Cool, central inland community convenient to bases and shore
Wahiawa rests in the heart of Oahu, less than a mile south of the ancient Kukaniloko Birth Stones, where children of Hawaiian royalty were born for seven centuries. Its name, Wahiawa, means "place of noise," in honor of the wind, thunder and rain that was said to resound in this area when a royal infant entered the world. In the early 1900s, when Oahu's first pineapple cannery was established in Wahiawa, the community began taking shape as a working-class village in support of this agricultural industry. Today, Wahiawa still holds vintage homes with timeless character and is known for its comparative affordability. Michael Pieklo, Realtor with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage Realty North Shore, who grew up on Oahu and has been selling homes in the area for 7 years, says, “In Wahiawa, you’re 15 minutes from North Shore’s popular Sunset Beach Park and Mokuleia Beach. But homes in North Shore start at a million, whereas the same size home would be more like $800,000 in Wahiawa. Plus, you’re only 20 miles from Downtown Honolulu, which cuts down your commute. And if you work for the government or military, you’re right in the middle of Schofield, Wheeler and NCTAMS.” Ongoing revitalization is transforming a formerly dilapidated commercial stretch of Kamehameha Highway into hip blocks burgeoning with locally owned cafes and boutiques — cultivating Wahiawa's small-town vibe. Wahiawa is also home to the former Wahiawa General Hospital; acquired in late 2023 by The Queen’s Health System, with plans to reopen as an emergency center in 2024. In Wahiawa, locals live near the island’s only freshwater lake, as well as one of the island’s largest concentrations of churches. Purportedly setting a world record, California Avenue is trimmed with a dozen houses of worship along a less-than-two-mile stretch. Adds Pieklo, “If you appreciate a traditional Oahu neighborhood where some homes are older, and some lots are bigger, it’s a great place to enjoy a cooler climate and lots of options — you can be at the ocean or downtown in 25 minutes.”
Lake Wilson, Central Wahiawa District Park and community pools
Wahiawa also holds a world record for the largest permanent hedge maze at the Dole Plantation tourist attraction. Residents might take visiting family to Dole for tours but are more likely to be found relaxing at local parks. Anglers can bass fish in Wilson Lake at the Wahiawa Freshwater State Recreation Area or in three stocked ponds at Ali’i Agriculture Farms — where on-site staff will clean and cook your catch. Central Wahiawa District Park is equipped with a gymnasium, public pool and sports facilities. The park blends into Wahiawa Botanical Garden, nicknamed the “tropical jewel,” offering self-guided tours through tropical and native rainforest flora. The 7-acre Green World Coffee Farm is a mile northwest of central Wahiawa, and Pieklo says, “There’s a nice coffee shop there where you can order espresso or buy bulk coffee, and they have this open grassy area where you’ll see a lot of moms meet up with kids during the day.” Near Wheeler Army Airfield, Leilehua Golf Course offers military personnel an 18-hole course with a sweeping mountain view.
Vintage to newer condos and single-family homes
“Because it served the pineapple and sugar cane industries when they were active,” explains Pieklo, “a lot of the homes were built for people working the fields between Wahiawa and North Shore.” Classic midcentury homes with Old Hawaii charm are abundant and often have renovated interiors. Housing options include condos built in the 1980s and 1990s priced from $315,000 to $425,000 and single-family homes ranging from $690,000 to $900,000 for new builds. Narrow streets are not often sidewalked but are lush with established greenery. Says Pieklo, “Wahiawa Heights on the eastern edge is one of the coolest places. In the winter, the highs only reach into the '50s, which is unusual here, and all the houses have fireplaces.”
Highly rated public Leilehua and private Ho’aloa schools
Public schools are within the Hawaii Department of Education District, given a B-plus on Niche. Kids start at Wahiawa Elementary, given a Niche B-minus, and move on to Wahiawa Middle, which gets a C-plus. Older students advance to Leilehua High School, earning an A-minus on Niche and featuring an Early College Program that provides college credits via online college courses. The private Ho’ala School for kindergarten through eighth grade gets a Niche A grade.
Bizia Surf, Guieb Café and Foodland
While fast food options are available, Wahiawa also loves its family-owned eateries such as Guieb Cafe, specializing in all-day breakfast, and Loco Moco bowls of rice, meat, egg and gravy. Say Pieklo, “Wahiawa is really doing a lot to revitalize. A local nonprofit called Surfing the Nations is converting a portion of Wahiawa into cool shopping and dining options. You’ll see new ideas here now, like Bizia Surf and Coffee Bar, where they’re taking an invasive species of trees, albizia, and using them to make surfboards and chairs. It’s really a hipster thing.” Multiple Mexican eateries, which Pieklo describes as “some of the best Mexican on the island,” abound, including El Palenque, Barrio Café and Taqueria El Ranchero. Adds Pieklo, “One of our most unique hole-in-the-wall places is this Indian vegetarian restaurant, which you don’t find often in Hawaii, called Maharaja’s.” Maharaja’s is known for its by-the-pound salad bar and daily specials. The Wahiawa Ohana Market sells local goods every other Saturday, and Pieklo says, “They’ve just opened a new huge community kitchen in 2024 in Wahiawa, inside a former warehouse.” This community kitchen was envisioned by local Leeward Community College and serves as a a small-business incubator helping entrepreneurs develop marketable food products in collaboration with local farmers. For everyday grocery needs and essentials, Foodland, Tamura’s Market, Longs Drugs and Walgreens are all within the neighborhood.
Pineapple Run 10K and holiday events
Wahiawa residents enjoy the annual return of the community Christmas Parade, the Pineapple Run 10k down California Avenue every April and the Wahiawa Community & Business Association’s 1,000-egg hunt throughout Wahiawa Town each Easter.
H-2 access and The Bus public transit
Pieklo adds, “Sometimes during lunch when military personnel come off base and into town, or during drive times starting at 6 a.m. and 3 p.m., traffic in and out can be heavy. But once you’re on the H-2, it lightens up.” This means that when work ends for many around 3:00, it can take about 45 minutes to reach downtown. Hawaii’s award-winning The Bus has a terminal in central Wahiawa if locals prefer public transit.
Photography Contributed By
Paul Peck
Video By
Samantha Houtchens
