Located on the east side of Oahu
Located on the east side of Oahu, Hawaii Kai is one of Honolulu’s younger neighborhoods. Although the area is mostly residential, many people on holiday will also find this largely upscale community a great place to vacation in as well. Whether you are looking to stay long-term and build a home in Hawaii or simply enjoy a relaxing Hawaiian vacation; you should definitely consider Hawaii Kai.
Known to locals originally as Kuapa Pond, it was in the mid-70s when Hawaii Kai experienced real estate growth, though not by much because the area was considered a bit inaccessible from the city of Honolulu and also too swampy. For that reason there are still available properties waiting to be purchased and developed up to this day. But this is not to say that Hawaii Kai is second rate compared to more develop and well-known areas of Oahu, just quieter and more low-key. This certain characteristic of Hawaii Kai is what appeals most to families and retirees.
Located incredibly close to Haunama Bay, Oahu’s most popular attraction, staying in Hawaii Kai offers you amazing views of this famous marine embayment and unprecedented access to Haunama Bay’s many activities.
Sunbathing, sightseeing and swimming are the obvious attractions that the beaches in and around Hawaii Kai offer. Snorkeling in Haunama is very remarkable because it is a very popular marine sanctuary, one of the best known in the world. The dramatic stretches of coastline and the calm waters of Haunama’s beach are a nice respite from the more extroverted beaches of the northern areas of Oahu. Here you can enjoy skim boarding and kayaking all year-round thanks to the calm waters.
If you want to experience Haunama Bay from a different point of view, you can challenge yourself and hike up Koko Head Crater Trail. One of Hawaii Kai’s most prominent land structures (Koko crater being the other one), Koko Head is located in Maunalua, which literally means “two mountains”. From the top of Koko Head Crater Trail you will also see Diamond Head or Leahi (meaning brow of the Tuna, as it looks like a Tuna’s dorsal fin) a tuff cone or a flat floor crater on the eastern most of Oahu. You can also choose to hike up Diamond Head State Monument to for panoramic views overlooking Honolulu and the famous Waikiki beaches.
In the winter, which is around October to February, one can visit Halona Blowhole, which is just off of Haunama Bay, for some humpback whale watching. Halona Bay in itself is a must see attraction for those visiting or living in Hawaii Kai. During high tide, you can see seawater spray shoot into the air like geysers. If you want a sneak peak at how Halona Blowhole looks, simply watch the classic film From Here to Eternity and keep your eyes peeled for Burt Lancaster’s and Deborah Kerr’s love scene which was shot in the very place.
For some laidback sightseeing, drink in the sights of Hawaii as you walk along Ma kapu’u Beach. During a clear day, locals and tourists will swear that you will be able to see up to Molokai. Body boarding is very popular on this beach too. A few miles past Makapu’u is Waimanalo Beach, which is a great place for picnics, barbecue parties and learning how to body board and bodysurf as this beach has some of the calmest waters in the island.
For those looking for advanced waves, they need not go far as Sandy beach, which lies just at the foot of KoKo Crater and east of Halona Blowhole. Sandy beach being at the base of Koko Crater has a foreshore that is not only steep but drops so dramatically into a shore break that creates hard breaking waves unequalled anywhere else. It is of the utmost importance that all signs and safety precautions followed. Waves over four feet are to be engaged in only by the highly experienced.
Hawaii Kai is a golfer’s paradise too; Hawaii Kai Golf Course poses a challenge even to really advanced golfers.
Of course when you are in Hawaii Kai, you shouldn’t miss famous Waikiki and other Honolulu attractions like Sea Life and the Waikiki Aquarium as they are so near.
Though not as much of a “complete town” as Kailua, it has a fresher feel with newer houses, more high-rise condominiums and townhouses. Mawaena Kai is a condominium complex at the waterfront which offers great views for its residents, many high rise buildings such as Naniwa Gardens and Mt. terrace offer panoramic views of the ocean. For those who have pets, Lalea complex, which is close to the Hawaii Kai Boulevard, is a pet friendly complex, so are condos and townhomes like Plaza Hawaii Kai and Kalama Ku’u. Recently, the luxury condominium and pet-friendly project Hale Ka Lae opened its doors to buyers. Hawaii Kai is more of an upscale suburb than anything else.
Don’t worry about the travel time as it takes more or less only 30 minutes to get to key places like downtown Honolulu. There are shopping centers within Hawaii Kai, such as Hawaii Kai Town Center and Koko Marina Center so you need not go far. If you have a boat or living a financially unencumbered life, you might want to consider Marina 5 as it is merely 5 minutes from the best dining, movies and from propping your feet on deck and relaxing in the middle of the Pacific ocean. Some of the local favorites in Hawaii Kai are Le Bistro, Teddy’s Bigger Burgers, Bubbies Homemade Ice Cream, Ba-Le Sandwich shop, Tokyo Noodle House and Harbor Village Seafood.
If you plan to raise your kids in there you can count on the public and private schools in and around Hawaii Kai, three of which are Kaiser High School, Koko Head Elementary and Niu Valley Middle School.
Like in most of Oahu, living in Hawaii Kai can be expensive, with real estate prices ranging from $90,000 to even beyond $23,000,000. Real estate prices have nowhere to go but up and as it continues to rise it is best to start investing early. Those who want to enjoy living in Hawaii Kai are encouraged to invest now and watch as there property steadily appreciates. Of course you can always jus enjoy a vacation there what with numerous condos available for vacation rentals. Or, you could do what many does and invest in a property so you have a permanent holiday home and have it rented out when you are away.