LIVING ON OAHU
| About Oahu - Facts, History, Resources, Hawaiian Words [Oahu Facts] [Oahu History] [Oahu Resources] [Hawaiian Words] Moving to Oahu - Relocation to Oahu - Information & Tips - Lucky you, moving or thinking of moving to Oahu! Here you will find basic information on moving household goods to Oahu, moving your pets to Oahu and moving your car to Oahu. Overview of Some of the Most Popular Areas & Regions of Oahu, Hawaii [Honolulu] [Hawaii Kai] [Kailua] [Kaneohe] [Waimanalo] [North Windward Coast] [North Shore] |
Honolulu
If you love big cities, there is Honolulu, a major and culturally-diverse metropolitan area. One of the major tourist destinations in the world, Honolulu has art, music, schools, night-life, fashion, plenty of shopping and great restaurants. Honolulu is the location of the picturesque Diamond Head Crater and has a spectacular skyline. It is a large city with many diverse areas including Metropolitan Honolulu, Hawaii Kai, and Diamond Head. Honolulu is perhaps best known for Waikiki Beach, great for people watching, sunbathing and surfing.
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| Honolulu Skyline | Waikiki Beach | Waikiki at Night |
Though, technically part of Honolulu, Hawaii Kai is really its own little community, apart from Honolulu. The main feature of Hawaii Kai is the Hawaii Kai Marina area and a series of lagoons that allow a multitude of options for boat access and waterfront living, both single family and condominium style. Water sports lovers will have a lot of fun in Hawaii Kai, with options for fishing, kayaking, canoeing, waterskiing, paddle boarding, snorkeling and jet-skiing nearby. The area features most of the newest construction in East Oahu, and many townhomes and condominiums. The area is one of the drier, hotter and more desert-like areas of the island. Hawaii Kai has plenty of shopping, restaurants, and even a Costco. Hawaii Kai is a planned community, developed in the 1960's in the area of the Kuapa Pond, by Henry J. Kaiser.
List of Hawaii Kai Area Neighborhoods
More on Hawaii Kai...
Kailua
If you want a more of a small-town feel, with famed white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, there is Kailua and its many quiet family neighborhoods. Many have said that as they leave Honolulu and enter the Kailua area through the Pali Tunnel, they immediately feel a sense of peacefulness and relaxation. Perhaps, it is the beautiful views, but it also could be the friendly and laid-back people who live in Windward, Oahu. Kailua includes the upscale beachfront areas of Lanikai, Beachside, Kawailoa and Kaimalino, and many lake and canalfront homes, as well. Kailua is less than 1/2 hour drive from Honolulu, connected to the area by three highways (Pali/H-3/Kalanianaole). Kailua has a town center and several smaller shopping areas, plenty of restaurants, schools, movie theatres, and even a Macy's. Kailua Bay is where the sport of windsurfing first took off in the US, and this area is great for windsurfing, as well as kitesurfing, kayaking and paddling. There are also several options for golf courses, and tennis and country clubs in the area. There are no hotels in Kailua, but short term visitors do find plenty of beach rentals and a few bed & breakfasts in the area.
List of Kailua Area Neighborhoods
More on Kailua...
For a Spectacular Photo Overview of Kailua & the rest of Windward Oahu be sure to pick-up the best selling book by Heather Titus: Passion & Beauty - available online or through your local bookseller.
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| View off Lanikai Beach | Enchanted Lake/Kaopa Area | Kalapawai Market at Kailua Beach |
Kaneohe
Near Kailua, also on the Windward side of the island, is Kaneohe. One of the rainier aeas of the island, Kaneohe has a good-sized business district and a shopping mall. It is a lush, green mountain & waterfront community, and many homes have spectacular Kaneohe Bay and/or Ko'olau Mountain Range views. There are also some more affordable areas and many condos and townhomes. It's a great location for boat-owners, sport fisherman and other water recreation enthusiasts. Like Kailua, it is just a 1/2 hour drive from Honolulu, connected by three highways (Pali/H-3/Likelike) to Honolulu. Points of interest in the area include Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay) and the Valley of the Temples.
List of Kaneohe Area Neighborhoods
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| Kaneohe Bay | Koolau Mountains | Byodo-In Temple Kaneohe, Oahu |
Waimanalo, Windward & North Shore
If you like the country or a slower pace, Waimanalo, Windward (above Kaneohe) & the North Shore are great places to live.
Waimanalo is a Windward community, just 1/2 hour from Honolulu via the Kalanianaole or Pali Highways. It has a picturesque location, between Waimanalo Bay and the Ko'olau Mountain Range. There are some lovely beachfront properties, on beautiful and quiet white-sand beaches, and also some more affordable homes. Compared to other areas of East Oahu, Waimanalo has a more rural feel and more traditional Hawaiian culture. Local businesses include plant nurseries and farms, growing local produce. There are horse stables nearby, as well as a few small shopping areas and a golf course. It is also only about 4 miles or so from Kailua Town Center and its shopping district. Areas of interest include Sea Life Park, Bellows Air Force Station Recreation Area, and the Makapu'u Point Lighthouse.
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| Bellows Beach | Waimanalo Bay |
The North Shore is famous for its laid back life-style and international surfing spots and competitions, as well as the community's strong desire to protect the area from further development. As of now, there is only one major resort on the North Shore, Turtle Bay. North Shore communities include Kawela, Sunset Beach, Haleiwa, & Waialua. Particularly in Haleiwa, there are lots of nice shops and restaurants, catering to locals and tourists alike.
List of North Shore Neighborhoods
Coming Soon!!!
Central Oahu
Ewa Plain
Leeward Oahu
Makakilo
Waipahu