DIGS is the premiere luxury real estate lifestyle magazine serving the most affluent neighborhoods in the South Bay and Westside of Los Angeles, California.
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Oahu UNLESS YOU'VE VISITED FREQUENTLY or lived here in Hawaii, it's very easy to forget where your friends exactly live in Hawaii. First of all, the State of Hawaii has eight main islands and one of the islands also is called Hawaii. Locals often refer to that island Hawaii as "the Big Island" as it is the largest isle in size (it has been in the news lately with its active, erupting volcano). The Garden Isle Kauai is known for its lush landscape and movie set scenery. Maui, the Valley Isle, is often noted for its charming lifestyle. I live on what is often considered the "main" island of Oahu (pronounced oh-AH-hoo) where two thirds of the state's population calls home. Most U.S. mainlanders or international visitors don't recog- nize the name Oahu and get confused which island Honolulu or Kailua is at. The State Capitol Honolulu, Pearl Harbor, Lanikai Beach, Kaneohe Bay, Diamond Head, Waikiki Beach, Ewa Beach, Kahala, Kailua, Kapolei, Ko'olina, Haleiwa, Mililani, Waimea Falls, Ford Island, Ala Moana Center, and Hanauma Bay are on Oahu, where there is no active volcano. The second reason it's easy to get confused about where people live is because the many street names are often from the Hawaiian language. So, unless language comes easy to you, it's difficult for Malihinis (newcomers) to figure out how to pronounce the names of the streets and loca- tions they are trying to find. Clients who thought they would rely on GPS to get around and look at homes found it was easier to have me drive with them as the street names soon began to blur together and the locals pronounced the addresses and directions quite differently than any GPS navigation. Living in WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW Ronda W. Ching Day Realtor-Associate® | RS-47693 Real Estate Professional and AREAA Aloha 2018 Chapter President Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties Why do visitors return, invest and/or retire on Oahu? While the cost of paradise is high, there are a number of factors that we often take for granted that attract people to our island. We have a very multi-ethnic population where everyone is a minority. This diversity brings a multitude of rich cultures, cuisine, and social activities, which further attracts international investors. Compared to notable cities such as Hong Kong or London, Honolulu and Kailua have cheaper real estate. We have a beautiful island environ- ment with a mild, tropical climate. Within about 50 miles, we have a large concentration of military bases and/or compounds. (Can you name all four- teen?) This can be comforting to investors who like to see a stable economic environment as active veterans have a base housing allowance that typically reflects the cost of available rentals. Investors also note they have the oppor- tunity to invest in some properties which allow them to operate and have short term vacation rentals. We have sev- eral medical centers and hospitals which most residents can reach within a few to a 20 minute's drive. Oahu is also adding thousands of newly constructed condominiums and homes across the island including the master planned com- munity of Ward Village and a new town of Ho'opili. This new housing inventory is stimulating the construction industry and creating more business opportunities. We are fortunate to have a few excellent college preparatory schools with athletic, arts, dance, music and robotics pro- grams that attract students from afar. Much of the island culture centers around our children and seniors. Interest- ingly, Hawaii has the highest life expectancy in the U.S. for people over age 65. I work with a team of agents on all islands. I would be honored to help you with all of your Oahu real estate needs. Feel free to contact me for a no obligation consultation on all things Oahu real estate. 808.892.0888 aloharonda@gmail.com www.HawaiiProperties.co