So, are you thinking about moving to a Oahu and wondering what living in Kailua is like? Or do you already live here and need more specific info? We’re about to give you the good and the bad of living in Kailua. Aloha. I am Jill Ward, and welcome to another episode of Aloha Oahu, where we talk about Oahu living.
Aloha Oahu is going to be the show that’s going to help answer any of your questions. So if you ever need additional assistance or have questions that aren’t being addressed here, please feel free to contact me at the link below. During this episode, we’re going to give you some of the great things about living in Kailua, Oahu and some of the not great things. So living here definitely has its pros and cons, but doesn’t every place. We are going to start by giving you the top three reasons that people love living here in Kailua; gorgeous views, outdoor activities and a small town feeling.
One of the great things is the Windward Side has beautiful views in every direction.
As you come through any of the tunnels coming from Honolulu, you’re immediately greeted by the Pacific Ocean as far as the eye can see. And on the Windward Side from the beach, you can turn around and simply enjoy the wonderful views of the Ko’olau Mountains which are a personal favorite of mine. After a long or hard rain. It’s especially beautiful when you’re coming through the tunnel and the mountains are filled with countless natural waterfalls.
Let’s talk about the second reason people love living here. And it’s the variety of outdoor activities. If you love the beach, the Windward Side boasts two of the most famous and beautiful beaches. Kailua Beach and Lanikai. Kailua Beach is long protected beach is a beach lovers paradise, ideal for windsurfing, kayaking, paddling, or just relaxing on the beach.
However, if boating is more your thing, then head out to Kaneohe Bay. This protected Bay offers plenty of room for boating, kayaking, or just relaxing on the sandbar.
And finally the Windward Side also boasts a lot of hikes for many skill levels, many of which are in Kaneohe. The third reason is the fact that Kailua really does still have a small town feeling. If you get a chance to walk through Kailua Town, you are going to be able to see how much we love small businesses.
There are a lot of shopping and dining options available, as well as cute boutiques with a lot of aloha ware, and merchandise. When Target first came to town, it caused a community uproar, but that is an example of one of the few large mainland stores that we have here in Kailua, but we really do try to keep it local. So while we’re used to seeing a lot of tourists here in Kailua, Kaneohe has a bit different, it tends to be more residential, less touristy, and it’s filled with a wide variety of local favorites. There are plenty of local businesses here and resources that you can fill most of your needs without having to go over the mountains into Honolulu, or another area of the island.
So we’ve had a chance to discuss some of the pros.
But let’s also discuss some of the cons about living here. Because while everything seems pretty darn close to perfect, and it is close, there are a few cons you might want to consider. Some of those cons are going to include the cost of living, traffic, and limited access to certain goods and services. Did you know that Kailua and Oahu generally has a very high cost of living, I think when some people move to the island, they’re shocked by the cost of everyday items that we have here on the island, such as milk, bread, and any other kind of daily necessities you’re going to pick up at the grocery store, you’re going to find are more expensive. It’s not that people want to charge you more just because we’re in Hawaii, it’s because the cost of getting these goods to the island is so much more expensive.
Also, real estate prices here can be a shock. If someone’s not used to the market, I often have to explain to people that what you can get in North Carolina is not what you’re going to be able to get in Hawaii, and many other necessities such as gas costs more here than on the mainland.
And you have to keep in mind, you’re in your car a lot and you’re having to drive across the mountains. So that cost of gas really adds up. So if you’re able to deal with the higher cost of living and you understand all of those elements, then maybe you won’t mind all the traffic that we have here on the island.
The Windward Side of Oahu is a relatively small area and can get congested, especially if there’s an accident on one of our main roads. While all areas of the island have a lot of traffic, especially the Ewa side. The windward side can get crowded when tourists are in full force, especially here in Kailua. And mileage doesn’t mean a lot on Oahu. Sometimes, a map may say eight miles is terms of distance, but that could be a 45 or 50 minute drive.
It all depends. Now one thing you may need to be prepared for is that you may have to drive a long way if you want that one thing at a certain store.
Costco is one of the big ones that come to mind. There are three on the island, but not on this side. If you’re used to a lot of the big box stores that you can find on the mainland, we don’t have a lot of them here.
But honestly it’s not a big deal in the long run.
If you really need something we do I have Amazon? Well, I hope through this video you learned about some of the pros and cons of living in Kailua and on the island of Oahu. If you should have any additional questions about Kailua, Kaneohe or anywhere else, please don’t hesitate to reach out and ask. And if you’d like this video and you’d like more information about Kailua or the island of Oahu, please feel free to reach out and ask or if you’d like automatic notifications of the videos coming out, please hit subscribe.
