Hawaii : City by City / Island by Island

[bresdo]

Area you are describing: Kauai, Kilauea (North Shore)
Weather: Only been here since last August so have not had all the effect so far. I think it is a little cooler here then other parts of the island. And rains practically everyday, some long timers told me this is the coldest winter they ever experienced. Overall it is very comfortable except some days when the trade winds are not blowing then it tends to get more humid and sticky.
Schools: My kids go to a private school Kauai Pacific and it is wonderful and very small class sizes. They concentrate on community, green and Hawaiian Culture. A lot of neighborhood kids go to Kilauea Elementary which is suppose to be one of the best public schools in the state. There is no High School up this side so all the kids have to go to Kapa'a which is something I would not want mine girls to do.
Commute: There is almost never any traffic on this side of the island, I go to Lihue every week or so but do so in non traffic hours so takes about 35 minutes to get there.
Food: We have only a couple of decent restaurants Kilauea Fish Market is great and a Bubba Burgers is somewhat edible. Overall the restaurants are mediocre at best and way overpriced. Of course we have at least 3 sunshine markets in the area a week as well as a lot of stands in the area to get fresh produce.
Shopping: Princeville and Hanalei have a few stores to get some needed things.
Air quality: Perfect have not experienced a bad day yet.
Economy:Things are slow but have not seen any businesses close in the area.
Crime:Very low but there has been a few events.
Housing prices: Compared to where I lived in LA they are pretty much the same. There seems to be quite a few homes on the market but nothing is moving.
Good neighborhoods:Kilauea, Princeville and Hanalei, Haena, etc...
Culture: There is a Hawaiin presence but I would not consider it overwhelming, going to the beaches you will see a lot of local families fishing and collecting shells.
Stuff to Do: Endless to much to write the beaches up here are some of the best.
Other:Coming from LA where I grew up it is nice being in a small town where you bump into people you know everyday and everywhere. My kids have freedom here to walk down the street to the store and I am not worried because I know it is safe (I would never let that happen in LA).

[zoa]

