Hawaii Kai, Hawaii

Hawaiokinai Kai is a largely residential area located in the City & County of Honolulu, in the District of Honolulu on the island of Ookinaahu. Hawaiokinai 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 Hawaiokinai 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 Hawaiokinai Kai is 96825. Other neighborhoods included in this postal delivery area are: Portlock, Hahaokinaione and Kaokinaalākei valleys, Mariners Ridge, Queen's Gate, and Kalama Valley.

Geography

Immediately west of Hawaiokinai Kai along Kalanianaole Highway (State Rte. 72) is the East Honolulu neighborhood of Kuliokinaouokinaou. Eastward from Hawaiokinai Kai on the same highway is the Koko Head area, a very scenic part of the island 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 Makapuokinau Point.

Communities

"Kalama Valley" is a community within the town of Hawaiokinai Kai located on the eastern coast of the island of Ookinaahu. It features a shopping center, a public park and basketball facilities, and predominately single-family, relatively high-priced housing, due to its location in Hawaiokinai 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 a 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, Makapuokinau 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 Makapuokinau lighthouse, which overlooks the beautiful Makapuokinau 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.

Gallery

References

* U.S. Army Engineer District Honolulu (ACOE). 1975. "Final environmental statement for Department of the Army permit applications in the Hawaiokinai Kai Marina, Ookinaahu, Hawaiokinai". 52 pp. + appendices.