Hawaii Kai, Hawaii
Encyclopedia
Hawaii Kai is a largely residential area located in the City & County of Honolulu
, in the Honolulu CDP on the island of Oahu
. Hawaii Kai is the largest of several communities at the eastern end of the island. The area was largely developed by Henry J. Kaiser
around the ancient Maunalua fishpond and wetlands area known as Kuapā (meaning "fishpond wall"). The Hawaii Kai or Koko Marina was dredged from Kuapā Pond starting around 1959. Dredging not only transformed the shallow coastal inlet and wetlands into a marine embayment, but was accompanied by considerable filling and clearing of the pond margins. In 1961, Kaiser-Aetna entered into a lease agreement with the land owner, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate
, to develop the 521 acre (2.11 km²) fishpond into residential tracts with a marina and channels separated by fingers of land and islands upon which house lots and commercial properties would be laid out and developed (ACOE, 1975). Nearly all of the low-lying lands surrounding the marina have since been developed, and neighborhoods now extend back into the several valleys and up the separating ridges.
The U.S. Postal Code for Hawaii Kai is 96825. Other neighborhoods included in this postal delivery area are: Portlock, Hahaione and Kaalākei valleys, Mariners Ridge, Queen's Gate, and Kalama Valley.
Immediately west of Hawaii Kai along Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) is the East Honolulu neighborhood of Kuliouou. Eastward from Hawaii Kai on the same highway is the Koko Head
area, an area now mostly included within Koko Head Park. South of Hawaii Kai is Maunalua Bay
, and north are the Koolau mountains. Eventually the road crosses over to the windward side near Makapuu Point.
. It features a shopping center, a public park and basketball facilities, and predominately single-family, relatively high-priced housing, due to its location in Hawaii Kai. Previously, the shopping center held a convenience store, auto care center, Chinese restaurant, Thai restaurant, and church. As of 2008, the Thai restaurant and auto care center are all that remain. There have been rumors in the past of other businesses possibly opening up in the rather new and empty looking center, but there has yet to be any additions to the shopping center, except for a recycling point in its parking lot.
There are a variety of attraction in the vicinity of Kalama Valley, including Queen's Gate Golf Course, Sandy Beach, Makapuu Lighthouse and beach, Koko Crater Botanical Garden, the "From Here to Eternity" cove, and Hanauma Bay. Sandy Beach, is a picturesque and sandy beach park barely a mile away from Kalama Valley. Sandy Beach is a popular beach for the local crowd, and, due to its quiet location and powerful waves, is a hot spot for body surfing and rarely overcrowded with tourists. Koko Crater botanical garden encloses beautiful plumeria trees and plants from different regions of the world. There is a facile hike up to Makapuu lighthouse, which overlooks the beautiful Makapuu Beach, Sea Life Park and the windward coast. In the winter it serves as a whale watching look out.
As a marine-life sanctuary, Hanauma Bay is idyllic for snorkeling.
Kaiser Complex and is home to Henry J. Kaiser High, Hahaione Elementary, Kamiloiki Elementary, and Koko Head Elementary Schools. The three elementary schools feed into Niu Valley Middle School
, which in turn feeds into Kaiser High, although Niu Valley Middle is not located in Hawaii Kai.
Honolulu County, Hawaii
The City and County of Honolulu is a consolidated city–county located in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The municipality and county includes both the urban district of Honolulu and the rest of the island of Oahu, as well as several minor outlying islands, including all of the Northwestern Hawaiian...
, in the Honolulu CDP on the island of Oahu
Oahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. Hawaii Kai is the largest of several communities at the eastern end of the island. The area was largely developed by Henry J. Kaiser
Henry J. Kaiser
Henry John Kaiser was an American industrialist who became known as the father of modern American shipbuilding. He established the Kaiser Shipyard which built Liberty ships during World War II, after which he formed Kaiser Aluminum and Kaiser Steel. Kaiser organized Kaiser Permanente health care...
around the ancient Maunalua fishpond and wetlands area known as Kuapā (meaning "fishpond wall"). The Hawaii Kai or Koko Marina was dredged from Kuapā Pond starting around 1959. Dredging not only transformed the shallow coastal inlet and wetlands into a marine embayment, but was accompanied by considerable filling and clearing of the pond margins. In 1961, Kaiser-Aetna entered into a lease agreement with the land owner, the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Estate
Kamehameha Schools
Kamehameha Schools , formerly called Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate , is a private co-educational college-preparatory institution that specializes in Native Hawaiian language and cultural education. It is located in Hawaii and operates three campuses: Kapālama , Pukalani , and Keaau...
