Kamohai and Tristyn Kalama of “Renovation Aloha” opened up about the realities of Hawaii’s housing market during a fan Q&A on Instagram Thursday, April 9.
One fan asked if all homes in Hawaii were around a million dollars.
The HGTV Stars Open Up
Kamohai responded candidly: “You guys, you gotta understand that our average price of a house in Hawaii is over a million dollars. We didn’t choose that, like I wish houses were prices that I see here in South Carolina but that’s just not the case.”
She added, “We’re buying them something for over a million dollars,” as Tristyn noted, “most times.”
“And they are pieces of crap, you know what I mean so…” Kamohai acknowledged that some properties are available for less, noting, “But are there price points that are less, yes. You’ll even see them this season.”
The star also addressed misconceptions about local affordability and the stereotypes often aimed at the Polynesian and native Hawaiian community.
“We are born and bred and we couldn’t afford anything, and I think that I don’t like when people put locals and our Polynesian community and our native Hawaiian community into little boxes that we can’t do things. Because we can ,and we do all of the time,” she concluded.
The Couple Recently Shared a Post in Support of Hawaii
The Q&A came on the heels of the HGTV couple’s March 22 Instagram post raising awareness about recent flooding in Hawaii.
They wrote, “Please pray for all those affected by the storm here in Hawai’i that has caused flooding and damage. We are safe but so many families have lost so much. If you want and feel called to help, please donate if you can, anything helps!”
They also shared several “trusted organizations” to help, including the Stronger Hawai’i Fund and Post Recovery Flood Efforts, urging fans to contribute however possible.
Season 3 Just Started
Season three of “Renovation Aloha” premiered March 31, and the show promises some of the Kalamas’ most ambitious projects yet.
“#RenovationAloha is back! See Tristyn & Kamohai tackle their toughest Hawaii flips yet—from a property with a shocking lava‑tube discovery to a massive multi-home project in Hilo—on a new season starting Tuesday, March 31, at 8 pm ET/PT on HGTV,” the show’s announcement read.
With their honest approach to Hawaii’s high real estate prices, Kamohai and Tristyn provide fans not only with home renovation entertainment but also a window into the unique challenges of buying and flipping houses in the islands.
Their perspective balances reality TV glamour with authentic insight into local life, community, and the realities of navigating a market where even million-dollar homes can be a gamble.
Fans can tune in Tuesday nights to catch the new season and watch the couple take on Hawaii’s toughest flips while confronting both market challenges and the state’s natural obstacles.
LOVE this couple and their show! They do an amazing job saving homes with lovely renovations. The tropical climate is a huge enemy to materials – similar to South Florida with termites etc. Most enjoyable to watch how they work together to create unlike some previous flippers – Christina always overspent-. Kudos Kalamas! Beautiful work!