OAHU, The Gathering Place, is the third largest Hawaiian island and home to Honolulu, the state capitol. Honolulu was proclaimed the state capitol by King Kamehameha III in 1850 and began operating in 1905 as the County of Oahu before being renamed the City and County of Honolulu in 1907. It is the only American city founded by a monarch or ruler and is the site of the only palace in the United States.
The city and county of Honolulu encompasses all of Oahu and is governed by an elected mayor and nine city council members each representing a specific geographic district on the island. These districts are grouped together under larger regions commonly referred to as: Honolulu, East Oahu, Windward, North Shore, Leeward and Central. Within these regions are various towns, communities and neighborhoods each with their own distinctive characteristics.
According to the 2000 census Oahu had a population of 876,156, which at the time represented approximately 72 percent of the people of the state. The 2000 census also shows there was a total of 460,542 housing units in the state. Today, Honolulu’s median resale value for a single family home is $569,000 and $310,000 for a condominium.
When planning a trip around the island it can be useful to know that the local residents have a special language for indicating direction. For example, mauka [m-ow-ka] is toward the mountains, makai [ma-k-aye] is toward the sea, Ewa [w is usually pronounced as "v"] is in the direction of Ewa town, Diamond Head is toward that famous Waikiki landmark, and Koko Head is toward the location of that crater which is location out next to Hanauma Bay.
There are two mountain ranges that divide the island, the Koolau and Waianae mountain ranges. The highest peak of the Koolaus is the Pali. The Pali lookout offers wonderful views of Kailua, Kaneohe and the Windward coast. Take the Pali highway from Honolulu and watch for the signs.
There are truly wonderful homes in all of these areas. If you are thinking that a Condominium would be better suited for your needs, there are also hundreds that will make fabulous homes for you all around Oahu.
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