Honolulu Real Estate - Best of both worlds

Honolulu is the capital of Hawaii and is located on the southeastern shore on the island of Oahu. It is also the most populous city in Hawaii, and the southernmost city in the United States.

Honolulu translates to “house of bay” or “place of shelter”. The place has been the states capital since 1845, but gained national recognition after the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1947. The port of Honolulu is one of the largest market points in the Pacific. An average of 7.6 million visitors comes to this area of Hawaii every year.

The area extends from Pearl Harbor to the Makau’pu Point. Technically the whole island is the county of Honolulu but the actual city area consists of the districts Waikiki, Downtown, Manoa-Makiki, Eastern Honolulu, and Western Honolulu.

Waikiki is the largest tourism area in Hawaii. People come here for the white sandy beaches, to relax or learn to surf, and to enjoy the five star hotels and resorts. Neighborhoods are similar to the higher class areas in Los Angeles.  This is a very reclusive area to live in and the prices are set to match.

Downtown Honolulu is the commercial center for the entire Hawaiian Islands. This is also home of the state capitol and many historic sights.  There are four main subdivisions of Downtown: the Capitol District, the Central Business District, Chinatown, and the Waterfront. Each of these areas has a very distinct history and is a collaboration of historic and modern buildings.

Manoa-Makiki is located at the foothills of the Ko’olau Mountains just north of Downtown. It is made up of three neighborhoods:  Manoa, Makiki, and Nu’uanu.  Manoa is a residential area that sits entirely in a valley. It gets rain on a daily basis so there is greenery in every direction.  It consists mostly of homes built before the 1960s and high-rise condominiums. It is also the home of The University of Hawaii at Manoa, the state’s largest university.  Makiki is towered by two extinct volcanoes Punchbowl and Tantalus. Most of this area consists of older houses and apartment buildings. Nu’uanu is a valley that extends from the Honolulu Harbor to the Nu’uanu Pali. Many of the business people in Honolulu take up residencies here.

Eastern Honolulu comprises the areas located between Diamond Head and Makapu’u Point. Residential areas that make up this part of Honolulu are Kaimuki, Kahala, Waialae, Aina Haina, and Hawaii Kai. This area is known for its spectacular beaches and top of the line shopping areas. 

Western Honolulu contains the areas between Downtown and Pearl Harbor. The neighborhoods of Kalihi, Moanalua, and Salt Lake are located throughout here. Kalihi is carved by the Kalihi Stream. Among the lower valley area is a residential area that has existed for a very long time. It is comprised of mostly older homes and the closer to the water it becomes more of a commercial area. Moanalua is not just a residential area, but also a valley and a stream. Salt Lake is a neighborhood that was built within a crater in the 1960s. Residents here have an amazing view of Downtown. 

Honolulu is the busiest area that anyone could move to in Hawaii. Even though most of it is moving at a rapid speed most of the time, there are still some quaint little neighborhoods located within it. Someone living in Honolulu could easily have the best of both worlds.