Kahala, Diamond Head’s neighbor to the east, is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods on Oahu. The makai side of Kahala Avenue features exclusive estates that sit on the sands of Kahala Beach.

Have you fallen in love with a home across the street? Although you won’t have an ocean view, you still have access to tranquil, quiet Kahala Beach. Hawaiian beaches are public, so even those gorgeous beachfront homes can’t come between you and the ocean.

Kahala residents love the area for both its seclusion from the hustle and bustle of Waikiki and its close proximity.

Many Kahala residents do their shopping at Kahala Mall, just minutes away. Anchored by Macy’s, Whole Foods and a huge Barnes & Noble, the mall also houses a theatre complex and over 100 specialty shops on three levels.

Kahala is also home to the exclusive Kahala Hotel and Resort, a favorite of the world’s rich and famous. Tucked away at the end of Kahala Avenue, it provides a private enclave for its guests.

If you have children you may be interested to know that the Kahala area on the island of Oahu offers a Blue Ribbon-designated elementary school – Kahala Elementary. The school also ranks highly at GreatSchools.org, with a rating of 10 out of 10.

Kaimuki Middle School and Kalani High School educate Kahala’s older kids.

Homes in Kahala are typically older and quite large, with an average square footage of over 4,000. Many estates are gated, for additional privacy.

According to the Honolulu Board of Realtors, the median sales price in 2011 was $1,637,500. In early 2012 the average list price of Kahala real estate is a little over 3 million dollars. The average sales price for a condo in Kahala was $515,000. Condos tend to sell quickly so if you find one in Kahala that you like, act fast.