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Honolulu Named Best City to Live in the US

April 30, 2018 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

US news and world report named Honolulu Hawaii #17 is one of the top places to live in the country for 2018. You wouldn’t think our crowded little city would’ve made the list but actually, our quality of life and value added a lot to the score.

Our population is just under 1 million with an average annual salary of about $51,000. On a scale of 1 to 10, our quality of life, which includes low crime rates, affordability, job growth, etc., came in at a 6.5 with our value index coming in at 4.7. Honolulu is considered the cultural and culinary hub of the Hawaiian Islands and we are proficient with shopping centers, restaurants, and of course, miles of beaches. The only downside is our cost of living, which comes in a little bit higher than the national average. But comparing that with the year-round tropical temperatures and simply the beauty of living in Hawaii, a kind of balances it out.

With our laid-back vibe, diverse blend of cultures, and close proximity to the ocean, Honolulu is regularly defined as one of the country’s happiest places on earth. The Honolulu Metro area includes the entire southeastern half of Oahu and according to our U.S. News & World Report scorecard, our desirability came in at a solid 10. The only score that was lower is our value, based on a cost of living compared to the national average.

Our job market came in at a 7.8, quality of life came in at 6.5, and net migration came in at 5.6. Honolulu has been ranked #35 as one of the best places to live in the country and #24 is one of the best places to retire.

The median home price is about $580,000 with the median monthly rent of just under $1600. This does come in at one of the priciest and most expensive places to live and rent in the country, but again, there are so many factors offsetting the high cost of living that it’s easy to see why we made the list.

Learn More About our Island:

I need to sell my house in Hawaii and move to the mainland

How you know you’re ready to leave the rental market

What’s the best time to sell a house in Hawaii?

What buyers are looking for in a Hawaiian house

Want to move here? Just do it.

How to drop everything and move to Hawaii

Village Park Homes on Oahu

January 18, 2016 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

Village Park is a small community located in Honolulu County just south of Mililani. It’s home to about 10,000 residents and is nestled just north of interstate H 1. It’s bordered on the east by the Royal Kunia Country Club, on the west by Highway 750, the interstate to the south and the hills to the north.

At any given time there are between 20 and 30 properties for sale listed from about $135,000 for land and vacant parcels to about $850,000 for larger estates and homes. There are several parcels of land ideal to build on but these are not oceanfront homes and this community is landlocked. Several homes along the Country Club feature golf course views and there are three neighborhood parks within Village Park. On the west side is Walmart, Denny’s, and several shops and restaurants, however this is primarily a residential community. In the center is the Kaleiopuu Elementary School adjacent to the Hoaeae Community Park with open space, tennis courts, basketball courts and a sports field. Residents are assigned to the Kaleiopuu Elementary school, the Waipahu intermediate school and the Waipahu high school. While the elementary school is within this community the intermediate schools about 1 1/2 miles away in the high school is 2.2 miles from this community.

There’s another Park located in the Northeast section of this community which features an open space, basketball and small racquetball court. On the west side is a small green Park with open space in a few trees, perfect for throwing the ball for your four-legged friend.

Surprisingly, Village Park is one of the more affordable places to live throughout the island. $600,000 for a typical family home built over the last 10 to 15 years between 1100 ft.² and 2000 ft.² with three or four bedrooms. Lots are around 5000 ft.². Homeowners fees are between $40 and $80 per month and cover common area maintenance and landscaping within the community. There are a few condominiums, duplexes and townhomes also for sale in Village Park, which typically start at about $150,000.

If you’re looking to be close to Honolulu, close to the Army airfield or barracks but still would like to live outside of the hustle and bustle of the city, Village Park makes an ideal location. Start your search here for all Village Park homes and Waipahu real estate.

Hiking Oahu

November 4, 2015 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

Whether you are moving to Oahu, visiting or you’ve lived here for years, hiking in Oahu takes you on adventure you’ve never had before. Here are our 10 best hikes in Oahu.

#1. Lulumahu Falls – This is one of locals and visitors favorite hikes on the islands. Travel through a bamboo forest, a Vista of green mountains, traverse your way over streams and finally to a beautiful waterfall. Once you follow the stream and follow it numerous times you’ll see different sceneries, all indigenous of Oahu.

#2. Diamond Head – This is one of the best hikes on the island and perfect for the entire family. It only takes about 30 minutes to hike to the top and it’s perfect for people of all ages. You get a birds eye view of the entire island in the beautiful ocean. If you’re visiting, this is certainly one to put on the list.

