Koolauloa

In the tranquil residential pockets edging Koolauloa’s shores, you’ll awaken to cool breezes that roll over a curtain of green slopes to meet the salt air of the ocean below. Along the streets, palm crowns sway and sunlit bicycles are poised to circuit the sometimes narrow streets. Homes in Koolauloa rest at the feet of the ancient Ko’olau Range — meaning “windward”— that was formed by an eastern shield volcano lying dormant now for nearly 2 million years. As one of the finest examples of the region’s geology, Ko’olau Range was named a National Natural Landmark by the United States Secretary of the Interior. And because names carry great significance across generations of Hawaiian history, the “loa” in Koolauloa means “lengthy,” describing Ko’oalu’s terrain that extends through Koolauloa. This island stretch harbors massive wilderness preserves and culminates at beachfront parks pointing out to sea.

According to Nathalie Mullinix, President and Broker for Nathalie Mullinix Realty Universal, Inc., “The east side of the island feels very lush and majestic. People move here not for a busy scene but to be still, and live a different life where you don't have people blowing horns. You could hear a rooster crow on one side and then have a custom-built mansion down the road. There’s a unique blend of old and new in Koolauloa; some hold on to small traditional homes for generations, others build dream homes on large lots.”

In Koolauloa, you can find single-family homes on the ocean, in coastal pastel hues with private stairs to the sand. Depending on where you choose, homes up and down the coastline range from around $700,000 to more than several million. You can find some newly constructed homes in the Laie community as well as affordable condominiums such as the bright seaside Hanohano Hale with small studio units around $100,000. The rich brown siding on condominiums in Makau Village blend into the towering cliffs of the Ko’olau Range. A few rare homes offer backyards that open to golf course fairways.

Public school students can attend Kahuku High & Intermediate School, home of the Red Raiders, whose outstanding band and athletic programs are referenced by locals as the “Pride of the North Shore.” Kahuku means “the projection” in reference to nearby Kahuku Point, at the farthest northern tip of Oahu. And right beside the Kahuku Elementary School, you can gather for sports practice and games at Kahuku District Park’s lighted athletic fields, where renewable-energy wind turbines rotate in the distant clouds.

Get away from it all or gather with friends to slide sculls out into the open water at the secluded Kahana Bay Beach Park. At Kahana Bay Beach Park, locals swim, surf, camp or simply give their dogs a field trip along the tree-lined beach. High on the northern edge of Koolauloa, waves crest against Malaekahana Beach, a comparatively undeveloped pocket beach known mostly to the locals. Bring your rods or boards to this serene slice of paradise, where you can shore fish, bodysurf, picnic or camp at the Mālaekahana Beach Campground. If you’re ready to give standup paddling a whirl, the campground rents boards as well as bikes.

Koolauloa also offers the pristine elegance of Turtle Bay Resort where golfers indulge in championship courses with spectacular ocean views, and after a few rounds, head to Lei Lei’s Bar and Grill to savor crab dip, steak or seafood. Horse-lovers can meander miles of seaside trails through windswept Ironwoods at Turtle Bay that echo the rhythm of the rolling tide. At the stables nestled in a cove of trees you can sign up for a private tour or group rides, or let the kids groom and feed the ponies. You’ll also find luxury vacation villas at Turtle Bay Resort.

Life in this oasis also offers casual, popular go-tos like the Kahuku Food Trucks where you’ll find the hands-down favorite, Giovanni’s, famous for its crispy fried shrimp and buttery shrimp scampi plates. The Kahuku Hospital is within walking distance of some homes in the neighborhood and you can find postal, pizza and pharmacy conveniences in small shopping centers. For grocery runs, there’s the Kahuku Superette. And for large stock-ups, residents rely on Laie Foodland for everything from fresh produce to fishing reels.

Written By

Lia Girard

Photography Contributed By

Harry Antipala

Video By

Lucas Dyke