Ewa Beach, Makakilo, Kapolei apartment research (Honolulu, Waipio: environment, loan, relocating)

[Metaphor]

Scope:

Well, with all of my extensive research, these three areas keep presenting the most ideal living arrangements for my tastes and preferences. I have been researching the apartment living accomodations throughout Oahu, in what has become a very in-depth isolation approach to finding what amenities are ideal for me. (i.e. dishwasher. A/C, ceiling fans, washer/dryer in unit, garage, gated access) I used Craigslist.com and Google Earth to gain insight into the locations and layouts of these cities as well as the layout of the complexes I "Pin-pointed" the complexes in "My Places" via Google Earth for reference. I am relocating from Michigan to California for training then permanently to Oahu.

Living Accomodations:

I am looking to live in a 2 Bed 2 Bath garaged/carported apartment/townhome. I am also considering the "Gated Communities" as a first option because of the security and peace of mind they offer.

The three cities mentioned have the highest number of townhomes and apartment complexes that are not of the high-rise or mid-rise fashion. (i.e. Aiea, Honolulu) that mtach my criteria. Of the three mentioned cities, Kapolei has the best infrastructure when consideration for towncenter progressiveness and community development are concerned.

Ewa Beach as a whole has the highest number of apartments and townhomes to select from, and also has a decent infrastructure when proximity to city amenities is considered. Ewa Beach as well is closer to the water, so if the beach is alluring to one, this location cannot be beat for proximity nor price.

Makakilo has a decent number of apartments/townhomes that are higher up the mountain range and provide the best views of the ocean and panaramic scenery. Makakilo receives the added benefit of being close to the towncenter atmosphere of Kapolei, so proximity to banks, shopping and other activities is no more than 3-5 miles away.

Kapolei is a planned town that has a great deal of potential to transgress into a thriving "next city" environment. While it does not have anywhere near as high a number of townhomes or apartments/condos within, it does have newer built homes and sub-divisions. Kapolei also has more of the enhanced amenities such as a community park, library, and shopping centers.

Pricing:

The price range and layout for what I desire are as follows: $1200-$1800 2 Bed 2 Bath 2 parking (or a garage) apartment/townhome.

Of the three areas, Ewa Beach has the highest number of apartments/townhomes with the best rental rates of the three.

Makakilo has a few competitively priced apartments/townhomes both nearer to the H1 and further up the mountain with great views.

Kapolei has fewer apartments/townhomes than the other two, but it does have more sub-division style home communitites as well as a great infrastructure for community involvement.

Location:

All three of these cities are within 20-25 miles of Honolulu and are very near the H1. If commuting to and from work is necessary, provisioning for rush-hour traffic is a must if driving from these locations. For me, commuting will not be necessary as I will be working from home. Ewa Beach is a "one-way in one-way out" town, so I would think rush hour could be pretty terrible commuting from here. If an ocean view appeases your interests, look no further than Makakilo.

Conclusion:

I will be deciding between these three areas to call home once my training in California is done and I permanently call the island of Oahu my home. So far I am leaning more towards Ewa Beach and Makakilo, because of the higher number of rental options, with Kapolei having 1-2 townhomes that appease my tastes. Of course, availability will be a concern and I totally understand the competitive nature of renting on Oahu.

I hope this helps anyone looking for insight into apartments

Aloha!

[cynmkolohe]

Great information...well done!

I have one additional question you might want to explore...have you compared the elevation/weather patterns for these areas? Higher elevation often means cooler. That might be important to you since you will be working at home. The afternoons can get rather warm, especially if there are no trade winds blowing!

[Metaphor]

Originally Posted by cynmkolohe

Great information...well done!

I have one additional question you might want to explore...have you compared the elevation/weather patterns for these areas? Higher elevation often means cooler. That might be important to you since you will be working at home. The afternoons can get rather warm, especially if there are no trade winds blowing!

From all of the research I have done, yes there is a difference in the locations. The beach front cities tend to be warmer and drier. The Leeward side has less tradewind effects than the Windward side. The valley areas (Mililani, Waipio) typically have more precipitation (i.e. rain). The areas in the mountains are definitely warmer but receive nice breezes from the elevation. and the North Shore has the most active shores, hence the surfers paradise.