Area you are describing: Wahiawa/Whitmore/Helemano/Poamaho area
Weather: cool breezes from the trade winds with evening showers most of the year. green - GREEN - running joke for the longest time, you could set your watch by the time it rains every day! On clear night, it gets cool enough to use blankets and quilts. Some homes in the heights have fire places.
Schools: Kaala Elem. (lower Wahiawa), Wahiawa Elem. (central Wahiawa), Iliahi elem. (Wahiawa Heights), Ho'ala Schools (private), Our Lady of Sorrows Catholic School (pre-12, private), Helemano Elem. (in Whitmore), and I think there are two or three more elementary schools on Wheeler Army Air Field and Schofield for the military kids. Next, Wahiawa Middle School - now serving grades 6,7, & 8 and Wheeler Intermediate (for the military kids) and Leilehua High School.
Commute: Depends on where one worksand at what times.
Largest industrial employer: Pearl harbor - If early start (pre 8am) then the commute is roughly 15 minutes, there is minimal to no major traffic and everyone moves at highway speeds. If later start, may hit some of the early rush and could take half hour.
To Town areas (from Kalihi to Downtown) - If you don't mind early commute, about 45 minutes. If you get stuck at the Waiawa Intercange (H1 & H2 merge area) you could be in traffic for about an hour to 1.25 hour.
To Kapolei areas - so long as nothing major happens on Kunia Road, 10 to 15 minutes. If there is an accident on Kunia Road, you're screwed.
IF during the school year, add another 10 to 15 minutes to your commute. Sux, I know, but is reality.
Going Home: a lot of people stay in town a little bit longer just to avoid the major rush (from 4 to 5:30pm). If you get stuck in rush, expect about 45 minutes to an hour from town side. Once you hit H2 though, is smooth sailing! Commuting from Kapolei in the afternoons is really easy, so long as there is no construction going on.
Food: Fast food rules Kam Hwy through Wahiawa. You have Taco Bell, McDonalds, Jack in the Box, Zippy's, L&L Drivein, Quuiznos and Golden Coin all having frontage or access from Kam. there used to have Wendy';s too, but they left). Kentucky Fried Chicken is a little up on California Ave. Subway, Pizza Hut, Baskin Robins a little further past KFC. Domino's Pizza is also available and Poppa John's.
Then there are several mom & pop places that are great! Maui Mikes (bbq chicken), Dong Yang, Spaghetti House, some bento outfits, a couple of korean BBQ's, a cute little Mexican eatery and even an Italian restaurant!
Grocery shopping can be had at either Foodland or Tamura's. there are also any number of smaller convenience shops (even one in Whitmore!) including 2 7-11s. There are a couple of ethnic shops, one specifically for Thai food (located on Wilikina).
There is also a farmer's market held periodicaly at the Wahiawa Community Park where local small-farmers sell their veggies. OH! And the Peterson Egg Farm in Wahiawa Heights where you can get fresher than fresh eggs.
Shopping: Wahiawa Town Center sports some little boutiques, a jewelry store, some beauty shops and Longs Drugs. We have an Ace hardware for the handy man and even a gamer's shop (Collectibles, on Kam Hwy. across from McDonaldow) for purchasing pre-owned video games and such. There are other small businesses that cater to the local crowd or those going to the North Shore, but no malls to speak of. If you want mall shopping, you got about a 10 minute drive to the Outlets of Waikele, 25 minutes to Pearlridge, or 15 minutes to Sam's club in Pearl Highlands. Most of the Wahiawa people go to Mililani town Center for Walmart, City Mill and other trendy shopping as well as restaurants like Chili's or Ruby Tuesday.
Air quality: Superb! You can smell the eucalyptus as you drive by them on the freeway! About the only time the air is dirty is when vog travels up from the Big Island, and that means the kona winds are in place and it is muggy as well - and everyone is suffering.
Economy: Wahiawa's economy is closely tied to the rotation at Schofield. When the soldiers rotate out for Iraq (or something similar) for long periods, many of the spouses go back to their homes... and that takes away a lot of the patronage for the smaller businesses here.
Crime: Just as anywhere else, we have our bad elements. Certain parts of Wahiawa have to deal with street walkers, the sporadic drug pusher, and homeless. Recently, there was a clean-up campaign and many people were arrested and/or taken to shelters and half-wya houses so crime has steadily dropped. There is a police station in town with a very prominent force that patrols our streets regularly, even in the outer laying villages of Whitmore, Poamoho and Helemano.
Housing prices: Deals are still to be had! Two 2-br homes grandfathered on one large lot for $483,000; 5-br home w/2-car garage and moderate yard, newly built in 2000 for $500,000; 3-br home, used to be plantation house for $325,000. Depending on the location and the amenities, prices top out around $800,000.
Good neighborhoods: Wahiawa Heights is well sought after. KahiKani (new Whitmore) is also really nice w/neigborhood watch and nice neigbors. Lower Wahiawa around Kaala Elementary is well maintained with tight neighbors.
Culture: Wahiawa is a working-class town. We work hard, and play hard. We also cater to the military, and love our football! Mules Rule!
Stuff to Do: Periodically there are small carnivals held around certain holidays. We also have Veteran's Day Parade and a Christmas Parade. Our Lady of Sorrows periodically holds a carnival as well. Most other activities are centered around the high school, or any one of the multitude of churches in the town. The local joke is that Wahiawa has the most churches per capita than any other city in the US.
Other: We have a botanical garden in the middle of the town with rain forest plants you would be hard pressed to find elsewhere. We also are home of the "Alii Birthing Stones", an ancient Hawaiian place where chiefs were born. Locals go up past the Heights to go pig hunting and hiking. And we are basically a half hour to some of the best beaches on the island.

[It's Freezing]

Originally Posted by boodhabunny

My husband and I are new residents of Kihei, having arrived here just 12 days ago, but I will share what we have learned (and are still learning) about our new home in Kihei.

