The volume of single-family homes sold on the island in October was 441, up 16.1 percent from 380 in the same month last year, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

The $485,000 median price, which is a midpoint where half the homes sold for more and half for less, compared with $475,000 in September and $399,300 in October 2003. The previous high was $481,800 in June.

The condominium market was weaker, as the volume of sales dropped 0.6 percent last month to 665 compared with 669 a year earlier. The decline was the second consecutive year-over-year monthly drop.

Condo prices remained near their $219,000 record median set in September, at $218,000 last month. In October 2003, the median condo price was $185,000.

Harvey Shapiro, research economist at the Board of Realtors, said that based on pending home sales, the last two months of the year should be robust "with prices maintaining their advance."

"The O'ahu housing market remains strong," Judith Kalbrener, president of the trade organization's board of directors, said in a statement. "All of this is good news for Hawai'i, as it signals increased real estate value for both shoppers and buyers."

For the first 10 months of the year, sales of single-family homes are up 6.4 percent to 3,910 compared with 3,675 for the same period last year. Condo sales are up 13.7 percent to 6,559 compared with 5,769.

Total dollar volume of single-family home and condo sales during the same comparable 10-month periods is up about 34 percent to $3.9 billion over $2.9 billion.