Help! Oahu!
 

Hi there. Ya'll seem to know what you are talkinga about so... I am about to move to Oahu for a new job. Young (ish) single professional! Where do I live? I like to be in the thick of things and thought I would meet more people in the city, but whatever is best! So, Ala Moana (work is based there) high rise or Kailua or Kaimuki better? Any suggestions would be super duper greatly appreciated? The movers are picking up my stuff (do I just bring it all) and I will have a car and about a month of corp. housing! Thanks so much!!!

Kailua is a beautiful place. It has some of the nicest beaches on the entire island. BUT it takes at least 1/2 hour to commute to Ala Moana (probably more) each way, in what will probably be heavy traffic. So if commuting is a problem, you probably don't want to stay there. (It would be my pick, however, because it's so scenic).

Kaimuki is a blend of residential and commercial, close to Waikiki and not too far from Ala Moana center. A Waikiki appartment is also an option if you want to be close to Ala Moana.

But there are other (and, IMHO, more attractive) options too, like Makiki (close to Ala Moana - just go straight down Keeaumoku Street), Manoa (where the Univeristy of Hawaii is), Hawaii Kai (not close to Ala Moana, but close to Sandy Beach, if you like to surf). Why not wait to get there to see what you like?

Where you choose to live depends on so many things. If you provide more information, we can give you more detailed information.

Are you planning to rent or buy? House/condo/townhouse? What's your price range? How much commute time are you willing to put up with and how does that directly correlate to how much you're willing to spend on housing? You mention you'll have a car - but is that part of your corporate relocation package for the month - or is it your own car?

Short answers to the areas that have been mentioned:

The Ala Moana area is right in the thick of things - and depending on how close you work to where you live, you may not need a car at all. Almost exclusively condos available.

Kailua is a beautiful area, but as mentioned, the commute is at the minimum 30 minutes. If there's an accident on the Pali Highway (the main artery into/out of Kailua), it will take much longer. Homes and townhomes mostly available.

Kaimuki is an older neighborhood that has recently become quite hip. It's close to town - maybe a 15 minute drive - mostly older homes available, and the prices are pretty expensive.

Waikiki is almost exclusively condos - but it's a very congested area. Even though it's right in town, it can be a pain fighting all the traffic each day.

Makiki is a good area - close enough to downtown to be very convenient and is full of a wide range of condos. Manoa is nice too. There are more townhouses/condos the closer you get to the University.

Hawaii Kai is a nice area, but another 30 minute drive away.

I think your month of corporate housing will allow you time to check out the different areas and decide what you like.

Thanks so much. First helpful group of people I have found!

I will doing outside sales of sorts, so will be scooting all over the downtown, waikiki and ala moana areas. And, travel 3-4 times a month to other islands. I would rather live in the best area and commute than vice versa. Live by fun, cool stuff and nightlife (not necessarily clubs, but more hang out bars/music) and deal w/ drive to work - haha! I plan on renting and thought 1000 - 1400 or so. One or two bedroom. Single girl so I usually like to live in an apartment complex or condo or more populated area, rather than a house or duplex. Feel a little safer w/ more people around. Plus, might help me meet people! They are shipping my car for me so might as well bring it right? Probably not Waikiki (too touristy?). Some people say high rises (in ala moana?) or Kaimuki. Had not heard of Makiki yet. Just trying to grab a hold on where I will look when I get there! Is there one particular area the young professionals typically live (young ish - haha - two weeks from being thrity) or are they all over? So excited! Thanks a bunch for your time!

I'm a little biased since I live in the Ala Moana area. Ever since I moved there, I keep thinking that it's a great area to live if you are young & single. You're close to shopping, eating, the bus line, and more. Waikiki is a stone's throw away. It takes just 5 minutes (I timed it), depending on traffic, to get from Keeaumoku to the other end of King Street to get to Diamond Head. Everything is super convenient. In this area (called Pawaa/Makiki/McCully), there are many condos to choose from.

You might want to check out different websites that have current rental listings - I did a quick search and came up with this one: www.rentalsillustrated.com/publications.php

You can search by island and general geographic area. There wasn't a huge number of listings for the Honolulu area on this particular site, but enough (plus the photos of the buildings) for you to get an idea of how the rental amounts vary, depending on the newness of the building and amenities that come with it.

The further you move from downtown, the less expensive it gets, generally. Anything in the Waikiki, Ala Moana/Kapiolani, Makiki area is within 10-15 minutes from each other and is the most convenient for that reason.

There are not a lot of (if any) high rises in the Kaimuki area - unless they are thinking of the ones across from Kahala Mall (which I would consider the Kahala area).

I can't really think of any area in particular that has a larger population of young(ish) :) professional types than any other - I think they're spread out all over for their own various criteria, whether it be proximity to work, cost, quieter area, etc.

Based on your criteria, it sounds like the Ala Moana/Kapiolani or Makiki areas would best fit the bill.

Waikiki also fits the bill, but it's congested and (obviously) has a lot of tourists. There is less proximity to a full size supermarket or drugstore than the other areas. If you don't plan to eat in much that particular issue may not be a problem.

I grew up in Kailua and we always drove downtown to school, there was traffic but it was just the way of life. About 30-45 mins. is accurate. But let's put this in perspective: I now live in Washington, D.C., where people regularly commute for 1-2 hours to the suburbs. Folks in NY do the same. So don't discount Kailua b/c of the commute. You might discount it for prices, however... My folks were thinking of selling their house and renting a condo in Kailua and were SHOCKED at how expensive things are there... Some friends of mine in the mid-20s have bought homes in Mililani, which is supposed to be cheaper. But it's inland (not by a beach) and I think family-like. My other friends who are more into social scene stuff all live downtown in the Ala Moana/ Waikiki/ Manoa area... If I lived on Oahu now, that's probably where I would live, but that's only b/c I could go visit my folks in Kailua anytime. Hope that helps.