In this episode of Ask The Hawaiʻi Team, Daniel Polimino explains the key differences between full-time resort living and owning a vacation property on the Big Island of Hawaii.
Many resort communities are designed with short-term vacation rentals and transient guests, which can create a very different lifestyle compared to living in a traditional residential neighborhood. Understanding how that environment works can help buyers decide if a resort property fits their long-term plans.
In this video you'll learn:
• The reality of living in a resort community full-time • What "transient accommodations" mean for owners • The advantages of resort-style living • Weather and lifestyle differences on the Kona Coast • Why many buyers prefer using these properties as second homes
Whether you're researching Hawaii vacation homes, exploring Big Island resort real estate, or deciding between full-time living and a second home in Hawaii, this video explains the key considerations buyers should know before making a purchase.
⏱ Video Chapters
00:00 – Question: Full-Time or Second Home? 00:13 – Ask The Hawaiʻi Team Introduction 00:32 – What “Resort-Style Living” Means 00:50 – Transient Guests & Vacation Rentals 01:22 – Benefits of Resort Communities 01:42 – Weather in Kona Resort Areas 02:08 – Living Comfortably Year-Round 02:27 – Why Many Buyers Choose Second Homes 03:02 – How to Contact The Hawaiʻi Team
👤 About Daniel Polimino & The Hawaiʻi Team
The Hawaiʻi Team is a boutique real estate advisory on the West Side of Hawaiʻi Island led by Daniel Polimino, specializing in luxury properties and resort real estate along the Kona Coast.
Experience & Performance
• 19 Years of Real Estate Experience • 1,300+ Transactions Completed • $140M Sold on the Kona Coast (Last 5 Years) • 98% List-to-Sale Price Ratio in 2025
Hey, I'm thinking about buying a place in Waikoloa Beach,
but I want to know the difference between living there full-time
versus using it as a second home.
We're going to answer that question coming up next.
What's it like living in Waikoloa Beach full-time
or maybe as just a second home?
Hi, everyone.
Dan Palomino here from the Hawaii team in KW Big Island.
And today in Ask the Hawaii Team, we're covering that exact question.
And it really just boils down to one thing,
which is are you looking for resort style living?
Now, let me qualify what I mean by that.
When I say resort style living,
the first thing that you have to think about
if you're going to live there full-time is
am I okay with this being transient accommodations?
Meaning all of the units around you are people coming and going.
They're staying for a week.
They're staying for two weeks there and they're not.
And it's sometimes busy and sometimes quiet.
And sometimes the people who just checked in,
kids that are allowed,
or sometimes the people above you are banging and are loud.
Are you okay with living in a property
that's primarily used for transient accommodations?
And you might say, yeah, no, it's not going to bother me at all
because there'll be sometimes there'll be nobody in the building.
Yes, that's true.
The other part of that is,
is that the type of lifestyle that you're looking for?
Do you want to be in a resort community?
The advantages of being in a resort community
is that you're close to all the favorite amenities.
You're close to shopping.
You're close to the fantastic beaches.
A lot of stuff is all within walking distance.
When you're down in the resorts,
you're just a short 20 minute ride or 15 minute ride
to the hospitals or doctors or whatever it may be.
And then of course, there's the weather down in the resort areas,
which is predominantly sunny.
I mean, huge amounts of sun.
You know, somebody once told me that those areas
only get about four inches of rain a year.
So if you want pretty much 300 days of sunshine
and it's going to be warmer down there, right?
When we get into the summer months,
if you're living here full time or hottest months, August, September,
if you're going to be down there during those months,
it's going to be warm.
So most of the places all have air conditioning.
If you're on the coast,
very rarely do I see a property that doesn't have AC,
but understand that you're going to have the windows and doors closed
and maybe living in AC during the hottest months.
So those are some of the comparisons.
Obviously, if you're going to use it as a second home,
you can pick and choose the times in which you come.
And obviously, the winter is the best here, right?
I mean, I call it the best weather on the planet.
Look behind me.
It's usually in the low 80s.
There's a cool breeze.
The nights are nice and cool, 58 to 62.
And you can pick and choose the days and times
in which you want to come or the months you want to come
if you're using it as a second home.
And maybe the transient accommodations won't bother you
if you're just here for short periods of time.
So those are some of the comparisons.
I hope that helps.
If you have more questions,
feel free to reach out to us here at The Hawaii Team.
Call me on my cell phone, 808-987-3306.
808-987-3306.
Check us out at thehawaiiteam.com
or team at thehawaiiteam.com for email.
Until we talk again, aloha.