, to develop the 521 acre (2.11 km²) fishpond into residential tracts with a marina and channels separated by fingers of land and islands upon which house lots and commercial properties would be laid out and developed (ACOE, 1975). Nearly all of the low-lying lands surrounding the marina have since been developed, and neighborhoods now extend back into the several valleys and up the separating ridges.
The U.S. Postal Code for Hawaii Kai is 96825. Other neighborhoods included in this postal delivery area are: Portlock, Hahaione and Kaalākei valleys, Mariners Ridge, Queen's Gate, and Kalama Valley.
Geography
Koko Head
Koko Head is the headland that defines the eastern side of Maunalua Bay along the southeastern side of the Island of Oahu in Hawaii. On its western slope is the community of Portlock, a part of Hawaii Kai...
area, an area now mostly included within Koko Head Park. South of Hawaii Kai is Maunalua Bay
Maunalua Bay
Maunalua Bay is a bay on the Southeast shore of the island of Oahu, between Diamond Head and Koko Head, and forming the shoreline of the Hawaii Kai area of Honolulu. "Maunalua" in Hawaiian means two mountains.-History:...
, and north are the Koolau mountains. Eventually the road crosses over to the windward side near Makapuu Point.
Communities
Kalama Valley is a community within the town of Hawaii Kai located on the eastern coast of the island of OahuOahu
Oahu or Oahu , known as "The Gathering Place", is the third largest of the Hawaiian Islands and most populous of the islands in the U.S. state of Hawaii. The state capital Honolulu is located on the southeast coast...
. It features a shopping center, a public park and basketball facilities, and predominately single-family, relatively high-priced housing, due to its location in Hawaii Kai. Previously, the shopping center held a convenience store, auto care center, Chinese restaurant, Thai restaurant, and church. As of 2008, the Thai restaurant and auto care center are all that remain. There have been rumors in the past of other businesses possibly opening up in the rather new and empty looking center, but there has yet to be any additions to the shopping center, except for a recycling point in its parking lot.
There are a variety of attraction in the vicinity of Kalama Valley, including Queen's Gate Golf Course, Sandy Beach, Makapuu Lighthouse and beach, Koko Crater Botanical Garden, the "From Here to Eternity" cove, and Hanauma Bay. Sandy Beach, is a picturesque and sandy beach park barely a mile away from Kalama Valley. Sandy Beach is a popular beach for the local crowd, and, due to its quiet location and powerful waves, is a hot spot for body surfing and rarely overcrowded with tourists. Koko Crater botanical garden encloses beautiful plumeria trees and plants from different regions of the world. There is a facile hike up to Makapuu lighthouse, which overlooks the beautiful Makapuu Beach, Sea Life Park and the windward coast. In the winter it serves as a whale watching look out.
As a marine-life sanctuary, Hanauma Bay is idyllic for snorkeling.
Education
Hawaii Kai is located within the Hawaii Department of EducationHawai'i Department of Education
The Hawaii State Department of Education is the most centralized and only statewide public education system in the United States. The school district can be thought of as analogous to the school districts of other cities and communities in the United States, but in some manners can also be thought...
Kaiser Complex and is home to Henry J. Kaiser High, Hahaione Elementary, Kamiloiki Elementary, and Koko Head Elementary Schools. The three elementary schools feed into Niu Valley Middle School
Niu Valley Middle School
Niu Valley Middle School is situated in the heart of Niu Valley, a quiet East Honolulu community. The school serves the Hawaii Kai, Kuliouou, Niu Valley, Wailupe Valley, and Āina Haina areas. Niu Valley Middle is the home of the Lancers. The school colors are red and yellow...
, which in turn feeds into Kaiser High, although Niu Valley Middle is not located in Hawaii Kai.