Aiea - A city within the Pearl City region of the MLS

Aiea is a good choice for families who don't want to deal with the urban jungle of Honolulu but who also don't want to be too far away from it — or deal with the morning and afternoon traffic of Central and West Oahu. 

Located near Pearl Harbor, generations of families from Hawaii have called Aiea home. It boarders Pearl City at Kaahumanu Street and Halawa on the eastern end, from the ocean to the mountains. The communities of Newtown Estates and Royal Summit are also part of Aiea. Morning and afternoon traffic on Oahu is bad no matter where you are, but Aiea residents don't have to deal with the slowdown at H1/H2 interchange because of their location. 

Aiea is one of the older communities in Hawaii with a history is entwined with sugar cane. Since the community grew up around the sugar cane industry and its waves of immigration, many of the homes have been in families for generations. However, ask anyone under the age of 30 about Aiea and the town's history in sugar and agriculture will probably be unknown to them, or at most a distant memory. 

The Aiea of today is associated with Pearlridge, the state's second largest shopping mall, or Pali Momi, one of the state's largest medical centers. For seniors living in Central Oahu, Pali Momi allows them to age in their homes with access to excellent medical care without having to travel into Honolulu's urban core. The area is also home to the Cancer Center of Hawaii, giving cancer patients access to treatments. Aiea will be serviced by the rail lines being built along Kamehameha Highway. A stop will service the area around Pearlridge and Pearl Kai.

WEATHER

Like most of Hawaii, Aiea is pleasant for most of the year, especially when the trade winds are blowing with average temperatures between 70 to 85 degrees. If they're not blowing, especially during the summer, the weather can become humid. 

COMMUNITY AMMENITIES

The Neal S. Blaisdell Park is popular with families during the weekend. So much so that there's multiple get-togethers with tents, bouncy houses and BBQ. Things can get crowded, so families with kids may want to keep that in mind when making plans. 

A better choice is Aiea Bay State Recreation Park, which is smaller, isn't as crowded on the weekends and a nice hideaway on the weekdays. It has a reputation as being a hidden gem with views of Pearl Harbor and the Arizona Memorial.

Both parks are on the water but aren't beaches. But Aiea isn't too far from Ewa Beach and its beaches. For surfers, there's White Plains Beach, and other beaches in the Ewa Beach area — Oneula Beach Park and Pu'uloa Beach Park — are great for families with kids looking to relax. 

Sand Island Beach Park is about as far away from Aiea as the beaches in Ewa Beach but more toward Honolulu, but the swimming isn't as good and the terrain is rocky. Not all areas are open to swimming because of its proximity to Honolulu Harbor and underwater sewer lines. If you're traveling that way, a better bet would be to take the extra time to visit Ala Moana beach or Waikiki. 

In the mountains, there's the Keaiwa Heiau State Recreation Area right in Aiea. The area was previously a shrine to the ancient Hawaiians built in the 16th century, dedicated to the healing arts. It features a trail that offers views of the west side of Halawa Valley, Pearl Harbor to the Waianae Range to Honolulu and Diamond Head. 

While it isn't a challenging trail, it is recommended that older children or teenagers take part in the hike, as smaller kids might not be able to keep up. The hike passes by the crash site of a bomber from WWII.

SCHOOLS

Schools in the area include Aiea High School and Aiea Intermediate School; Public elementary schools in the general area include:

• Alvah A. Scott Elementary School
• Aiea Elementary School
• Gus Webling Elementary School 
• Pearl Ridge Elementary School
• Waimalu Elementary School

Private elementary schools include: 

• St. Elizabeth Catholic School
• Our Savior Lutheran School

SHOPPING/DINING

You won't have lack of options when it comes to shopping. Pearlridge Center, the state's second largest shopping mall, is in Aiea and next door to it is Pearl Kai. Almost everything you'd want, or need, can be found in the mall or the surrounding area, from buying back-to-school clothes at Macy's to home accessories at Bed, Bath and Beyond. There's a Walmart and Sam's town next door in Pearl City and Costco is up the highway and Freeway in Waipio, not further than 15 minutes away.

Aiea can also hold its own when it comes to dining. There are local favorites, like The Alley Restaurant in the Aiea Shopping Center (known for their Tasty Chicken and desserts) and The Forty-Niner (loco mocos). Cuu Long in Pearl Kai serves delicious pho and bahn mi (try the lemongrass chicken) and is open until 10. Anna Miller's is an institution on Oahu for comfort food and pies, and while it was open 24 hours, COVID's cut down those hours but hopefully, it'll return to operating all day and all night.

If you're looking for pizza above and beyond the usual mainland franchises, Boston's North End Pizza Bakery has a loyal following for its huge, amazing slices. As someone who eats too much pizza, it's a tossup between Boston's North End Pizza Bakery and Uncle's NY Deli in Wahiawa as to who has the best pie. 

With roots in the Hawaii's agricultural past, Aiea is far from being a relic with its many options for shopping and dining, as well as its access to state-of-the-art medical facilities. Check out our listings for this community below.