Some people visit Hawaii and may get the idea that most of it is more or less the same. Sure, some sides are drier or wetter than others and the mountain view from Kailua is different than that from Waianae. But for those of us that live here, we know there are things of each town that make it unique – whether favorable or not.
From a Hawaii housing and real estate perspective, it’s often these nuances that make or break whether a homebuyer will even consider a neighborhood or not (and whether one sells). Think about where you live. Is it an area that’s attractive to new real estate buyers? Why or why not? Is it on the rise or fall?
With that, I thought I’d start the occasional neighborhood-specific post, but I’d much rather it come from everyone else, so while I’ll start, feel free to contribute!
Kapahulu
I live in Kapahulu, which is just up the road from the zoo as you leave Waikiki. I think this is a fantastic area of Honolulu to live in for a few reasons:
- It’s almost all single family homes instead of condos
- There are lots of families who have been in their homes for generations
- It’s relatively quiet (except for my neighbor’s dogs)…
- …but you have all the shops on Kapahulu Ave. and Waialae Ave. in Kaimuki just minutes away
- Waikiki, Diamond Head and Kapiolani Park are just next door
- While you do have the occasional house in need of some major repair, most are reasonably well cared for
On Saturday mornings we have the KCC Farmer’s Market, and the expansive Safeway is there for every other day of the week. The 2nd Side Street Inn is a can’t miss when you’re hungry (try the Farmer’s Salad) as are Tenkaippin Ramen and Irifune. I often find myself at the Starbucks on Kapahulu and Date catching up on work, meeting other investors or just relaxing – the staff there is super friendly. When the sweet tooth takes over, Waiola Shave Ice and Leonard’s are right there.
I guess the only thing about Kapahulu I’m not wild about is that it’s not the prettiest neighborhood on the island, but we do have a great view of Diamond Head. It also gets a bit dry and can be quite hot in August-September when the trade winds die down. But that’s nitpicking – if you’re looking for a neighborhood in Honolulu that is stable, convenient and a good place to hold onto real estate, I’d suggest giving Kapahulu a look.
What’s YOUR favorite neighborhood?
You tell us – anywhere in Hawaii! What makes it special?