Ewa offers suburban living near golf and beaches
Newly built subdivisions, sandy beaches and pristine golf greens await the residents of Ewa, a fast-growing community in the Honolulu suburbs. It’s one of the few areas on the island that has seen a boom in new construction, including master-planned communities, shopping plazas and an expansion of the University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus. “We’ve got a lot of new construction here. A lot of military families tend to gravitate here because it looks a lot more like the mainland,” says Erin Evans, broker at Century 21 Island Homes, who has lived in Ewa for 14 years. “There’s so much new growth happening. Between Ewa and Kapolei, which is right next door, you’ve got everything you need without commuting to the city.”
Ewa’s homes range from midcentury ranches to new builds
Ewa offers a wide mix of housing, with older homes situated along the beachfront, and newer homes typically farther inland. Older homes include cottages and ranch-style homes dating back to the mid-20th century, while newer homes are Traditional or Mediterranean style. The newer subdivisions have a distinct, suburban feel, with quiet cul-de-sacs, landscaped front lawns and tree-lined streets. “HOAs are pretty common here,” Evans says. Neighborhoods along the shore resemble a small beach town, with narrow roads and towering palm trees on the horizon. Home prices range from as low as $700,000 for a smaller, older home to as high as $2.5 million for a large family home. Condos are also available, ranging from $300,000 to $950,000.
Year-round sunshine, parks and beaches
Outdoor recreation is a major draw for Ewa residents, with average winter temperatures in the low 60s and summer highs in the upper 80s. “It’s about 6 to 8 degrees warmer than the rest of the island, and we get much less rain than if you live more inland,” Evans says. Residents can relax, swim and take in the Pacific sunsets at Pu’uloa Beach Park, which has a playground and basketball court right by the beach. Golfers have several options, including 360 Ewa Beach Golf Club, Hawaii Prince Golf Club and Coral Creek Golf Course, all of which are open to the public and have views of the nearby Waianae Range. Most neighborhoods in Ewa have their own community parks with picnic areas, playgrounds and walking paths. “Ewa is very community oriented. There are a lot of neighborhood parks and sports fields and places for the kids to play outside,” Evans says.
Students attend B-rated schools with advanced studies
Students in Ewa can start at Pohakea Elementary School before moving on to Ilima Intermediate School and James Campbell High School. All three schools earn B ratings from Niche. The high school offers an International Baccalaureate program, a wide range of Advanced Placement courses and dual enrollment programs with local community colleges.
Shopping centers offer groceries and global cuisine
Several shopping centers in Ewa offer convenient access to groceries and restaurants. Ewa Town Center is home to Ramen Ya and Genki Sushi, both popular for authentic Japanese cuisine, while L&L Hawaiian Barbecue features fast-casual island cooking. The area is known for its diversity of restaurants, with Korean, Thai, Vietnamese and Latin fare also nearby. For groceries and everyday goods, there’s a Safeway and Foodland. For nightlife and high-end restaurants, it’s about 20 miles to downtown Honolulu.
Highway and rail station offer access to Honolulu and beyond
Ewa is bordered in the north by Interstate H-1, offering a direct shot to Honolulu. Those who need public transportation can catch the bus along Ewa’s busier thoroughfares, including Fort Weaver Road. The Skyline Metro Station is a new addition to the town and is part of a planned rail corridor that will eventually connect it with downtown Honolulu. Currently, it runs from Kapolei to Aloha Stadium, a college football arena about 12 miles east. Daniel K. Inouye International Airport is about 17 miles away.