Area you are describing: Kihei, Maui, situated on the coast, southwest of Haleakalā. Kihei's population is roughly 19,000. The median age is 36.

Weather: Arid, sunny and warm. Summer highs are in the upper 80s. Winter lows are in the 60s.
Kihei gets between 10-13 inches on rainfall per year.

Schools: 2 public elementary schools, 1 public intermediate school, 1 public high school. 1 Title school, 1 private (Montessori) school.

Healthcare: There are 193 physicians per capita in Kihei, HI. The US average is 170. There is no hospital in Kihei but there is an Immediate Care Facility and also Kaiser Permanente Medical Center.

Commute: The town is bordered by beaches and S. Kihei Road on one side and the Piʻilani Highway on the other. Traffic on S. Kihei Rd. can be congested but you can almost always get from one end of town to the other in 25 minutes or less. Kahului airport is 30 minutes away.

Food: Safeway, Foodland, and Star Market are the large grocery stores but I've discovered that there are also a couple of farmers markets, a seafood market, and at least one health food store. There's a wide selection of restaurants from fast food, chains to a number of upscale dining establishments. There are dance clubs, karaoke spots and several sports bars. We're still exploring venues to find live music, they seem fewer than we expected.

Shopping: There are no less than 10 shopping malls and commercial strips crammed in between Kihei's condos and hotels. Kihei was over-developed in the 1970s without much regard for planning. Therefore, in my opinion, it lacks the charm of some of its neighboring districts.

Air and Water Quality: Air quality is 53 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is based on ozone alert days and number of pollutants in the air, as reported by the EPA.

Water quality in Kihei is 52 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). The EPA has a complex method of measuring watershed quality using 15 indicators.

Superfund index is 99 on a scale to 100 (higher is better). This is upon the number and impact of EPA Superfund pollution sites in the county, including spending on the cleanup efforts.

Economy: Same as the rest of the state. Kihei is primarily a tourist town although there is a developing interest in technology and research.

Crime: On a scale of 1 (low) to 10, I'd rate crime in Kihei a "5" where the US average is "3". Theft and drug related crime is predominate.

Housing prices: Last time I checked, the median home value in Kihei, HI, was $889,000. The income per capita is $23,834, which includes all adults and children. Scary.

Culture: Abundant community activities; at least 10 churches are in Kihei. The public parks are a hub of activity. They offer craft fairs, music concerts and other fun events. Skateboarders will appreciate skate parks. There are also baseball fields, basketball courts, an in-line hockey rink, a picnic pavilion, and a nice children's play ground. There's an excellent public golf course. I see a lot of fishing being done from the shore too.

Stuff to Do: Kihei has one perfect beach after another. They are some of the best life-guarded beaches in the state. One beach might be favored for swimming, another for surfing, and another for snorkeling. There is a nude beach here as well although I haven't visited that one yet! At the north end of Kihei is the National Wildlife Conservation District, Kelia Pond, where endangered Hawaiian stilts and coots thrive. The harbor at nearby Māʻalaea is the launching site for chartered fishing excursions, whale watching expeditions and snorkel trips to Molokini. There is a excellent public golf course in Kihei and, of course, anyone can enjoy the sunshine, surf and sand that are the hallmark of the area.

Other: People here are warm, friendly and welcoming. We have made friends everywhere we go. I also have been recently awed by the 1 minute wait time at the local DMV office. Wow, I've never experienced that before!

We spent our 50th anniversary in Kihei for 2 weeks in Oct. 2007 and it was without a doubt the finest vacation we've ever had. I would rate the crime at 1. We noticed women and children walking carefree after the sun went down and we never heard or seen any criminal activity. Further, even though the traffic was busy at times everyone was very courteous with their driving and we drove everywhere on Maui. I should mention we have been in the UK, Greece, Mexico, Venezuela, USA and Canada so we've had enough travel experience over 52 years to give this observation.

