Kaimuki

Introduction

One of the oldest yet most charming neighborhoods on O'ahu is that of Kaimuki. The development of Kaimuki dates back to roughly the beginning of the 20th century, and today is a neighborhood filled with a mixture of historic and new homes.

Located just East of Waikiki between Diamond Head and the mountains, Kaimuki is a popular neighborhood for both owner-occupants and renters because of how centrally located it is. Downtown Honolulu is as close as a 10-minute drive, Waikiki is a 7-minute drive, and the nearest beach is just within 5 minutes.

The Neighborhood

Kaimuki is just under 2 square miles with a population of roughly 20,000 residents. Depending on what section of Kaimuki you are in, lot sizes can be over 10,000 square feet or much smaller at less than 3,000 square feet. This makes Kaimuki quite a densely-populated neighborhood.

The climate is mostly warm, dry, and sunny, but the cool Northeasterly tradewinds run right through the neighborhood.

The median home price of Kaimuki hovers around the $1.3 million mark, and it is quite difficult to find any property here for under $1.1 million these days. Expect a bidding war for this ultra-convenient neighborhood.

It's not uncommon to see the streets packed with parked cars and living units stacked on one another, but venture further towards the Eastern end of Kaimuki and you will see larger lots with sprawling historic homes. On any given day, you will see plenty of joggers, dog walkers, cars with surfboards strapped to the roots, or bicyclists zipping through the streets.

As a mostly residential neighborhood, there are very few high-rise condominiums that exist in Kaimuki. There are many single-family homes, making this a popular destination for larger households and even multi-generational households.

Historic Waialae Avenue, once home to a cable car route, runs the length of Kaimuki and features very attractive restaurants, bars, and locally-owned stores such as Beat It, City Mill, and The Public Pet. For those needing more shopping options, Kahala Mall is just 5 minutes away, and the Ala Moana Shopping Center is just 10 to 15 minutes away. Waialae Avenue is a fun and convenient strip to explore on foot. There is tons of public parking available, and there are a lot of public parks with basketball, tennis, and pickleball courts.

Kaimuki has many public schools, including Waialae Elementary Public Charter School, but is home to a handful of private schools like Kaimuki Christian, St. Patrick, St. Louis, and Sacred Hearts Academy. In addition, Kapiolani Community College and Chaminade University are within the neighborhood, while the University of Hawai'i at Manoa is just 5 minutes away.