Kailua
Kailua is best known for its natural beauty & outdoor activities.
Most of us shop for homes by searching for homes, but what happens when you find the perfect home and its surroundings ain't so perfect. While there's no one-size-fits-all approach to finding a home, we recommend starting with neighborhoods.
There’s no proven formula that asserts a neighborhood is great, however, the usual suspects include public transportation, crime rates, walkability, schools, access to medical care, greenery, housing and architecture.
Also, taking into consideration that every home is an investment and neighborhoods affect value, it’s also smart to monitor neighborhood median prices, homes and condos sold, and appreciation rate trends over time.
No matter how many stats you’ve been through, sometimes it comes down to word-of-mouth. And I’m not talking about going online to read threads from popular forums. Talk to family. Talk to friends. Talk to an agent.
Personally, I like to match lifestyles with neighborhoods. The way things look and feel are important. A neighborhood could have the highest walkability score, but if there are too many walkers, it may not be a match.
Kailua is best known for its natural beauty & outdoor activities.
A mom-and-pop neighborhood evolving from historic to hip.
Newly built condos, microbreweries, hidden speakeasies, and more.
Hawaii’s first planned community, located in central Oahu.
An older, charming neighborhood known for its quality schools.
Good local food, exceptional surf, and amazing ocean views.
The feeling you get when you're on vacation feels like you're escaping "everyday" life. While many places in Hawaii will make you feel this way, there are a few neighborhoods, mostly resort-zoned areas, that champion vacation living. These neighborhoods include Waikiki, Ko Olina, and North Shore.
Urban, hip and flourishing neighborhoods are areas that attract crowds with trendy independent shops, modern eateries, and unique and artsy activities. Kakaako is exactly that. In fact, it's labeled as Hawaii's hottest and hippest neighborhood. Other contenders include Chinatown in Honolulu, and Kaimuki, which is making a comeback.
No matter where you go in Hawaii, you're surrounded by water, but every beach doesn't offer nice long rides and barrels. The neighborhoods closest to popular surf spots on Oahu include North Shore, Waikiki and Diamond Head, Kakaako, and Waiʻanae.
Looking at population density alone, there are quite a few areas that qualify as "suburbs" in Hawaii. Oftentimes, the suburbs are blended with rural areas as well. The neighborhoods that best fit this category with varying degrees of how "suburban" they feel, include Mililani, Kailua, Hawaii Kai, Kaneohe, Ewa Beach, and Kapolei.
Below is a list of neighborhoods in Hawaii with the highest median prices. We took into consideration how many homes are on the market and how many were sold in the last year.
Raising a family comes with a lot of stress, a lot of love, and very little time. If driving your kids to school is out of your way, it may not seem bad (at first), but after years of doing it, a 30 min. drive becomes a hassle.
With the steep increase in gas prices, we recommend planning years in advance. Shop for a neighborhood and school at the same time. Align your driving routes. Speak to an agent that lives in or knows the area.
You’ve considered private schools, but found the perfect public school for your child. The only problem is that you don’t live in that neighborhood and need a geographic exception. So what should you do?
I’ve seen this time and time again. And it really does depend on time. With a shorter timeline, families apply for a geographic exception. If denied, they often find a place to rent in the neighborhood. After that, buy.
According to US News and World Report’s annual ranking report, below are Oahu’s top 3 public elementary schools and neighborhoods associated with them. Below that are Oahu’s top 3 private schools found on Niche.com.
Public Schools
Private Schools
An exclusive residential area epitomizing tropical elegance.
An older, charming neighborhood known for its quality schools.
Talk to a local expert.
