Future of Waianae? (Waipahu, Waimanalo: short sale, house prices, to buy)

[doitright1]

I am curious to hear what everyone in the know feels about the future of Waianae. I think that I have found a place to purchase there that is within my range. Took me almost two months to find but whatever, as long as I found something. It's a short sale. But anyway.

I am wondering do you all feel that Waianae will eventually blow up and everything there will be really expensive similar to how Waipahu blew up? According to a retired Navy chief I spoke with earlier today, when he arrived on O'ahu in the 80's, everyone advised him to steer clear of two places, Waipahu and Kalihi. But now, those are not bad places at all to have a home in. If he would have bought then, his home would have been worth triple the original price. I am wondering if something like that is in Waianae's near/upcoming future?

Random thoughts I have about everything:
- Disney put a resort there. (Aulani) I don't know why just yet but I am sure they did it for a reason that will unfold soon enough... Although the housing prices around Walt Disney World in Orlando is quite cheap from what I understand... Hmm..
- The place I'm looking to purchase is (according to the listing) 10 minutes from Kapolei. I think we can all agree that this is a great advantage to this place since everyone can see that Kapolei is exploding with development and is really booming! Is Waianae next...? (after the tram is built in 10-15 years, it will run from Kapolei to Ala Moana...)

Your thoughts and why? Mahalo!

[mokeanne]

i live in makakilo. my husband and i both work in town. we leave the house at 5:15am to beat the morning rush. once it gets to 5:30, traffic starts backing up to waikele and kunia/ewa. i can't imagine what time ppl in waianae leave at.

getting home is a whole other beast.... getting shivers thinking about it. this week and last i think i only came home once before it was dark out.

it's great for retirees and ppl that can find jobs on the leeward side. but of course it's to the employer's advantage, as they can probably pay less.

[doitright1]

Well, I work at Pearl Harbor so I don't think I'll spend nearly as much time in traffic as you do.

Nevertheless, that is a very valid concern and that is why I am inquiring about the future of Waianae. If the future is hopefully bright then I can suck it up and deal with the long commute for now. Suffer now, reap the benefits in the long. That's a good plan. Besides, we are not the only ones with super long commutes. I was reading some of the archives commute threads for other cities listed here on city-data and apparently there are a ton of people who work in major cities such San Fransisco, LA, and New York City who commute just as much as we do here in Hawai'i and spend about the same amount of time or more than we do here as well. Now, while that fact doesn't make the commute any easier, it does make me more hopeful/joyous to think about that future bright day when Waianae's future is unveiled. (if it's a good future, that is)

[mokeanne]

Originally Posted by doitright1

Well, I work at Pearl Harbor so I don't think I'll spend nearly as much time in traffic as you do.

Nevertheless, that is a very valid concern and that is why I am inquiring about the future of Waianae. If the future is hopefully bright then I can suck it up and deal with the long commute for now. Suffer now, reap the benefits in the long. That's a good plan. Besides, we are not the only ones with super long commutes. I was reading some of the archives commute threads for other cities listed here on city-data and apparently there are a ton of people who work in major cities such San Fransisco, LA, and New York City who commute just as much as we do here in Hawai'i and spend about the same amount of time or more than we do here as well. Now, while that fact doesn't make the commute any easier, it does make me more hopeful/joyous to think about that future bright day when Waianae's future is unveiled. (if it's a good future, that is)

Um, my husband works on base too. I think it depends on what time you need to get in. the gates to get on base are usually backed up from 6 to 730ish.

you may want to look into the ferry that runs from west loch, although the times have been cut down to a minimum. depends if your jobs lets you out so you can get on the 530pm ferry back.

i totally agree about the commute. we were talking to a friend that bought a place in ewa beach. i'm not sure what it was, but he swears that moving from salt lake (near the stadium) to ewa has ruined his perception of hawaii. he can't wait to leave. i wasn't given many specifics, but that is what he said.

[Joliefille]

First, the Aulani resort is not in Waianae. It's in Ko'Olina, which shares a zipcode with Kapolei. And Waianae is not 10 minutes out of Kapolei, especially during morning or afternoon commuter times.

I would suggest spending some time driving back and forth, check out the grocery stores and schools (esp. if you plan to have kids ) before you make a decision.

[hotzcatz]

Just because other people are hitting their heads with rocks doesn't mean it's something you should want to do! A long commute is a long commute and you should do everything possible to avoid it. You're only alive (during this lifetime) for a limited time, why waste it sitting in traffic?

[doitright1]

I'm inquiring about the future of Waianae... What do you all think will happen there? I understand there are commutes though, nothing I can do about it.

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by doitright1

I'm inquiring about the future of Waianae... What do you all think will happen there? I understand there are commutes though, nothing I can do about it.

I'll bite - Waianae is a bit rough around the edges - it probably will be for quite some time due to its proximity.

Waimanalo on the east side which was also rough around the edges (and some would say still is) - is becoming a more popular place to buy a home and slowly transforming itself. I don't see Waianae making that transformation anytime soon.

The commute is the commute - but people point that out not only for the time you sit in traffic but the gas prices - up about 20 cents a gallon the past 2 weeks here. I'm hearing $5 gas possible this summer.

[doitright1]

Keep in mind that I'm referring to 15-20 years down the line. You all still don't feel that Waianae will be very much changed and "normal" house prices will be around $400-500K?

I keep asking every older local person, that has been on this island their entire life, I see about this. I think very very few of you (if any) are born-and-raised Hawaii locals but from what I am observing, the tally amongst them is almost equally divided. Some say, "Don't do it! Waianae will always be ghetto and bad!" and equally on the other side, there are locals who state, "Waianae most definitely will change for the better after Kapolei gets developed/saturates."

[whtviper1]

Originally Posted by doitright1

Keep in mind that I'm referring to 15-20 years down the line. You all still don't feel that Waianae will be very much changed and "normal" house prices will be around $400-500K?

I keep asking every older local person, that has been on this island their entire life, I see about this. I think very very few of you (if any) are born-and-raised Hawaii locals but from what I am observing, the tally amongst them is almost equally divided. Some say, "Don't do it! Waianae will always be ghetto and bad!" and equally on the other side, there are locals who state, "Waianae most definitely will change for the better after Kapolei gets developed/saturates."

15-20 years? You might as well ask how facebook stock will be doing then. A major hurricane could hit. Maybe there will be a casino there. Maybe it will be like 15-20 years ago (its still the same). We all might be living like they do in Star Trek the next generation.

It may or may not be better or worse. Nobody knows.