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, 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.

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.

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. 

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.

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. 

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.

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.

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.

Located on once-thriving sugar and pineapple fields, Kapolei is Oahu’s second largest community; its real estate divided into various master-planned communities. Almost 35,000 people call Kapolei home. If you’re thinking of joining them, and are interested in purchasing Kapolei real estate, here is a bit of information to get you oriented.

Kapolei is located at the base of the southern part of the Waiʻanae Range, about 25 miles from Honolulu. Nearby towns include Makakilo and Ewa Villages.

A thriving 20-year-old city, Kapolei expects more growth in the years to come. City officials expect to add 40,000 new jobs and 7.1 million square feet of commercial space within the next 20 years. This makes Kapolei the fastest growing community in the state of Hawaii.

Until those jobs become a reality, most residents commute to Honolulu for work. H-1 Freeway access makes it handy, although it does get congested during rush hours. The average commute time for a Kapolei resident is 38 minutes.

There’s no need to hop on the freeway to do your shopping when you live in Kapolei. Kapolei Marketplace offers financial services, beauty and health services, entertainment, restaurants and gift, clothing and specialty stores. The smaller Kapolei Shopping Center houses 30 businesses, anchored by Safeway and Longs Drugs.

Plans are in the works for a new shopping center -- Ka Makana Alii – to be built on 67 acres between Kapolei Parkway and Roosevelt Avenue. It is expected to take four years to complete and it will be the third largest shopping center on the island.

You also don’t need to travel for entertainment, as there’s plenty to do for everyone in the family right here in Kapolei. A local favorite is Wet'n'Wild Hawaii, a water park extravaganza. Wet'n'Wild has something for every type of water lover, including a wave pool, a playground in a pool for the kids, huge water slides and tubes and even a surfing simulation on a continuous 40-foot wave.

Island Adventure Golf, an 18-hole miniature golf facility, is located adjacent to Wet'n'Wild. 

Golfers will love Kapolei for the plethora of courses in the area, both muni and private. 

Kapolei’s keikis attend Kapolei, Barbers Point, Makakilo or Mauka Lani elementary schools. Bigger kids go to Kapolei Middle School and Kapolei High School. 

Kapolei is also the future home of University of Hawaii-West Oahu campus that is relocating from Pearl City in late 2012.

If you’re ready to purchase Kapolei real estate you may be interested in knowing that the median age of a home in the area is 16 years and that the median home price is $414,100.

Kapolei residents love their community for its low crime rate, low unemployment rate and for the convenient lifestyle it offers.