#3. Manoa Falls – This is a somewhat easy but still adventurous hike through a lush bamboo and guava tree forest. The towering 150 foot waterfall at the end will certainly exceed your expectations.

#4. Koolau Summit above Waimanalo – This somewhat difficult height offers hikers a well honored reward at the top. The views are incredible, energizing and picture worthy.

#5. Pali Puka – If were talking pictures, this moderate 1 mile round-trip hike offers the most bang for your buck. In just 20 minutes you’ll be rewarded with a beautiful view of the Windward Coast framed in rock. There’s a sheer cliff drop off and no guardrails so caution is of the utmost priority.

#6. Stairway to Heaven – Close to the Koolau Summit and the Mountain Ridge is 4000 steps. The US Coast Guard originally put up a wooden stairway path back in the 1940s for construction and access to a radio tower. Today, this stairway is closed off and on but something to check into, especially if you’re visiting.

#7. Olomana Hike – This hike starts at 770 Auloa Rd in Kailua. This is an intermediate to difficult hike but the views are amazing in the sense of accomplishment is awesome. This is probably one of the most challenging hikes on the list but the reward is immeasurable.

#8. Upper Makua Cave – This intermediate hike is about 1 to 2 miles and takes one to two hours on a hill on the west side of the island. You travel up to a cave, perfect for mid-day lunch or simply checking out the view of the bay.

#9. Makapu-u Tide Pools – A 2 to 3 mile intermediate and variable time hike, this lighthouse trail recommends hiking down a steep rock cliff to a set of tide pools deep enough for swimming. It is a somewhat dangerous area so you want to keep an eye out on the waves but the tide pools, the view and the sounds are fascinating.

#10. Waimano Falls and Pools – This easy water fall hike takes about 1 to 2 hours and is approximately 1 to 2 miles. The waterfall hike is best attempted after some rain and is of relatively easy hike to a pool deep enough for jumping off and swimming in the warm crystal water. It’s perfect for kids and people of just about any age.

There are dozens more hikes throughout Oahu from easy to advanced, kid friendly to extreme adventurous. These are some of our favorites; what are some of yours?

More of the best:

Oahu Must Dos

Lanikai – the Best Beach in Oahu

Image by Shannon & the_tahoe_guy Flickr

Oahu Must-Dos

August 26, 2015 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

If you’re new to Oahu and really want to become a part of the society, there are some things you must do. Even if you are just visiting and planning on staying sometime in the future, these are some great highlights not to miss.

#1. Chinatown

Oahu in the evening and night time really opens up so more than simply a luau, you can go and enjoy Jazz at the Dragon Upstairs in Chinatown, find a late night dive for a delicious Pukka Dog or head out to the beach and watch the waves crash under the light of the moon. There are a lot of amazing things to do after hours around the island.This is one of the best art scenes on the island with vibrant neighborhoods, art galleries, trendy boutiques and the historic Hawaii Theatre.

#2. The Luau

Don’t neglect the good old-fashioned luau. Enjoy a seriously good poke, which is diced raw tuna with sesame oil, avocado and other seasonings or some poi, which is taro root pace and enjoy LomiLomi salmon wrapped with onions and herbs. Of course you won’t want to miss Kahlúa pork, delicious sides and all of the fresh tropical fruit you can eat. Make sure to make a reservation for one of the old fashioned luaus on the island.

#3. Buy fruit at a roadside stand.

This is probably one of my first memories of visiting the island. Head up to the North Shore and you’ll find half a dozen roadside fruit stands selling delicious pineapples, local mangoes, papyrus, avocados and guava. Guava is such a unique fruit, and one that is usually never shipped to the states because of its fast perishable state. From delicious lychees, mini bananas, passionfruit and star fruit, these roadside stands have all of the tropical fruit you desire at great prices.

#4. Visit Kailua Beach

Kailua’s hidden Beach is the epitome of a Hawaiian beach. It is on Oahu’s Windward side and is the perfect stretch of white sandy beach. There are several small offshore islands perfect for exploring and kayaks with the gentle waves, crystal blue water and within walking distance of small convenience stores and restaurants.

#5. Visit Shangri-La

On top of the cliffs of Diamond Head, this lavish oceanfront property is the home of American philanthropists Doris Duke. It’s home to extensive art collections over this 5 acre estate with sweeping views, exotic gardens and a 75 foot saltwater pool. It is open to the public for small group tours.

#6. Kaena Point

On the westernmost point of Oahu is the breathtaking Kaena Point. It is one of the last intact doing ecosystems in the Hawaiian islands and home to a growing population of endangered seabirds. People have been known to witness green sea turtles, monk seals and migrating humpback whales in the winter. This is a perfect place to walk or bike along the coastline.

