Honolulu Real Estate the jewel of the Pacific

Honolulu has been called the jewel of the Pacific, and for good reason. After flying over 2,000 miles of Pacific Ocean, the Honolulu visitor is presented with a shining white city alongside sparkling turquoise water.

Honolulu is located on the southeastern shores of Hawaii’s island of Oahu. The largest city in the state, it is also Hawaii’s capital.

Although nobody knows for sure, oral history tells us that the first Polynesians arrived on Oahu’s shores around 1100 A.D. In 1804, King Kamehameha moved his court from the Big Island to Waikiki, finally settling in 1809 in what we now know as downtown Honolulu.

Today, the city of Honolulu covers a large swath of the island, from Makapuu to Red Rock, the Koolau to the Pacific Ocean. Popular neighborhoods within the city include Waikiki, Kahala, Hawaii Kai and Manoa. 

Recreation

The Honolulu resident is never at a loss for recreational activities. In close proximity to many beaches, residents enjoy surfing, swimming, diving, fishing, boating and water skiing. Hikers take on Diamond and Koko Head Craters.

Dining and Shopping

Honolulu is a foodie’s delight. Dine on French or Asian fusion cuisine at one of the city’s 5-Star restaurants or grab a quick plate lunch at one of the many small, local cafes.

Shoppers enjoy strolling the world’s largest open-air center, Ala Moana. This gigantic mall houses 290 stores including Nordstrom, Macy’s and Neiman Marcus. Other shopping centers in Honolulu include the Kahala Mall and Ward Centers.

Honolulu Real Estate

When searching for your ideal Honolulu home, determine first the type of lifestyle you lead. If you enjoy the hustle and bustle of city life, buying a Honolulu home near Waikiki might suit you best. If you’re seeking a more relaxed type of living situation, consider the Manoa Valley or Kaimuki. If you simply must live on the water, the Kahala and Diamond Head areas provide luxury estates with the Pacific Ocean in your backyard. 

Consider Hawaii Loa Ridge if your tastes run to hilltop living with amazing views. This exclusive community is located within a half hour of Waikiki and features exclusive estates.

Honolulu real estate, offers to suit any taste and budget.

Kaneohe Real Estate and Relocation Information

Kaneohe is a Honolulu neighborhood, located along Kaneohe Bay on the windward side of Oahu. Because of the high level of rain in the area, it was once a significant agricultural base on the island. Today, Kaneohe is a residential area primarily known for its close proximity to Marine Corps Base Hawaii.

Recreation in Kaneohe

If you lead an active lifestyle, Kaneohe may be the ideal community for you. Three golf courses grace this corner of Oahu paradise including the stunning Pali Golf Course, Bayview Golf Park and the Ko’olau Golf Club.

The bay itself offers sunbathers soft, white sand. More active members of the family will enjoy fishing, swimming and boating.

The nearby Hoomaluhia Botanical Gardens offer Kaneohe residents picnic and camping grounds. Hike, bike, jog or take a nature walk at this amazing facility designed and built by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers.

Kaneohe Shopping

Kaneohe residents don’t need to drive far to do their shopping. The Windward Mall offers 110 stores, both national and Hawaii-based, plus a farmer’s market on Wednesdays. Movie theatres, eateries and a play area for the keikis make this a one-stop shopping center.

Then there is the more intimate Kaneohe Bay Shopping Center, located across the street from the Windward Mall. A great place to pick up groceries, the center holds 23 shops and is anchored by Safeway and Long’s Drugs.

Schools

Kaneohe’s children are served by Ahuimanu, Heeia, Waiahole, Kapunahala, Puohala and Kaneohe elementary schools. Students continue their education at Governor Samuel Wilder King Intermediate School and James B. Castle High School.

If your student wants to attend college close to home, Windward Community College is located right in Kaneohe, on Kea‘ahala Rd.

Homes in Kaneohe

Kaneohe is one of the more affordable communities on the island of Oahu. The median price of a home in the third quarter of 2011 was a bit over $500,000. Condos sell between $150,000 and $520,000. 

Kaneohe is one of the more popular communities on the island so the vacancy rate is typically quite low – 3 to 4 percent on average. If you’ve chosen a piece of Kaneohe real estate as your new home, act fast because it most likely won’t stay on the market for long.