[tsays]

Area you are describing: Hawaii Kai (Oahu)
Weather: Dry (one of the driest on Oahu..cactus' can attest). That's not to say that there isn't rain..its just not as common as other places on the Island. Some people compare it to S. CA living. It isn't as lush as other parts of the Island (Kailua for example).
Schools: Some say very good, compared to other public schools on the Island. Disclosure: I don't have children.
Commute: A little long, only really 2 ways into "town" and sometimes frustratingly SLOW even though it isn't "long" (10 miles). HOV lane helps. Good luck getting over 40mph...but like all main landers, you'll learn to slow down too =)
Food: I don't think the food in Hawaii Kai is all that great. Some like Assiagos, and Kona Brew but I think both are pretty over rated. Roy's is in Hawaii Kai (the original). That said, there are alot of "fast" options on either side of the marina including Greek, Korean, Burgers. Safeway, Foodland & COSTCO are all here. Also a little farmer's market during the week and a little larger one on Saturday.
Shopping: Some cute boutiques on the east side of the marina. Other than that, Ross.
Air quality: Good.
Economy: Same as Honolulu. Not a TON of employment right in Hawaii Kai, but there are some professional offices.
Crime: Limited, comparatively speaking.
Housing prices: On the expensive side, even for Honolulu. $600K+
Good neighborhoods: "Hawaii Kai" can go as far west as Pu'uikena. Some beautiful properties along Kalanianaole hwy (you'll learn to say that!), including Portlock are very exclusive. Within Hawaii Kai proper Mariner's Cove, Mariners Ridge are great. Not much of Hawaii Kai is "bad". Personally, I don't want to live in Kalama Valley, but only because I feel like its warmer there and less of a breeze...the homes are perfectly nice and actually, slightly more affordable.
Culture: Mixed. (like everywhere here). More Haole than some other places.
Stuff to Do: Minutes from Haunauma Bay (although after living here awhile, you'll find much better beaches). SCUBA runs regularly out of the marina. Lots of people living on the marina kayak and paddle board right from their backyards. Snorkeling near by. Sandy Beach is great, lots of kids on the weekends and the surf and current can be very strong. Listen to warnings about this beach, but have fun. Makapu'u Lighthouse hike (walk, really) is only minutes away, and its a great way to start or end the day any day.
Other: Easy, quiet place to live. Feels like you have lived here forever immediately. Friendly. Very casual. Great place for kids.

[Afishwithabike]

Area you are describing: Kailua on Oahu (NOT Kailua-Kona on the Big Island)

Weather: Generally temperate with good tradewinds. It's green and lush in Kailua thanks to the rain which is regular enough to keep things growing but doesn't rain enough to be a nuisance.

Schools: A mix of private schools and public schools.

Private schools - Le Jardin, St. Anthony's, St. John Vianney, Redemption Academy, and a few other small private schools.

Public - Kailua Elementary, Ka'elepulu Elementary, Enchanted Lake Elementary, Kailua High, Kalaheo High.

There's also Lanikai Elementary which is a charter school.

Commute: Commuting from Kailua is generally very good. You have several ways of getting out of the area unlike other parts of the island which are two-way towns.

If you're going to the Leeward/Pearl Harbor side just take the H-3 highway. There's rarely any traffic. It's a quick 30 minutes from Kailua to Pearl Harbor/Salt Lake. The drive is scenic. When it rains you can see so many waterfalls over the Ko'olau Mountains.

If you're going to town you can take the Pali Highway. It took me 35-45 minutes during rush hour to get from Kailua to Downtown Honolulu.

There's also the Likelike Highway which you can take from Kaneohe to get to town.

You can also take the scenic route around Waimanalo and Hawaii Kai if you want another way to get to town. It takes much longer and it's worth it for those times you don't have to go anywhere in a hurry.


