Welcome to
Waipio
A small, planned community just south of Mililani. The majority of Waipio was built in the 80’s and 90’s and consists of low-rise townhomes, single-family homes, and a large commercial/industrial area. Waipio is best known for Costco and Central Oahu Regional Park…Hawaii’s premier outdoor youth sports complex featuring facilities for tennis, baseball, softball, soccer, archery, and swimming.
Key Details
Other Considerations
- For middle and high school, Waipio is a part of the Pearl City school district, which might negate the convenience that Waipio is known for if you have kids that are in that age group.
- Lot sizes in Waipio are on the small side with less yard space; some are zero lot lines.
- There’s an older neighborhood directly below Waipio that’s called Seaview. It’s an older subdivision of Waipahu built in the 60’s and 70’s. It shares the same schools as Waipio.
Around the Neighborhood
In a lot of ways, Waipio is a mini version of Mililani with fewer amenities.
It has a wide range of price points and a good mix of residential and commercial areas. And normally, convenience comes with a premium price but that’s not the case with Waipio. When compared to its neighbors (Mililani & Waikele) it’s more affordable and arguably more convenient. But that affordability & convenience comes with a few trade-offs. The properties tend to be small and some feel the homes are too close for comfort. Waipio is definitely for you if you don’t want to bother with a yard, don’t mind being close to your neighbors, and value convenience.
Shopping
Costco is the major shopping attraction in Waipio and services the majority of Central Oahu neighborhoods. It’s a decent Costco and includes Costco Gas. Aside from Costco, Waipio has one of the larger industrial areas with lots of local service-oriented businesses. Everything from plumbers, electricians, AC companies, auto repair, commercial food prep, to hair and nail salons and specialty sports stores.
Dining
Nothing really special in the dining department. There are a few restaurants and a handful of fast-food joints. However, in 2018 a small microbrew popped up in Waipio Industrial called Beer Lab HI…it’s technically not a restaurant but we’ll throw it into the beverage department. They have a really cool tasting program that they run as a “Workshop”. It’s basically a guided tasting that explores a full gamut of craft beers. Think Napa Valley wine tasting, but only it’s beer in an industrial area…not posh, but very cool.
Schools
Waipio is home to one of the best-rated elementary schools in the state, Kanoelani Elementary. And although Waipio is technically a sub-division of Waipahu, its residents pull to Pearl City for middle and high school…go figure. And that’s actually a plus as the Pearl City school district is one of the more desirable districts on the island. The rankings below are done by Honolulu Magazine and are for 2019 statewide. For a more detailed breakdown and explanation of the rankings, please visit HonoluluMagazine.com
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- Kanoelani Elementary #17 of 170
- Highlands Middle #20 of 51
- Pearl City High School #11 of 49
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Market Attributes
Trending
Due to a lack of inventory, low interest rates, and a high demand in the area Waipio is a hot market.
Date of Builds
The first homes in Waipio were built 1978 but primarily built in the 80’s to early 90’s
Days on the Market
Transportation Dynamics
Driving around Waipio is sort of a mixed bag. Like most Central Oahu neighborhoods, Waipio is a commuter’s community. There are two main freeway access points heading East, one at the top of Waipio off of Ka Uka Blvd and one at the bottom off of Kamehameha Hwy. Once you’re in Waipio it’s pretty easy to get around but the streets around Costco can get backed up and is likely to get worse with the addition of Koa Ridge. Getting to and from the parks from residential areas is walkable/rollable and there’s a long path that cuts straight through Waipio and connects the residential areas with the neighborhood park and Kanoelani Elementary.
Car Dependent ➔ Yes
Bicycle Friendly ➔ Yes
Uber ➔ 2 to 5 drivers in the area
City Bus ➔ Yes
Common Commutes by Car:
- Downtown Honolulu – 20 minutes without traffic; 50 minutes with traffic
- Schofield Barracks – 15 minutes without traffic; 25 minutes with traffic
- Honolulu Inter. Airport – 15 minutes without traffic; 35 minutes with traffic
- Grocery Store – 2 to 5 minutes
- Costco – 2 to 5 minutes