WHY LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE?
WHY LIVE ON THE WEST SIDE?
For Oahu residents looking for a place to call home, the West Side of the island is often where their hunt for houses for sale begins. The communities of Waipahu, Ewa, Ewa Beach and the second city of Kapolei are where many families are settling on the island and real estate is generally more affordable.
Development of Kapolei was envisioned in the '50s, but initial construction of the area didn't begin until the late '80s. Kapolei was designed to be Oahu's "second city", or an urban hub companies and government agencies would base themselves out of. This would be in addition to or as an alternative to Honolulu, where real estate is at a premium.
The University of Hawaii also opened a campus on the west side, the University of Hawaii — West Oahu. In addition to undergraduate degrees, it also offers graduate and professional degree programs. Until the opening of UH-West Oahu, the only other university on Oahu in the UH system was UH-Manoa.
While the West Side of the island had a reputation as being rural and slow, the explosion of development in the last few decades has brought attractions, dining and shopping options that were only available on the other side of the island. The area will also be one of the endpoints of Honolulu's rail system, which is still under construction.
Shopping and dining
Ka Makana Ali'i is state's newest megamall, with over 1.4 million square feet in retail space hosting hundreds of shops. Macy's is one of the anchor tenants of the mall, with Consolidated Theaters operating big-screen theaters with luxury amenities like reserve seating and reclining seats. It's also home to the state's second Cheesecake Factory (the other in Waikiki). 24 Hour Fitness also opened a large, freestanding gym in the Ka Makana Ali'I complex.
Kapolei Commons is a rival to Ka Makana Ali'i in the area, with Regal Theaters operating its own premium theaters. Target and Pier 1 can also be found at this mall.
Attractions
While most tourist attractions are in Waikiki, the west side of the island boasts some of the most exclusive hotels and resorts — anywhere.
Disney's Aulani Resort Is part of Disney's Vacation Club and only one of three other Disney resorts that are not adjacent to one of its theme parks. Stays at the Aulani are considered to be a treat by tourists and locals.
The Aulani is part of a larger resort complex, the Ko 'Olina Resort and Marina. Other hotels and resorts in the are include Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, The Ko Olina Beach Villas and The Four Seasons at Ko Olina (a world-class resort considered to be one of the best on Oahu).
The area also features luxury real estate in the way of condos and homes. Houses for sale in the are very desirable.
That being said, the west side of the island is one of the more affordable areas to live in with single family median sales price of $685,000. However, with its amenities and attractions, living on the west side is an excellent value.
*median sales price of single family homes sourced from HBR Ewa Plain median sales price average between January 2018 and January 2019