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Alewa Heights | A neighborhood overview.

Alewa Heights has some of the most sought-after property in Honolulu.

Overview

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Alewa Drive is the neighborhood’s principal thoroughfare, snaking through a mix of well-kept homes in a variety of architectural styles ranging from early plantation to mid-century modern, as well as new bespoke homes and roomy remodels. Residents can enjoy panoramic views of the bordering luscious, green mountains to the north and the deep blue, glistening waves of the Pacific Ocean to the south, thanks to the high elevation. Alewa Heights real estate is some of the most sought-after in Honolulu due to its close proximity to Downtown Honolulu, stunning landscape, and uncommon availability.

 

Alewa Heights, one of Oahu’s oldest communities, was established in the 1920s. As Honolulu’s population developed, some of the city’s wealthier citizens built estates on Kapalama Ridge, which overlooks Nuuanu Valley, to enjoy a more serene setting while still being close to the city’s attractions. King Kamehameha loved Alewa Heights so much that he created a two-lane wide Holua slide down the slope from Kapalama to the sheltered harbor waters. A Holua slide is exceedingly dangerous, similar to a toboggan slide but made of lava rock rather than ice, and it was once considered a royal sport. A part of the slide was visible until the mid-nineteenth century, when it was completely destroyed by development. Alewa still has several royal palms, a reminder of the area’s former life as a royal playground. The Lama trees that surrounded this protected spot where chief and chiefess would congregate to be married gave the place its name, Kapalama Ridge. At Na Pueo Mini Park, a lone Lama tree still grows, and a rock formation at the park’s end has a huge stone in the center, indicating that this may have been a gathering spot for the Ali’i, the highest of Hawaiian nobility.

 

Alewa Heights is a large community located above Nuuanu Valley on Kapalama Ridge. “Alewa” means “to float” in Hawaiian. Homes in Alewa Heights are nestled in the foothills of the famous Koolau Mountain Range, offering spectacular city, mountain, and ocean views. Alewa Drive is the community’s primary thoroughfare, and it becomes extremely steep near the top of the heights.

 

The H1 Freeway and the southern end of Alewa Heights are the most densely populated areas. This beautiful area is bordered by extensive trees and tropical vegetation, particularly in the neighborhood’s northern section.

 

The Kapalama Highschool campus of Kamehameha Schools is located nearby. Alewa Heights is surrounded by shopping malls, grocery stores, restaurants, and community parks, and it is close to the city’s various shopping and entertainment districts. White sand beaches, the island’s international airport, and several regional hospitals are all within a short drive.

 

Along the H1 Freeway, residents have easy access to adjacent communities. Alewa Heights is connected to major municipalities on Oahu’s northern coastlines by the Pali Highway.

Known For

Outdoor Activities

Parks, trails for hiking, biking, and running

Varied Culinary Scene

Numerous famous eateries

Spectacular Views

Views of Punchbowl, Diamond Head, Nuuanu, Liliha and Awela Heights

Alewa Heights Market Report

Photo Tour

Client Testimonials