Lihue Real Estate

As the second largest town of the Kauai, Lihue is considered to be the county seat. It became the central city of Kauai because of the emergence and success of the sugar industry. Consequently, various developments were done in the area, including building the main airport of Kauai here. Moreover, Kauai County’s administration building and Kukui Grove Shopping Center are also located in Lihue. 

Aside from business areas, you’ll also find various schools. As a matter of fact, two K-5 elementary schools, Wilcox Elementary School and Kaumaualii Elementary School, and two upper-level schools, Kamakahelei Middle School and Kauai High School, serve Lihue. There are also private pre-kindergarten up 12^th grade school established in Lihue.

Compared to the other towns in the area, Lihue has a big population. Lihue is home to 5,674 people, which includes 2,178 households and 1,420 families as of the 2000 census.

If you are interested in living here, you’ll find a very active real estate market. Based from the statistics on January 2012, the average Lihue Real Estate residential listing is around $749,999.

Kapaa Real Estate

Kapaa, which mean solid in Hawaiian, is located in Kauai Country, at the eastern side. The area is part of the Coconut Coast. The place is home to 9,472 people, 3,129 households, and 2281 families as of the 2000 census.

Children of Kapaa residents can be found studying in Kapaa elementary school, Kapaa middle school, or Kapaa high school. As for leisurely activities, Kappa residents usually spend their time at the downtown area, where the shopping centers and restaurants are located. The Kapaa downtown also has a large concentration of hotels and tourist-oriented shops to accommodate travelers, and backpackers.

If you are interested in residing in Kappa, you’ll find various Kapaa Real Estate offerings including residential, condominiums and land lots. Majority of the Kapaa Real Estate condominiums can be found in the coastline. For easy reference, the tax map key of Kappa is 4-4.

Kalaheo Real Estate

Located at the south shore of Kauai is Kalaheo, which means ‘the proud day’ in Hawaiian. This area is home to 3,913 people, 1,428 households, and 1,039 families according to the 2000 census.

There are various real estate options at Kalaheo. For the Kalaheo Real estate residential offerings, the average price is around $723,000; for the Kalaheo Real Estate land offerings, the average price is around $277,500; and for the Kalaheo Real Estate condominiums, the average price is around $220,000. For easy reference, the tax map key of Kalaheo Real estate is 4-2-3 and 4-2-4.

Purchasing a luxury home in Diamond Head

Imagine living on the flanks of one of the world’s most familiar volcanic craters, iconic not only of Oahu but of the entire Hawaiian experience. When you purchase Diamond Head real estate you no longer have to use your imagination. Life on the crater is a reality –and more than you’d ever hoped for.

Because Diamond Head is a Honolulu neighborhood and not a city, there’s no such thing as a “Diamond Head” address. That does not, however, preclude Diamond Head real estate from holding an exclusive status.

Diamond Head itself is a volcanic crater, the remnants of a single, powerful eruption that occurred 300,000 years ago. Today, the crater is a 350-acre National Park and a world-famous landmark. If you’re an avid hiker you’ll love the trail that leads up to the crater. Pack a picnic and make a day of it.

Diamond Head residents are within a stone’s throw of Kapiolani Park – the largest public park in the state of Hawaii. Here you’ll find tennis courts, an archery range, basketball courts and soccer, baseball, rugby and lacrosse fields. The Honolulu Zoo is located here as well. 

Life in the Diamond Head area provides residents with seclusion, yet easy access to all that Waikiki and downtown Honolulu have to offer. Residents typically shop at Ala Moana or head east to the Kahala Mall. Such close proximity to Waikiki also offers residents access to the best dining on the island.

Waikiki Elementary School, Washington Middle School and Kaimuki High School serve the children of Diamond Head residents. Waikiki Elementary features a strong music program, both band and orchestra.

Honolulu is also home to a number of excellent private schools that serve children from kindergarten through high school.

You’ll find the residential area known as Diamond Head clustered at the base of the crater. The most affluent part of this already high-end community is the gated neighborhood of Black Point. 

Large, architecturally tasteful homes are the name of the real estate game in Diamond Head. The higher-priced Diamond Head homes are situated on the water and, thus, provide stunning views. You’ll also find luxury condominiums in Diamond Head. 

Diamond Head houses list for between $1,600,000 and $14,950,000. Condos start at $330,000. 

Purchasing a luxury home in Diamond Head provides the epitome of refined Hawaiian living. 

Exclusive hilltop community of Hawaii Loa Ridge

Oahu real estate isn’t lacking in its luxury property offerings, and Hawaii Loa Ridge is one of the more prestigious addresses.