#7. Walking in the rain forest.

On the hillside neighborhood of Aiea just northwest of Honolulu, is a cool Green Park with beautiful eucalyptus. This is a 3 1/2 mile loop trail with beautiful hidden valleys, forest waterfalls and beautiful streams through native trees and flowers ending at Manoa Falls. Something certainly to behold.

These are some of our favorite places to visit and sites to see around the island. For more information for free to give us a call at any time or browse our website for Oahu homes and real estate. [Source]

Images by Prayitno Andy Smith Daniel Ramirez Guilliean Pacheco Edmund Garman Flickr

Beaches, Snow, Views of the Heavens

April 13, 2015 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

I love living here. Someone once asked me if I am glad I moved to Hawaii decades ago… I responded by saying, “every day of my life”. There is nothing quite like it on earth. We really do have beaches, snow and lush tropical rainforests all within the confines of just a few island out here in the Pacific. We have it all in my opinion and if you’re wavering on a move to Hawaii, let me just say it – DO IT. You won’t regret it.

Take a look at our Facebook page for shared content from Bruce Omori, a local. His recent work shows the view from the summit of Mauna Kea. The moon and Venus set over the Western horizon. You can see the lights from across the state and Waimea and Kawaihae in the lower right and Lahaina with the slopes of Haleakala from Maui.(See Facebook Page for Shared posts) This truly is a wondrous place to live.

Now, I’m not saying it’s easy. We do have limited resources and living expenses can be spendy but it’s an easy trade off if you consider the alternative. Yes, we have some sticky traffic but the view more than makes up for it. I breathe in the warm, tropical air every morning, thankful to be living here. Even on the busiest of islands, Oahu still holds peace, calm and tranquility for me.

Mililani has been my home for some time and I love living where I can view it all from the center of the island. I’m no more than a few minutes to the North Shore or south to Honolulu and Waikiki.

SO what are you waiting for? What’s holding you back? There are jobs, resources, and homes right here waiting for you. Our office is waiting to answer your questions about the move. Feel free to check out my blog for more about relocating and moving to Hawaii. I can’t wait to see you here! Mahalo and Aloha.

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7 Reasons Mainlanders Should Relocate to Honolulu

Tips for a Smooth Relocation to Oahu with Children

Oceanfront Homes in Haleiwa and Waialua Oahu

March 30, 2015 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

Oceanfront Homes in Haleiwa and Waialua Oahu – Homes on the Beach in North Oahu

Haleiwa and Waialua are both on the northwestern edge of Oahu. They are smaller communities with laid back lifestyles and beautiful ocean breezes. Many locals prefer to live here or those looking for a quieter pace than the big city of Honolulu or Waikiki.

Haleiwa actually stretches as far north as Kawela Bay close to Turtle Bay and the North Shore as as far inland as the Sacred Falls State Park and almost to the Schofield Barracks. However, most of the residential properties are located from Waialua Bay north along the coastline. Right in town the oceanfront homes are along Pikai St between the Kaiaka Bay Beach Park and the Haleiwa Army Beach. This small section of road is home to about 23 properties priced $430,000 to about $2 million depending on condition and size. All have waterfront access right on the beach in the beautiful little bay. From there, a little north along the Kamehameha Hwy is Papailoa Road. These oceanfront homes offer larger lots priced from $1 million to over $5 million. Each home again offers oceanfront access and beach front views. A little farther north on a small jetty is the rocky beachfront along Pohaku Loa Way. These homes are similar to those just south priced from $2 million but there are no sandy beached along these oceanfront homes. Just around the bend along the highway are homes with larger lots stretching from the highway to the sandy beach priced around $2 million to $4 million. These homes go all the way to the Northshore so there are plenty of beautiful oceanfront and beachfront options here.

To the south is the small town of Waialua. This village reaches to the tip of Oahu and includes the Dillingham Airfield and south along Kaukonoahua Road. These homes overlook Mokuleia Bay right on the sandy beaches. Homes along Crozier Dr and Au Street are right on the water priced from $300,000 to over $1.5 million. These tend to be smaller homes but most will have some private if not all public access right to the beach. Towards the end of Crozier Dr the homes are a bit pricier around $600K to $1 million.

If you’re looking for the perfect oceanfront home on Oahu I suggest Waialua and Haleiwa; both beautiful coastal towns with lots to offer and amazing beachfront property.

Images by Aaron Warren, Darren Thompson & Mike Nash Flickr

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