Ewa Beach, HI

Ewa Beach, pronounced "ev-ha," is both a small town and a neighborhood. It fronts the Pacific Ocean west of the Honolulu International Airport and is part of the Ewa District, locally known as the Honouliuli Apupua’a neighborhood. Ewa Beach is also close to Hickam Air Force Base and Pearl Harbor. Military families that prefer to live off base often choose Ewa Beach because of the location and easy access to the family-friendly sands of the beach carrying the same name.

No matter where you decide to call home in Ewa Beach you’ll be close to wind, waves and sand. The area has a mixture of apartment-condos and single family homes, some vintage and some recently built. If you’d prefer to forego a car, check for apartments close to bus stops, shops and services. If the Pacific Ocean appears to be calling your name see if you can find a home with a view. The Hawaiian sunsets on this end of Oahu are unmatched.

If you avoid the morning and afternoon commutes you’ll find it’s roughly a half-hour drive into Honolulu and Waikiki. That puts visiting attractions like Iolani Palace, the one-time residence of Hawaii’s kings and queens, and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum within easy reach. The museum, built by Charles Bishop, is named for Princess Bernice Pauhai Bishop, a descendant of the Kamehameha family. The museum’s hands-on exhibits and planetarium are especially fun for the kids. Kapiolani Park, home to the Honolulu Zoo and the Waikiki Aquarium are just a few minutes drive farther east. The World War II Valor in the Pacific National Monument at Pearl Harbor is even closer, about 10 minutes on a traffic free day. Visit the wing-like memorial straddling the USS Arizona that still sits at the bottom of Pearl Harbor. Head over to Ford Island to board the USS Missouri, the battleship where the declaration of surrender was signed. Head 10 miles west from Ewa Beach and you’ll find the Paradise Cove Luau in Kapolei. It’s on the touristy side but the food’s great and the Hawaiian entertainment enjoyable. The beachfront setting faces the sunset, a big plus.

The main attraction in Ewa Beach is the beach. Locals come to picnic, swim and harvest limu, a Hawaiian edible seaweed. Surfing is popular, as is fishing from shore. Another thing this area is known for is golf. The Ewa Beach Golf Club is on the eastern end of the neighborhood and offers both resident and visitor rates. The Hawaii Prince Golf Club, affiliated with Prince Hotels, is larger and in the center of the community. Non-guest players are welcome; it’s just a bit more expensive. The West Loch Golf Course is on the northern end of Ewa Beach, on the west loch of Pearl Bay. Managed by the City of Honolulu, this is a municipal course with lower rates but no frills.