Safe apts around Aiea (Honolulu, Pearl City: apartment, rental, hotel)

[onawhim]

I am moving to Oahu next month and need help on safe apts to live. I need to be within 5-10 minutes of Aiea. After researching I have found there seem to be a lot of living options in Pearl City, and Salt Lake. Any suggestions??? Nice, safe apt buildings?

Also, is the traffic any better driving away from the City in the morning and back toward in the evening, or is it bad in all directions during rush hour?

I am moving and don't know a single person! I do however have a job. I know I am not the only person who has done this so if anyone who has been, or is going, through this, a little moral support?! Excited, but nervous as heck!

[melaniej65]

As with anything you need to actually see a place before you decide to rent/buy. Aiea/Pearl City/Salt Lake all have some really lovely buildings as well as those that I would not enter if someone paid me to. It really depends upon the particular building, so do yourself a favor and take a couple of days to actually physically visit the places before you decide on a place.

Traffic is bad coming and going- but if you are working fairly close to your residence you can cut down on the pain significantly! Good luck to you- it is never easy to move when you do not know anyone- but since you have a job you are far ahead of a lot of people who decide to move here without one!

[onawhim]

How about the Highlander? Or Pearlridge apts.?

[kaimuki]

Welcome Onawhim! What's you budget for this apartment?

[HankDfrmSD]

Originally Posted by onawhim

I am moving to Oahu next month and need help on safe apts to live. I need to be within 5-10 minutes of Aiea. After researching I have found there seem to be a lot of living options in Pearl City, and Salt Lake. Any suggestions??? Nice, safe apt buildings?

Also, is the traffic any better driving away from the City in the morning and back toward in the evening, or is it bad in all directions during rush hour?

I am moving and don't know a single person! I do however have a job. I know I am not the only person who has done this so if anyone who has been, or is going, through this, a little moral support?! Excited, but nervous as heck!

On the H-1 freeway, which runs through Aiea, the traffic is definitely worse going toward Honolulu in the morning and away, in the afternoon.

Here is a site where you can actually watch the traffic in various locations. Aiea is shown on the top map:

Oahu Traffic Conditions, Official Web Site for The City and County of Honolulu

[onawhim]

I would like to keep it under $1400.

[cvkevents]

My husband and I lived in the Pearl Regency in Aiea. It was a great apartment. Although, make sure you have enough parking because you can't park near the complex very easily. My husband and I lived there about 3 years ago and a one-bedroom ran us around 1250. It was nice, but no granite or anything. We also lived in a three bedroom townhouse in Pearl City, no problems with anything in that area. Price was around 1750 per month and that was last year. Good luck!

[mdand3boys]

Get over there at least 1 week, if not 2 or 3 weeks early (before you start your job).
Go through a site like vrbo.com and rent a studio vacation rental. This will allow you to concentrate on getting your bearings and finding a suitable place to live.

[onawhim]

We ended up renting a hotel room in the hopes of finding an apartment right away...big mistake. I called and asked for appointments to see some furnished places and everyone told me that we would have to wait until I was over here. Well, when I got over here I could not see some of the units b/c the rental company employees were too busy. It was not an ideal situation. Anyway, I ended up on Koauka loop. If anyone is considering relocating to the Aiea/Pearl City area, I don't think you can go wrong with any of the highrises on the loop. I am very happy with the apartment I got and am happy to not face the highway so I can enjoy my lanai!!! If you don't mind the noise of the traffic on the highway, the golf course on the other side of H1 is BEAUTIFUL!

[Mililani Gal]

I hope your time in Hawaii will be more pleasant than frustrating. I always feel so bad when I hear people having a terrible time here. The area you chose is pretty good. Can get a little busy being so close to Pearlridge Shopping Center, but Pearl City is a pretty good area in terms of convenience to the rest of the island. I swear it's like 20 minutes to downtown from Pearl City during rush hour versus 45 minutes to downtown from Mililani/Waikele (Central and West Oahu).