Developed in the 1980s, you will find Hawaii Loa Ridge by taking Kalanianaole Highway toward Aina Haina. A turn onto Pu’u’ Ikena Drive will take you on a winding journey up the hill, through this gorgeous neighborhood.

If you are seeking a refined, luxurious Hawaiian lifestyle, you will find it in Hawaii Loa Ridge.

Although the drive from Hawaii Loa Ridge to downtown Honolulu typically takes less than a half hour, most residents find it more convenient to shop at the Kahala Mall, five minutes away. With three stories of shops, restaurants and a theater, you’ll find what you need without fighting the crowds at Ala Moana.

Although many Hawaii Loa Ridge keikis attend Honolulu’s private schools, some attend the area’s public schools. These include Aina Haina Elementary School, Niu Valley Middle School and Kalani High School. 

Hawaii Loa Ridge residents have convenient access to numerous recreational activities. Further inland is a favorite hiking trail for many Oahu residents. The trail begins within the gated community and non-residents must show Hawaii resident identification to gain access. The trail has a dedicated parking lot for visitors. 

The hike along Hawaii Loa Ridge trail takes about three to four hours and offers some of Oahu’s most breathtaking scenery and views.

Also close to home is the Hawaii Loa Ridge community’s recreation and fitness facilities. The clubhouse provides meeting rooms for residents. Kids enjoy the community’s playground and, yes, there are tennis courts. Hawaii Loa Ridge also features a private resident-only park with picnic areas and a private trail for hikers. 

Hawaii Loa Ridge real estate is expensive. What is offered for the price, however, far exceeds what many other luxury communities provide. How does one put a price on amazing views of the blue Pacific, Diamond Head and Molokai?

Hawaii Loa Ridge contains over 500 homes within a gated, guard-manned community. Plan on paying almost 4 million dollars for a Hawaii Loa Ridge estate. In early 2012, the median list price for a home in the area is $3,923,219. Homes have an average square footage of a little over 5,000 square feet. Most homes were built in the mid-1990s.

Elegant. . .exclusive. . .refined: all descriptive of the hilltop community of Hawaii Loa Ridge.

Portlock homes are, in a word, upscale

While its name doesn’t exactly evoke Polynesian images, Portlock, on the island of oahu is quite the tropical paradise.

Nestled into the western slope of Koko Crater, the Portlock neighborhood of Hawaii Kai is 10 miles from downtown Honolulu. An affluent community,

Portlock is conveniently located near shopping and great restaurants. Roy’s Hawaii Kai offers world-famous Hawaiian Fusion cuisine. Assiago Hawaii Kai brings Italian aloha to the table.

Everything the Portlock resident needs is located close to the community. Residents shop for groceries at nearby Foodland, Safeway and Costco. Koko Marina Center and Hawaii Kai Shopping Center offer upscale shopping with tons of boutiques and specialty stores. 

There’s never a shortage of fun recreational activities on Oahu and Portlock is close to many of the most popular. Hanauma Bay offers incredible snorkeling and sun bathing. The Spitting Caves, located in Portlock, suck water into them and then spit it back out, quite spectacularly at times. Although it’s fun to watch, visitors and residents need to be aware that the rocky ledges from Portlock to Makapu’u Beach are dangerous. It’s quite common for rogue waves to wash folks from the rocks into the water.

Public schools that serve Portlock residents include Koko Head Elementary, Niu Valley Middle School and Henry J. Kaiser High School. Kaiser offers a college preparatory emphasis, and is the first school in the state of Hawaii to be authorized by the International Baccalaureate Organization.

So, you’ve decided you’d like to purchase Portlock real estate. Be warned: once people purchase their Portlock homes, they don’t tend to leave. Inventory is typically much lower than in other areas on Oahu, so if you find a home you like, act quickly.

Portlock homes are, in a word, upscale. Most were built in the early 1980s and are nestled in a lush, tropical setting. Architectural styles vary from plantation design to modern estates. Plan on spending around six and a half million dollars for Portlock real estate. This will purchase a home with an average 6,000 square feet. 

Lanikai is an exclusive area within the town of Kailua

It’s safe to say that National Geographic magazine knows beauty when it sees it. The magazine, among others, consistently rates Lanikai Beach in its ranking of the Top 10 Beaches in the world. If you’d like your own piece of Oahu real estate that sits on or near Lanikai Beach read on.

