This article is the second in a series on retirement hot-spots in Hawaii. In my last article, I talked about retirement communities within the city of Honolulu. This article will focus on the rest of the island of Oahu, outside of Honolulu. After all, there’s a whole lot more to the island than just “town”!
If you’re looking for subsidized, low-income senior housing, read this section on affordable housing for seniors from my previous article, Senior Benefits & Programs In Hawaii. Whereas those subsidized housing programs require that your income (and sometimes assets) not exceed a certain amount, the housing communities covered in this series of articles have no such eligiblity requirements.
NOTE: All purchase prices listed are fee-simple, unless otherwise stated.
Makaha
- Location: Northernmost town on the Waianae Coast, on the leeward side of Oahu.
- What it has to offer: Affordable beachfront living (yes, you read that correctly), some of the best swimming/surfing beaches on the island, Makaha Valley Country Club, Makaha Resort & Spa (currently closed for renovation), and the company of other retired residents.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $60,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $400s.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $100,000s. If you have considerably more money to spend, Mauna Olu Estates is a luxury gated community.
Ko Olina
- Location: On the leeward coast of Oahu.
- What it has to offer: Master-planned oceanfront resort community, Ko Olina Golf Club, family-friendly beaches, a marina, J.W. Marriott Ihilani Resort & Spa, Aulani Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina Beach Villas Resort, Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $400s.
- Single family homes: Starting around $1 million.
Kapolei
- Location: On the leeward side of Oahu.
- What it has to offer: Master-planned “Second City” in-the-making, lots of new construction, Kapolei Golf Course, news shops and restaurants, multi-plex movie theater, big-box stores, University of Hawaii’s West Oahu campus (opening August 2012).
- Senior residence: Ilima at Leihano (opening late 2013) – Age 55 and older. Condos starting in the high $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee starting around $2,500, which includes: Flexible meal plan, housekeeping, basic cable, utilities, Internet access, an emergency response system, scheduled transportation, wellness & lifestyle programs, social & cultural enrichment events, and customized care. Amenities include: 20,000-square-foot clubhouse with a restaurant, treatment spa, beauty salon, library, arts & crafts room, game room, business center, outdoor pool, spa, barbecue area, private parks, dog park/run, garden areas, and a walking/fitness trail.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $200,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $300s.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $300,000s.
- New home developments:
- Kealakai at Kapolei – Starting in the $200,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom townhomes. Low-rise (2 stories high).
- Pulewa at Mehana – Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 2- and 3-bedroom townhomes. Low-rise (2 stories high).
- La Hiki at Mehana – Starting in the $400,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 3- and 4-bedroom single family homes. Low-rise (1-2 stories high).
- Kahiwelo at Makakilo – Starting in the $500,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 3-, 4-, and 5-bedroom single family homes. Low-rise (1-2 stories high).
Ewa Beach
- Location: South shore on the leeward side of Oahu.
- What it has to offer: Master-planned community, new construction, affordable condos and single family homes, nice local beach park, and golf courses galore, including Hoakalei Country Club (private), Hawaii Prince Golf Club, Ewa Beach Golf Club, Coral Creek Golf Course, Ewa Villages Golf Course, and West Loch Golf Course.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $200s.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $200,000s.
- New home developments:
- Ewa by Gentry – Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 3- and 4- bedroom single family homes. Low-rise (2 stories high).
- Ka Makana at Hoakalei – Starting in the $500,000s + monthly maintenance fee. Waterfront resort townhomes (3 bedrooms) and single family homes (3-5 bedrooms). Low-rise (1-2 stories).
- Ocean Pointe – Starting in the $300,000s. + monthly maintenance fee. Waterfront resort townhomes (2-3 bedrooms) and single family homes (3-5 bedrooms). Low-rise (1-2 stories).
Waipahu & Pearl City
- Location: Between Ewa Beach and Honolulu.
- What it has to offer: Golf courses (Royal Kunia Country Club, Waikele Country Club, Pearl Country Club, Ted Makalena Golf Course), big-box stores, major shopping centers (Waikele Premium Outlets, Pearl City Shopping Center, Pearlridge Mall), 2 multi-plex movie theaters, several community parks, Pali Momi Medical Center, University of Hawaii – West Oahu, Momilani Elementary (top-rated public school in the state).
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $300s. Golf course-frontage condos/townhomes: Fairway Village, Village on the Green, and The Greens in Waikele; and Colonnade on the Greens, Pearl Regency, Ridgeway, and Tropicana Village in Pearlridge.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $400,000s. The Royal Kunia and Waikele master-planned communities have some golf course-frontage homes.
Mililani
- Location: Central Oahu.
- What it has to offer: Master-planned community, some new home construction, Mililani Golf Club, Town Center of Mililani (shops, restaurants, multi-plex movie theater), neighborhood parks and recreation centers, top-rated public schools.