Food: There are many restaurants. You can find something to your liking. You can find Mexican, Thai, Italian, Chinese, "American", Korean, Japanese, fast food, plate lunch, etc. There are several bars including a biker bar. There's a mobile Indian restaurant that parks close to the Kailua Post Office. There's a really good NYC style deli (Brent's) near the Kailua Long's store. Thursday evenings from 5 pm to about 7 pm there is a decent Farmers' Market in the covered parking lot of the Kailua Long's store. You can find fresh veggies and fruits, organic items, local honey, sweets, and everything else.

Shopping: There are several large supermarkets - two Safeway stores, one Foodland, one Times, one Don Quijote (a Japanese store). There are two natural health food stores - Down to Earth which sells all sorts of organic and natural food items. It does not sell any meat or chicken though. There is also The Source which is I believe the oldest organic store on Oahu. They sell supplements, fruits, veggies, organic meats and eggs. A Whole Foods Store is scheduled to open in Kailua in 2010 or so.

You can find lots of small mom and pop type stores. There is an organic children's clothing store near the Kailua Long's. There's a Goodwill store and Salvation Army store for bargain hunters. The nearest mall, Windward Mall, is in Kaneohe which is about a 15 minute drive.

Air quality: Fabulous! Can't be better

Economy: Same as Honolulu. There is a hospital (Castle Medical Center), quite a number of small businesses, but you're not going to find too many urban jobs here. This is a suburban beach community.

Crime: Violent crime is not an issue. It's mostly burglery/property theft type crimes. However, Kailua feels safe compared to some other areas. There's a noticeable police presence in the community.

Housing prices: Pricey. $600,000+
It's a very desirable neighborhood and even older homes command high prices.

Good neighborhoods: I don't think there are any "bad" neighborhoods in Kailua. You have to drive the area to get a feel for the place but the neighborhoods all seem ok to me.

Some areas are older than other areas but it doesn't make them "bad" per se. For example, Coconut Grove on Oneawa area doesn't have good sidewalks compared to say Keolu Drive in Enchanted Lakes but the homes in the Keolu Drive area are "newer" compared to those in Coconut Grove.

Culture: Multicultural and diverse. You'll see Asians, Polynesians, White (haole), etc. Lots of churches. There are various organizations you can join like the YMCA, Rotary, Kailua Chamber of Commerce,This is a laidback beach town. It's pretty self-contained. You don't necessarily have to leave the area to find something to do.

Stuff to Do: Swim, surf, windsurf, hike, walk, bike, skateboard, golf, read, garden, exercise. You can go to Honolulu for any theater or musical event. The commute from Kailua is quite easy. Kailua has its own celebrations from block parties to the Fourth of July parade, Christmas Parade, to the I Love Kailua community parties. You can go to Windward Mall which has a large Border's Bookstore if you just want to enjoy a magazine and a coffee drink. You can go to two of the best beaches on Oahu - Lanikai and Kailua. Ka'elepulu Elementary has a HUGE playground. You could fit two schools in the grassy area that belongs to that school. Lots of room for kids to run around and play. Near the Kailua Library you find the City & County tennis courts, a junglegym for kids, and a swimming pool. There are several exercise facilities which offer everything from Pilates to Yoga.

Or you can just do nothing but people watch.

Other: I've lived in Hawaii for 30 years (showing my age here! ) and Kailua is my favorite place of all the places I've lived here.

[nhzero]

Area you are describing: Kauai, Kekaha/Waimea (West Shore)

Weather: Warmer here then other parts of the island. Sprinkles a couple times a week at night during the summer, rains a few times a week in the winter. Averages 25 inches per year. Overall it is comfortable except some days when the trade winds are not blowing then it tends to get more humid and sticky. Tends to be very warm most evenings right when the sun goes down due to the trades dropping off. Average 85-89 highs in the summer, 80-ish in the winter. Average mid to upper 60's lows in the summer, low to mid 60's in the winter.