Lanikai is an exclusive area within the town of Kailua, on the windward side of Oahu. Multi-million dollar estates, many with amazing ocean views, offer a refined Hawaiian lifestyle.

Lanikai residents that work in Honolulu make the half-hour commute to get to and from work. But, when you start your day with a view of the sunrise over Lanikai Beach, the commute is worth every minute.

Shopping is a snap when you live in Lanikai. Kailua is host to several shopping centers including Kailua Town Center, Kailua Shopping Center and Kailua Foodland Marketplace.

You won’t find 5-Star restaurants in Lanikai, but nearby Kailua has some lovely places to dine.

Lanikai’s children that aren’t enrolled in private school attend the area’s public schools. These include Lanikai Elementary and Kailua Elementary Kailua Middle School, and Kailua High.

Recreational activities abound in the area around Lanikai. Golfers love the Olomana Golf Links and the gorgeous Pali Golf Course. The back tees at Ko’olau Golf Course are challenging, with a slope rating of 152. Perhaps this is why the USGA rates Ko’olau as one of the most difficult in the country.

Lanikai, known for it’s half-mile long, pristine white beach, provides residents with plenty of sandy fun. The reef keeps the water calm so it’s a great place for the kids to swim. In the distance, the two small islands, “the mokes” to locals, offer sanctuary to seabirds. Lanikai waters are home to green sea turtles, just off the break line.

If Lanikai is calling your name, it’s time to do some house hunting in the area. You’ll find a wide variety of housing styles, from beach cottages to multi-million dollar estates. Some are quite old – built in the 1920s and 30s.

The 2011 median sales price of a home in Kailua is $777,500, which is up 2.3 percent from 2010. Homes in the Lanikai area of town, however, go for quite a bit more. If you want to live on the beach, plan on spending well over a million dollars and up over $10 million. Current listings range in price from $1,195,000 to $10,800,000.

Although Lanikai real estate is pricey, the homes are snatched up quickly, usually in a little over a month.

Living in Kalama Valley

Oahu offers a diverse array of real estate, and property in Kalama Valley is in high demand. Tucked into the base of Koko Head Crater, within the affluent community of Hawaii Kai, Kalama Valley offers gracious Hawaiian living, away from the fast pace of Waikiki.

The valley was once agricultural land on which farmers raised pigs and grew vegetables. They lived simply, in old, single story homes with tin roofs. These dwellings were bulldozed, amidst much protest from the residents, to make way for Kalama Valley residential development.

Kalama Valley residents not only have Koko crater in their backyard, but a botanical garden inside the crater as well. Koko Crater Botanical Garden, located at the end of Kokonani Street, features 60 acres of rare dryland plants.

If you’ll be moving the family to Kalama Valley you’ll find lots to do. The large expanses of grass make Kalama Valley Park the ideal place for a picnic. The park also has a basketball court and play equipment for the keikis.

Living in Kalama Valley puts you within minutes of several of Oahu’s best beaches, Makapuu and Sandy Beach. Both beaches are particularly popular with body surfers. The valley is also close to Waimanalo Beach Park and Hanauma Bay – a designated marine conservation area and underwater park, and an amazing place to snorkel. 

Kalama Valley is located within the Kaiser School District, which includes six elementary schools, Niu Valley Middle School and Kaiser High School. Most Kalama Valley children attend Kamiloiki Elementary.

Valley residents are just minutes away from some great shopping. For groceries, there’s a Costco in Hawaii Kai. Local residents also shop at the Koko Marina Center, featuring banks, clothing and specialty shops and eateries. The Hawaii Kai Town Center is nearby as well, where you’ll find restaurants, shopping and professional services.

When you purchase Kalama Valley real estate you’ll find that your new neighbors are, for the most part, Honolulu professionals who commute to the city to work. The commute, by the way, generally takes about half an hour, depending upon the time of day and the amount of traffic.

Housing in the valley consists of pricey single-family homes that were built in the 1970s and 80s. The typical Kalama Valley lot measures 5,000 to 6,000 square feet. 

Although home prices in Kalama Valley are down, like most areas of the country, they actually increased almost 9 percent from 2010 to 2011. The median sales price was $910,000, which is almost exactly what it cost to purchase a home in Kalama Valley five years ago. Well-maintained properties typically don’t remain on the market much longer than three weeks.

Kalama Valley is a fabulous neighborhood that offers a slow-paced lifestyle and a sense of community.