Oahu Cities

Question: When is the Babies R Us in Pearl City of Oahu, Hawaii going to open? Does anyone know when the Babies R Us is going to open up in Pearl City of the Island of Oahu, Hawaii?

Answer: try calling a local Toys R Us and asking if they know, since they are a related company. I just got back from Oahu on Friday and drove through Pearl City several times! Wish I were still there!

Question: Where is the best place to live in Oahu? I am moving to oahu for a few years and will be renting an apartment. I was wondering what location would be the best, I can find places for under$1000 a month anywhere pretty much....looking on craigslist. I am 22 years old and male, caucasion and am single. I only have to worry about myself but would try to find someone else to help for the rent. Anyway, what towns/cities in oahu would be the place for a guy my age?

Answer: It really depends on what you want. As a howlie you will feel more accepted in Honolulu or Hawaii Kai. I personally preferred Honolulu...Just be ready for the constant Howlie gibe. Hawaii is not paradise for a outsider - Good Luck.

Question: Best place to eat in Waikiki. A city on Oahu Island, Hawaii? I will be taking a vacation there from Aug. 20th- Aug. 25th

Answer: I think it's not about where, but what. There are hundreds of great restaurants...try to find ones with cuisine domestic to Hawaii, like amazing fresh fish and sushi, pineapple, avocado, coconut, mango, etc. With these ingredients, you can't go wrong. Enjoy!!

Question: What major chain stores are on Oahu? I am in California. A friend is moving to near a nature preserve on Oahu. I would like to get her a going away gift of a GC for a store. I need to know which chains have stores on Oahu, and what the biggest cities are on Oahu.

Answer: Honolulu. There are ABC stores everywhere there.

Question: Have you been to Oahu? Is it too much like LA or the city, and not Hawaiian paradise enough? I'm just afraid it will be too urban and won't necessarily fit my image of Hawaii... any regrets of going there as opposed to Kauai or Big Island?

Answer: Oahu is NOT like Los Angeles! It drives me crazy when people say that because they've obviously never been to both places. I lived in L.A. for 35 years and it's nothing like Oahu. That being said, Honolulu is as big a city as there is in Hawaii. It's the state capital and Oahu is the most populous of the Hawaiian islands. There is a lot to do there: dining, shopping, clubbing, etc. If you want some nightlife and excitement, Oahu will definitely meet your needs. But as another poster said, it's also a beautiful island in places many tourists never go. There are mountains, amazing beaches, waterfalls...just like the Hawaii you've pictured in your mind. You can have it all on Oahu -- shopping, dining, nightlife, water activities, hula shows, luau, scenery, beaches... It just depends on what YOU want. If you want rural and quiet, Kauai, Molokai, and Lanai would be your best bets. A good cross between Oahu and Kauai is Maui.

Question: What areas in Oahu would be your choice to live in? I would like to be fairly close to Honolulu, but not in the city. Also, would like a pretty surrounding, but does nto have to have ocean views. Safety and crime are also issues. So is affordability. Thanks.

Answer: Kaimuki it's close to Waikiki but is an older residential area. It doesn't have ocean views but the people are nice. Mainly established locals. I don't know about the housing prices. If I had my druthers I'de live on the east side Kailua Kaneohe Waimanalo . Where I grew up. Pretty much all of Oahu is overpriced but Oahu isn't nicknamed the Gathering place for nothing it's got the most beautiful beaches, Makapuu, mountains, the Pali Mountains and easily accessable hiking of any of the other islands. I love and miss it. Try the hike from Nuuanu to Manoa for a very beautiful mellow afternoon.Aloha.

Question: What is the best place to live in Oahu? I am considering takeing a job offer and they will pay for the move so I am interested in a nice place to buy a home. I have no children and I will be working near Pearl City. I want to have nice beaches near by and minimal trafic to work which I know is difficult.

Answer: During rush hour, traffic is usually from Ewa (Pearl City) direction into Honolulu in the AM and reversed in the PM, so if you live near central Honolulu and drive to Pearl City it is a reverse commute and less traffic. Of course, "less traffic" is a relative term, as Oahu is just awful most times everywhere. If you are single and don't mind living in a high-rise condo, check out the Ala Moana and Kaka'ako districts which are along beautiful Ala Moana Beach and Ala Moana shopping center. You can take the Nimitz Highway instead of the interstate to get to Pearl City and avoid some traffic (when they finish the construction, ugh). Lots of joggers and you can walk to the beach each evening. And it is safe without being in crowded and touristed Waikiki. The lowest price along the water, Yacht Harbor Tower starts at about $550K fee simple for a one bedroom (remember this is Hawaii) to $1M for a 3 bedroom near the top of the tower, to millions for the cheapest at the Hokua luxury condo. If you get right off the water, prices fall fast. There are condo towers 1 block off on Kapiolani much cheaper. I went to look at "909 Kapiolani", prices were decent with great views. This is a new condo build, just completed. Here is a link for you that shows the existing condos and units for sale in each. http://www.hicondos.com/neighborhoods-Co... It depends what your priorities are, because living in Pearl City or Ewa Plains will be cheaper, but no glamorous beach right there. If a fabulous beach is a priority over bucking traffic, check out the windward side in Kaneohe or Kailua (but you will still pay near $1M to be near the beach; there is one high-rise condo and some low-rises that are much less in Kailua, but they are not within walking distance of the beach. It is also more humid and rainy (but BEAUTIFUL!) on that side of the island. You can take the new Interstate H-3 to work though, so commute-wise should be better since you are bypassing Honolulu traffic. A lower base price in a safe "upscale" neighborhood near town and next to a beach, that is Hawaii-Kai, but the commute to/from Hawaii Kai is absolutely awful, as it is the farthest east settlement of Honolulu. The Honolulu Board of Realtors has a great web site with pricing and statistics on trends in each neighborhood: http://www.hicentral.com/ My recommendation: rent first to get a feel of the place. Prices are certainly not going up for a while, if anything we are behind the mainland usually, so prices are still going DOWN.