Schools: My kids go to Island School in Lihue, which is a 1 hour one-way bus on the "Kaua'i Bus" public bus system. It's the only private High School on the whole island. Wonderful and very small class sizes. They concentrate on Hawaiian Culture and have a good range of sports. A lot of neighborhood kids go to Kekaha Elementary which is supposed to be one of the worst public schools in the county, just ahead of the one in Hanama'ulu, so the smarter parents send their kids to St. Theresa Catholic School which goes from K-8th. The Waimea High School is the only high school this side so all the kids from Kalaheo west come here. Kalaheo can choose between Waimea and Kaua'i High, but most pick Kaua'i High. I don't believe in sending childrun to public school anywhere, but if St. Theresa and Island School didn't exist, I would homeschool before putting my kids in public school here.

Commute: There is a one lane in each direction highway from Polihale Beach Rd all the way to Lihue with two passing areas on the way. We go to Lihue every week or so, and it take about 40 minutes to get to Puhi, just north of the Kaua'i Humane Society. Puhi is where traffic is an issue due to the inability of the county to time the traffic lights.

Food: We have only a couple of decent restaurants, all tourist traps. Wrangler's is a decent steak. Shrimp Station and Island Taco both serve good local tacos (i.e. seared Ahi [tuna], etc). Yumi's, Obsessions, and Pacific Pizza in Waimea are good local choices, but they are more like local diners than full restaurants. Overall the restaurants are mediocre at best and way overpriced. We have at 3 Farmer's Markets between Kalaheo and Kekaha per week.

Shopping: Ishihara's in Waimea, or Big Save (locally known variously as "Big Rip," "Big Spend," "Small Wallet," etc) in both Ele'Ele and Waimea for groceries. Big Save in Ele'Ele is the cheapest with the best selection, but Ishihara's has the best poke or sashimi.

Air quality: When Kilauea is going nuts, it can be pretty bad. We'll get "vog cough" sometimes, and it can be as bad as LA, but it's pretty rare - I'd say 3-7 days a year.

Economy: Things are slow. Seen a couple businesses close in the area. Lots of Kama'aina rates to draw in the local.

Crime: Violent crime is almost non-existant, but you will find lots of places at night where people will smoke pakalolo or do meth. If you're a local, no big deal, but I highly suggest you keep the rental cars in the Po'ipu areas or on Kaumuali'i Highway at night.

Housing prices: Compared to where I lived in Oklahoma City they are astronomically priced, even after the market "crashed." Still seeing $550k 3 & 4 BR houses, but the foreclosures are getting down into the $400k range on this side. Lihue & Kapa'a have some areas in the low $300's. There are quite a few homes on the market but nothing is moving.

Good neighborhoods: The farther east you go, the more "anti-haole" attitude you'll see, so Kalaheo seems to be the farther east most people are willing to go. Kalaheo is the "yuppie haole" area of the "West" side, although many people don't consider it to be "West Shore" at all. Hanapepe is nice, but HOT up in the Heights. Waimea can be nice, and tends to have a lot of trees, but it currently is concerned about lack of water.

Culture: There is a definite Hawaiian presence at all public events & areas. The way I talk about Hawaii is that it's like another country that speaks Engligh, and that every island is like it's own state. So, O'ahu is like New York City, and Kaua'i is like Montana. They may both be a part of America, and have more in common than they have different, but just like the movie "New in Town," try and move a manager from Miami or NYC, put them in Montana, and see how successful you are. In Oahu, and *maybe* in Kapa'a/Lihue you can put "haole goggles" on, stick with haole friends, and ignore the Hawaiian culture, but if you try that here, you will either fail miserably in your job or Hawaiiana will come smack you around.

Stuff to Do: Endless - too much to write. Polihale Beach, hiking in Koke'e/Waimea Canyon, etc. Lots of outdoor stuff, but someone from San Francisco who is used to spending lots of money on entertainment will find that all their money is spent on living expenses instead, and there's isn't anything "city" to do here anyway - one small theater that shows second-run movies. Outdoor is the way to go around here.

Other: Coming from the Mainland, it is REALLY nice being in a small town where you know everyone and wave all the time. I never lock my car doors on the South & West shores, but I've had a few bad experiences on the North Shore.

