The peaceful, eclectic, mid- to upper-priced neighborhoods of Aina Haina, Kuli’ou’ou, and Niu Valley
are tucked into the foothills and up the sides of Ko’olau Mountain
ridges along Kalanianaole Highway. On the makai (ocean) side, the
Maunalua Bay beachfront is graced with lovely beach parks, lavish homes
and Paiko Lagoon Wildlife Sanctuary.
High-end homes and condominiums dot the base of Diamond Head,
the extinct volcano that is Oahu’s most famous natural landmark. At
Kupikipikio (Black Point), the portion of the Diamond Head community
that swoops out into the Pacific Ocean, the late billionaire Doris Duke
built her beloved Shangri-La.
Another millionaires’ neighborhood and one of the most famous communities in the world is Kahala. Upscale Kahala Mall caters to this discriminating population.
Kaimuki and Kapahulu are two of Oahu’s most lively
communities. The houses along the neat, hilly streets have personality
and character. Waialae Avenue, which is downtown Kaimuki, looks like
1940s-50s Main Street, U.S.A.
In the fertile depths of Palolo Valley, crops and
orchids grow in abundance. Working-class Palolo is a homey, multi-ethnic
suburb of affordable homes. Each September, the community holds a good,
old-fashioned Palolo Pride celebration in Palolo District Park.
For decades, the wealthy community of Waialae-Kahala
has been the playground of royalty, movie stars and the rich and
famous. The Kahala Mandarin Oriental Hotel is the legendary host of the
world’s discriminating travelers, and the Waialae Country Club is the
stage for the $4 million Sony Open golf tournament.
Wilhelmina rises above it all like a jewel in an
elevated setting. The well-established mid- to high-priced community of
Wilhelmina Rise offers mountain ridge-high panoramic views of the blue
Pacific and the glittering lowlands of southeast Oahu.