftsman — so the streets do not read as one house repeated. Every home was built with an island kitchen, walk-in closets, and a fenced backyard.

Floor plan overview. Images courtesy of Stanford Carr Development.

Developer Brochure

Plans and features as originally offered by the developer. Buyers chose their own options when the homes were new, so a resale home may differ from the brochure, and owners may have made changes since.

What “Single-Family Condominium” Means

These are detached houses, but legally each one is a condominium unit within the project rather than a house on its own subdivided lot. In practice that means there is an owners’ association, monthly fees that pay for the gate, security, recreation center, pool, and common areas, and a set of governing documents and house rules that apply to every home. It is a common structure for newer gated communities in Hawai‘i and nothing to be wary of — but read the documents, because they govern what you can do with the property.

Community Amenities

Short-Term Rentals at Mauna ‘Olu

Most of O‘ahu’s residential neighborhoods do not allow vacation rentals of less than 30 days. Mauna ‘Olu is different because of its land, not its house rules: the property was rezoned for resort use decades ago, originally for a hotel and conference center that was never built. Stanford Carr built homes on it instead, and the resort zoning came with them.

• If you are buying as an investment or second home — This is one of very few places on O‘ahu where a detached single-family home can be operated as a legal short-term rental. Ask for the home’s actual rental history, not a projection, and budget for management, cleaning, and both the transient accommodations tax and general excise tax on rental income.
• If you are buying to live here full time — Understand that some of your neighbors will be visitors. The gate and on-site security help, but it is a different feel from a purely residential street. Visit on a weekend and see for yourself.
• Either way, verify before you rely on it — Short-term rental rules on O‘ahu have been changing, and registration and tax requirements apply even where rentals are allowed. Confirm the current City and County rules and the association’s own rules for the specific home before you write an offer based on rental income.

Buying a Home at Mauna ‘Olu

A resale here works like any other purchase on O‘ahu: you make an offer to the owner, negotiate, inspect, and close through escrow. These are the things we look at with buyers:

• Which plan and which options — Seven plans and buyer-selected options mean two listings with the same bedroom count can be quite different homes. We match the listing to the original plan so you know what you are comparing.
• Monthly fees — We pull the current association fees for the specific home and what they cover, so you are working with a real monthly number.
• The condominium documents — During escrow you receive the association’s budget, reserves, minutes, and house rules. For this community, pay particular attention to anything about rentals, guests, and parking.
• Furnishings and bookings — A home run as a vacation rental is often sold furnished, sometimes with future reservations on the calendar. Decide what conveys and how existing bookings will be handled, and put it in the contract.
• Financing — A primary residence, a second home, and an investment property are three different loans with different down payments and rates. Tell your lender how you intend to use the home at the start.
• Insurance — Get a quote early. Coverage for a home used as a short-term rental is not the same policy as for an owner-occupied home.

See What Is Available at Mauna ‘Olu

Location & Lifestyle

Mauna ‘Olu sits deep in Mākaha Valley at the foot of the Wai‘anae Range, along Maiola Street and Maiola Place. This is the sunny, dry side of the island, and life here runs on the ocean and the mountains.

• Mākaha Beach and its legendary surf, minutes from the gate
• Some of O‘ahu’s best paddle boarding, snorkeling, and diving along the Wai‘anae Coast
• Hiking in the valleys and ridges of the Wai‘anae Range
• Everyday shopping and dining in Wai‘anae town
• Kapolei about 16 miles away for major shopping, services, and employment

Maiola Street & Maiola Place, Wai‘anae, Hawai‘i 96792

Be realistic about the drive. Farrington Highway is the one road in and out of the Wai‘anae Coast, and a commute to Honolulu from Mākaha is long. For many owners that distance is the point; for a daily town commuter it is the deciding factor. Make the drive at the hours you would actually travel before you commit.

Community Details

Interested in the Cottages at Mauna ‘Olu?

Find out what is for sale at Mauna ‘Olu right now, get alerts when a specific plan is listed, or talk through whether a home here makes sense as a residence, a second home, or a rental. We represent you as your buyer’s agent.

Contact Us

REMAX Hawaii West Oahu