- Senior residences:
- The Plaza at Mililani – Offers independent living and assisted living with limited nursing care (including memory care). Operates on a month-to-month lease + one-time nonrefundable “community fee” of $3,500. Monthly rent includes apartment housing, 3 meals/day, utilities, weekly housekeeping and linen service, laundry service, fitness and recreation programs, routine transportation, and access to 24-hour nursing staff. Onsite amenities include a coffee bistro, recreation room, and hair salon.
- Olaloa Retirement Community in Mililani-Mauka – Age 55 and older. Independent living only. Gated community of low-rise condominums (2 stories w/elevators) starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $200s. Amenities include: After-hours security, 24-hour emergency call system, exercise room, pool, library, community garden, monthly planned activities, shuttle service, recreational facilities, walking path, and community laundry plus washer/dryer hookups. Pet-friendly!
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $300s. Complexes adjacent to golf course: Fairway Village and Mililani Pinnacle.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $400,000s.
- New home developments: Sixty Parkside – Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee. Gated community of 48 condos. Buildings are 3 stories high with elevators. Each condo unit has 3 bedrooms and is 1200 square feet.
Waimanalo
- Location: The southernmost town on Oahu’s windward coast.
- What it has to offer: Beachfront homes/homesites, farmland, small-town community, country living, Olomana Golf Links, two of the most beautiful stretches of beach on the island (Waimanalo Beach and Bellows Field Beach), gorgeous backdrop of the green Ko’olau mountains, lots of plant nurseries, horse stables, Circle C Equestrian Center, Honolulu Polo Club, ‘Nalo Farms.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $300s.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $400,000s.
Kailua
- Location: North of Waimanalo, on Oahu’s windward coast.
- What it has to offer: Relaxed beach-town lifestyle, family-friendly Kailua Beach Park, gorgeous Lanikai Beach, developing town center (Whole Foods Market and Target opening soon), Castle Medical Center, locally owned eateries and shops, canoe-paddling clubs for all ages, Mid-Pacific Country Club (private), Royal Hawaiian Golf Club.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $200,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $200s. Golf-course frontage complex: Bluestone, the only gated community in Kailua.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $500,000s.
- New home developments: Ka Malanai – Opening in 2014. Starting in the $400,000s + monthly maintenance fee. 1-, 2-, and 3-bedroom condos. Mid-rise (4 stories high).
Kaneohe
- Location: North of Kailua, on Oahu’s windward coast.
- What it has to offer: Picturesque surroundings (Kaneohe Bay and the Ko’olau mountains), waterfront homes, several golf courses (Bay View Golf Park, Ko’olau Golf Club, Pali Golf Course), Windward Mall (including multi-plex movie theater), Kualoa Ranch, Kaneohe Yacht Club, He’eia Kea Small Boat Harbor, Kaneohe Sandbar, Ho’omaluhia Botanical Garden, Byodo-In Temple, Windward Community College.
- Senior residence: Pohai Nani – Offers the full continuum of care (independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care). Apartment and duplex residences on a 16-acre campus at the foot of the Ko’olau mountains, overlooking Kaneohe Bay. Amenities include: Pool/jacuzzi, fitness room, fitness/wellness classes, chaplain services, special events, organized outings, computer room w/Internet access, library, craft room, entertainment room, gardens and walking paths, pre-scheduled shuttle transportation, laundry facilities, beauty/barber shop, personal driving service, meal tray service, and guest rooms/meals.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $200s. Gated residential yachting community: Makani Kai Marina.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $400,000s. Golf course homes can be found in the Bayview Golf Course neighborhood.
- New home developments: Bay View Estates – Starting in the $900,000s + no monthly maintenance fee. 3- and 4-bedroom single family homes (1-2 stories high) overlooking Kaneohe Bay.
Ka’a’awa & Punalu’u
- Location: About halfway between Kaneohe and the North Shore on Oahu’s windward coast.
- What it has to offer: Small-town country living, affordable oceanfront (or nearly oceanfront) homes, uncrowded beaches, state park land and forest reserve all around you.
- Senior residence: Oceanside Hawaii – Offers the full continuum of care (independent living, assisted living, and skilled nursing care). Starting at $1,850/month, which includes: Studio apartment housing, meals and snacks, weekly housekeeping and linen service, scheduled transportation, recreation activities and excursions, and 24-hour access to care staff as needed.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $100,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $400s.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $300,000s.
Kahuku
- Location: On the eastern end of Oahu’s North Shore.
- What it has to offer: Golf-course and beachfront condos, world-famous surfing beaches, Kahuku Golf Course, Turtle Bay golf courses, Turtle Bay Resort, shrimp trucks, nationally-ranked high school football team.
- Condos/townhomes: Starting in the $300,000s + monthly maintenance fee in the $400s.Beachfront complex: Ocean Villas at Turtle Bay. Golf course complexes: Kuilima Estates East, Kuilima Estates West.
- Single family homes: Starting in the $300,000s. Oceanfront homes can be found in the Malaekahana and Kawela Bay neighborhoods.