[kmcd23]

Area you are describing: Pearl Harbor area - I'm gearing this towards the military folks who might have orders to move here.

Weather: I'd say this is the 'middle of the road'. Not as dry and arid as Ewa or Hawaii Kai, but not as rainy and cloudy as Kailua. It hovered in the low 90's a lot this summer, but I believe mid to upper 80's is average for the rest of the year.

Schools: I don't have children, but I hear rave reviews about the Pearl Harbor Kai Elementary right next to the base.

Commute: If you work on base, and get housing right in the area, the commute is practically non-existent. My husband often rides his bike to work since the biggest delay is getting through the gate, and being on a bike greatly reduces that. I often walk to base for things like the gym, ITT, etc. And I can get to the NEX, Target, and the Commy in 5 minutes or less by car.

Food: I think this area is very lacking! Right by PSD you'll find Ruby Tuesday's, Panda Express, and a host of fastfood restaurants. A little farther down the road there are some local places like Champa Thai, Anna Millers, etc. and a few more chains like California Pizza Kitchen. But to get really good food, you're going to have to drive a bit farther than that.

Shopping: When it comes to cheap shopping, it's all right here! Well, cheap by Hawaii standards! Target, the NEX, the Commissary are just a stone's throw from base. Drive a little farther and you'll find Ross, Walmart, Sam's Club, and an 'ok' mall. Drive into town, and almost everything you could want is at your fingertips. Almost.

Air quality: Last time we lived here, I thought it was great. This time, the VOG (volcanic emissions that build up from the Big Island where there are no tradewinds) are a little worse.

Economy: Like most bases, you don't feel the crunch as much in the area right around it. But it's definitely harder island-wide to find a job right now for the spouse.

Crime: Petty theft seems to be on the rise in housing that's outside the gate, but most of that is a crime of opportunity, from people leaving their garage doors open, bikes out in the yard, etc. Be smart and you won't have an issue. Plus, all housing outside of the gate comes with alarm systems.

Housing prices: Live in housing and it's free! And seriously, Pearl has amazing housing. And if you want to save money, choose an older neighborhood, and you might get a monetary incentive for move in, or they might not charge you your entire BAH. If you want to live on the economy, it's going to cost you. Right by base, there are condos that go from $1200 for the tiniest, up to about $2600. Houses for rent are harder to come by in the area, and are usually around $2500 from what I see. When deciding if you want to live out in town, and you think you'll save money, keep in mind the Power Bill, and whether or not you'll have AC. Almost all housing has central AC, but it's not that common out in town. And if you do have AC out in town, your electric bill will be very high - much higher than in the mainland. And also consider storage. If you've got a lot of stuff, you're going to have more space for it if you live in housing most likely!

Good neighborhoods: I like Hale Moku since it's right next to base and the houses have garages and small yards. The new housing on Ford Island is beautiful, but it's farther away. Radford and Catlin Park are also gorgeous, but if you don't have kids, you won't qualify for those.

Culture: It's all military, all the time. I highly recommend you make an effort to get AWAY from base and really experience Hawaii. If you stay by the base all the time, you'll never know what you're missing!

Stuff to Do: There is plenty of history in this area. Between the Arizona Memorial, the Battleship Missouri, the USS Bowfin, and the museums on Ford Island, you can really experience a lot of history. There is a beautiful paved path on Hickam AFB (soon to be part of a joint base with Pearl) that takes you along the harbor. It's great for walking, strollers, running, etc. There's a small beach on Hickam too, with little to no wave action so it's great for kids. And there's a lifeguard daily. There are lots of pools and community centers in the area, and a couple of dog parks. There's a marina that does sailing lessons, a place for scuba classes, several golf courses, and plenty of other opportunities to get outside and enjoy the Island!

Other: Hawaii is a great place to be stationed - one of the best in my opinion. Some love it, some hate it. It is what you want it to be, I think. Come with an open mind, live by base to be able to get the most out of your military benefits, but then get out of the area as much as possible. See the sights, explore the island, learn the culture, and make the most of your time here!