Makiki Heights is a residential area in Honolulu, Hawaii that consists primarily of single-family homes and townhomes ranging in size from three to four bedrooms to four, five, or more bedrooms. The majority of the residential housing is occupied by the owners. Many of the homes in Makiki Heights were built between 1940 and 1969 and are older and well-established. Between 1970 and 1999, a number of houses were also constructed.

Makiki is a tight knit neighborhood where “everyone knows your name” and is sprinkled with the local coffee shops, supermarkets, farmer’s markets, hole in the wall restaurants, museums, hiking trails, lookout points, and some of the most elite private schools in the state. It’s also in close proximity to the University of Hawaii, Ala Moana, and the famous Waikiki. President Barack Obama and Bruno Mars are two of the most well-known inhabitants of the area. People move here looking for convenience, affordability, and panoramic views of the mountain, city, and ocean. All you could possibly need is within five minutes of Makiki. 

How you get to work – by car, bus, train, or other means – and how much time it takes up in your day is a major quality of life and financial consideration. The duration and mode of one’s commute can be a financial hardship, especially with gasoline costs on the rise and likely to continue. Some areas of the city are physically located in such a way that many residents must drive their own car, while others are designed so that many residents can walk to work or take the train, bus, or bike. The greatest number of commuters in Makiki Heights suburb spend between 15 and 30 minutes commuting one-way to work, which is shorter than the time spent commuting to work for most Americans. To travel to work, the majority of inhabitants drive alone in a personal vehicle. Furthermore, many people carpool with coworkers, acquaintances, or neighbors to go to work. Many homeowners in this neighborhood, as in most of the country, find having a car useful for going to work.