Kapolei is the "second city" on Oahu. It comes by that name mostly because it is the second largest city on the island (next to Honolulu). Despite the fact that Kapolei was once very rural, it is growing rapidly. Kapolei is about 25 miles outside of Honolulu and sits upon former sugarcane fields and pineapple groves at the base of the Waianae Range. The crest of the Waianae Range is Kaala, which is the highest peak on Oahu (4,025’). Many tourists come to the Kapolei area because they find it to be a relaxing place to escape the hustle and bustle of Honolulu and Waikiki.
Having Fun In Kapolei
The Kapolei Golf Course is one of many golf courses in the Kapolei area. Other golf local golf opportunities include West Lock Golf Course, the Ko Olina Golf Club, Barbers Point Golf Course, Coral Creek Golf Course, Ewa Villages Golf Course, and the Hawaii Prince Golf Course.
Not everyone is into golfing, and for them, there are water parks! The Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park is the most recently built of the bunch. Wet ‘n’ Wild Hawaii has over 25 water rides, including Shaka (a 36-foot water slide) and Tornado (a 45-foot water tunnel). Water World Playground is a part of Wet ‘n’ Wild that is perfect for kids. It has five fun zones: a water playground, a lily pad walk, and water cannons.
The fun does not end with golf courses and water parks, however. For those who want to get up close and personal with some turtles, dolphins, and all types of tropical fish, the waters off Kapolei are the place to check out. There is also the Ko Olina Marina, a full service marina that can accommodate 330 vessels, including “world-class megayachts”. In 2008, the Ko Olina Marina received the “Marina of the Year Award” from Marina Dock Age Magazine. For those who want to absorb some local culture, the Fia Fia Polynesian show at the JW Marriott resort features music, crafts, dancing and fire dancing.
Kapolei Real Estate
There are a number of housing options for interested buyers to consider with Kapolei real estate. For instance, there are golf course single homes with well over 2000 square feet of living space, but such properties do not come cheap. However, as with many other areas, there are always short sales and foreclosure properties that may allow prospective buyers to get into a dream home. For renters, there are townhomes and single houses available for lease. Many homes in Kapolei are more affordable than comparable properties elsewhere on Oahu. There are even gated communities in the Kapolei area. In addition to well thought-out home layouts, the area of Kapolei feels very vast and open, and is quite beautiful.
The name of the community of Kapolei derives from a volcanic cone called Puu o Kapolei. In Hawaiian, puu means hill and Kapo lei means beloved. The last part, Kapo, refers to Kapo, the sister of Pele, the goddess of fire, lightning, and volcanoes. For many residents of Kapolei their town is truly beloved to them.