Hope this helps.

[MsHell]

Originally Posted by Metaphor

Scope:
Conclusion:

I will be deciding between these three areas to call home once my training in California is done and I permanently call the island of Oahu my home. So far I am leaning more towards Ewa Beach and Makakilo, because of the higher number of rental options, with Kapolei having 1-2 townhomes that appease my tastes. Of course, availability will be a concern and I totally understand the competitive nature of renting on Oahu.

My two cents...

Of the three areas, my first choice would be Kapolei.

Ewa is way too congested, unless you live at the beginning of Ewa.

Makakilo is nice, I believe it's a little cool. Plus you have a view of the ocean. However there is only one road in and out. While traffic isn't an issue, if they close the road - you are SOL. Road closures happen on occassion here, not worth the risk IMO.

[Metaphor]

Originally Posted by MsHell

My two cents...

Of the three areas, my first choice would be Kapolei.

Ewa is way too congested, unless you live at the beginning of Ewa.

Makakilo is nice, I believe it's a little cool. Plus you have a view of the ocean. However there is only one road in and out. While traffic isn't an issue, if they close the road - you are SOL. Road closures happen on occassion here, not worth the risk IMO.

Mahalo for the insight. these are the things I have no insight into. I am glad to have found this sight to be able to voice my interests and findings, then get advice and experienced input on my choices and discoveries.

This is the second time I have heard Ewa Beach is VERY congested. But to my understanding, Ewa is congested during normal peak rush hour times. If it is consistantly congested then this is something I would probably want to avoid.

Makakilo seems to be a very secluded town which ustilizes its proximity to Kapolei to give its residents outlets and shopping options. The whole "one-way in one-way out" theme seems to be consistant to the entire island, so avoiding this seems futile with the exception of living in Honolulu. I will consider this warning with extreme prejudice. Even though I will be working from home, if I choose to have access outside my city of residence, I do not want to be "trapped".

Kapolei has only 1-2 options for townhomes, and the area is very progressive, which I like alot. I will not know which area will be more suitable for what I am looking to secure until I am there. All input is much appreciated.

Aloha!

[MsHell]

Originally Posted by Metaphor

The whole "one-way in one-way out" theme seems to be consistant to the entire island, so avoiding this seems futile with the exception of living in Honolulu.

To my knowledge there are only a handful neighborhoods on Oahu that have literally one-way in/one-way out.

* Pacific Palisades
* Makakilo
* Maunawili (I am not certain, but I believe the housing in the back only have one road in).
* Waianae (however the military can opt to open their road, which they have done in "emergency" situations, to allow residents to pass).

There are areas that it's a pain if you have to go the "long way", but you can still get in and out to your home. i.e. Tantalus, North Shore.

[kani-lehua]

i grew up in the older part of ewa beach. it is very hot and dry. i also have a second home in kapolei which is on a corner lot and gets lots of crosswinds. makakilo is the coolest of the three.

i don't recall the name of the subivision, but it's located in iriquios (SPELLING) point housing and it has rentals and i believe gated. it was former military housing and has beach access.

[Metaphor]

Originally Posted by kani-lehua

i grew up in the older part of ewa beach. it is very hot and dry. i also have a second home in kapolei which is on a corner lot and gets lots of crosswinds. makakilo is the coolest of the three.

i don't recall the name of the subivision, but it's located in iriquios (SPELLING) point housing and it has rentals and i believe gated. it was former military housing and has beach access.

Any further information you can provide regarding this would be greatly appreciated. I'll be visiting the isloand to recon. some of the apartments i have already scouted.

[kani-lehua]

here's the link for you: iroquiospointislandclub.com (broken link) i hope this link works for you as it didn't work for me. try just typing in iroquios point island club. when the search is over, look for their link. when i used their's it worked?!

[cynmkolohe]

IROQUOISPOINTISLANDCLUB.COM
Try this?

I stayed at Iroquios Point once when I lived in Ewa Beach...I was house-sitting for a military family while they were on vacation. It was nice to be on the water, but the planes were quite noisy. It must be in the flight path for planes landing at HLN. This may be a concern for some...