Pearl Harbor is an integral part of American history. The Pearl Harbor Visitor Center is part of the World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument. There is also the Battleship Missouri Memorial in Pearl Harbor and the USS Utah Memorial, and, of course, the USS Arizona Memorial in Pearl Harbor. Beyond Pearl Harbor’s northern shore lies Pearl City. Because of its proximity to Pearl Harbor and other military facilities, many might think Pearl City is only an area for military housing, but this is not true. Despite sharing part of its name with Pearl Harbor, Pearl City is a mostly residential area with a population of about 31,000 people, most of them civilians.
…Located in a Great Area
Pearl City is about 11 miles to the west of downtown Honolulu, and falls within the Ewa district of Oahu. Pearl City is located on the southern coast of Oahu, near Aiea and Salt Lake. It is close enough that commuting to Honolulu is relatively convenient, and since Pearl City is also near Oahu’s “second city”, Kapolei, many residents commute there for work.
You are never far from a beach on Oahu, and beyond the waters of Pearl Harbor right next door, there are plenty of beaches for residents of and visitors to Pearl City to enjoy. Pearl City does not have any shoreline of its own, but getting to a beach is not difficult. In fact, Pearl City is pretty centrally located on the island.
…A Place Filled with Terrific Parks
As with the rest of Oahu, Pearl City real estate is a place filled with lush landscapes. Fortunately, Pearl City has many parks that allow people to enjoy nature’s bounty. Pearl City District Park has basketball courts, tennis courts and a swimming pool. The Waiau District Park hosts a market (People's Open Market) on Tuesdays. Pacific Palisades Community Park is a place where people can play basketball, softball, volleyball, and tennis, and there is a playground for younger children.
…A Good Place to Spend Money on Food and Fashion
The shopping in and around Pearl City offers an abundance of pleasures. There are family run stores in addition to the large Pearlridge Center, which has over 170 restaurants and shops. Pearl City Shopping Center has larger retailers such as a Foodland Supermarket and a Long’s Drugs, in addition to many smaller retailers and service providers. Pearl Highlands Center bills itself as “Your Shortcut to Shopping” and features a fitness center, food and many retailers. There are also plenty of places to eat out in the Pearl City area. Restaurants in Pearl City serve Thai, American, and Japanese cuisines, and there are also steakhouses and fast food outlets. Although there are a number of “chain” restaurants, there are also plenty of “local joints” also. Either way, there is something to tempt every palate in the Pearl City dining scene.
…Full of Great Housing Options
In Pearl City, people enjoy a variety of housing options. Most houses are owner occupied, although there are some rentals available as well. In addition to houses, Pearl City also has plenty of townhomes, apartments and condominiums. The Honolulu Boards of Realtors 2010 Annual Report on the Honolulu Housing Market listed the median price of a single detached home in Pearl City as $593,750 and the median price for a condominium or townhome in Pearl City as $277,250.
…A Wonderful Place to Call Home
Even in the middle of an island that is one of the preeminent tourist destinations in the world, people can find a place that feels like a true neighborhood. Pearl City offers many “homey” characteristics that make it easy to live there. Pearl City is a great place make a home.