Colliers report finds Hawaii-linked entities own over 5,341 Clark County parcels tied to over $1.8 billion in sales

What the Colliers report found

Entities with ties to Hawaii own over 5,341 parcels in Clark County, according to a new report from commercial real estate brokerage Colliers, as reported by the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The report puts the total at over $1.8 billion in real estate sales across 792 acres. It also says as many as 50,000 people of Hawaiian descent could live in Clark County.

Homes make up most of the holdings

Residential property accounts for the vast majority of the parcels, with 5,035 properties valued at approximately $1.6 billion, the Review-Journal reported. That count includes 4,401 single-family homes and 579 condominiums.

Commercial property and vacant land

On the commercial side, the report found the largest ownership in office space at $57.9 million, followed by warehouses at $36.7 million and shopping centers at $10.9 million. Hawaii-linked entities also hold approximately 261 parcels of vacant land worth $112.6 million, covering more than 700 acres, according to the report.

Where in the valley the parcels are

The Colliers report names four parts of town as the most popular for Hawaii-linked residential parcels. Summerlin and Summerlin West stand out for higher-value single-family homes and newer condos, while northwest Las Vegas has a heavy single-family inventory.

West Las Vegas shows clusters of condo ownership, and North Las Vegas has a high volume of parcels on a lower price basis, the report said. Readers can follow more coverage of these areas on our neighborhoods page.

How the Ninth Island connection began

A 1975 casino marketing campaign

According to Colliers, Boyd Gaming opened the California hotel-casino in downtown Las Vegas in 1975 and went after new market segments with targeted marketing. That effort included direct charter flights from Hawaii, Hawaiian-themed dining and hiring practices that drew island residents. The report says it made Las Vegas a preferred mainland destination for Hawaiians, since Hawaii has no legal casinos, and gave rise to the nickname "The Ninth Island."

UNLV professor and gaming historian David G. Schwartz told the Review-Journal that founder Sam Boyd had built personal connections in Hawaii early in his career. "It was a sound strategy, but one that required a great deal of expertise and care to execute," Schwartz said. Boyd did not respond to the newspaper's request for comment for its article.

Why the ties kept growing

John Stater, a Colliers research manager and one of the report's authors, said visitation started the pipeline decades ago, but financial factors helped it keep growing. He pointed to the cost of living and housing prices, telling the Review-Journal "it's easier to afford a home here in Las Vegas." He also said Hawaii has a tight labor market with few job opportunities, while Las Vegas tourism jobs let Hawaiians put similar skills to work.

The report estimates Hawaii residents likely spent at least $159.7 million in Las Vegas last year. Colliers described that as a conservative figure focused on reported non-gaming categories such as lodging, food, shopping and transportation.

Hawaiian businesses follow the customers

Las Vegas commercial real estate broker Jason Otter told the Review-Journal he found Zippy's, a chain founded in Honolulu in 1996, on a 2008 vacation and was introduced to its ownership in 2015. His team helped bring the brand to Las Vegas in 2023. Otter described the opening of the Arroyo Crossing location as "nuts," with long lines and police directing traffic, and the chain now has three valley locations.

Other Hawaii brands operating here include L&L Hawaiian Barbecue, Hawaiian Bros Island Grill, Bad Ass Coffee of Hawaii, Uncle's Ice Cream, Na Hoku, Hawaii's Finest Clothing and Aloha Pacific Federal Credit Union. Stater said Hawaiian retailers and restaurants in Las Vegas have built-in customers in the local Hawaiian population. "It feels like our city has become family for some Hawaiians," Otter said. Find more local real estate coverage.

What to watch next

• A fourth Zippy's location in the Las Vegas valley, which the Review-Journal reported is on the way.
• Any comment from Boyd Gaming, which did not respond to a request for comment for the Review-Journal's article.