Wahiawa

Once known as the Pineapple Capitol of the world, Wahiawa is located in the agricultural central valley of O'ahu. Most of the area consists of sprawling pineapple fields, but smaller ventures into coffee and noni farminig have begun to appear in recent years. Schofield Army Barracks and the Wheeler Army Airfield occupy a considerable swath of land adjacent to Wahiawa town, explaining higher-than-average white, hispanic, and black populations and a male census population for the area that outnumbers females by over 3,000.

Anciently, Wahiawa was home to Hawaiian royalty, who lived on the cool upper plains and trained their warriors at the site of today's Schofield Barracks. The large ahupua'a, called Lihue, was also the site for sacred ali'i birth rites, which took place at the Kukaniloko birthing stones. Wahiawa literally means "place of noise," in Hawaiian, because the surf pounding the shore in Hale'iwa and Waialua was once audible on the heights.

At the end of the 19th century, California homesteaders settled in Wahiawa town, establishing a community, planting pineapple, and founding successful companies such as Dole Food Company, Del Monte, and Libby of Honolulu. Now called Leilehua Plain, the area is still home to vast agricultural fields stretching across central O'ahu.

Today, Wahiawa town is bordered by Waialua to the north, Mililani to the south, and enfolded by Schofield Barracks to the east and west. The town of about 16,000 is virtually surrounded by Lake Wilson (also called Kaukonahua), a large freshwater reservoir that limits town access to two bridges that span narrow portions of river water to the north and south. Wahiawa is also home to the 4,025 ft.-tall Mt. Ka'ala, O'ahu's highest point. The cooler temperature found in the elevated community is enviable, especially during hot summer months.

Kamehameha Highway runs through the center of town, revealing plentiful restaurants and fast-food drive thrus, gas stations, and other small businesses. Wahiawa's racial deomgraphic reflects its roots as a plantation town, with 46% of residents reporting Asian descent, primarily Japanese and Filipino. Nearly 4,000 families earn a median income of $46,000. A very local town, almost 70 percent of Wahiawa residents were born and raised in Hawai'i.

Schofield Barracks

Named in honor of Major John M. Schofield, Schofield Army Barracks has been home to the 25th Light Infantry Battalion since 1941. Chosen as an excellent location for rapid deployment to all shores of the island, the Wahiawa District became home to the Army Barracks soon after Hawai'i was annexed to the United States at the turn of the 20th century.

By contrast with nearby Wahiawa, Schofield supports a populace reflective of the United States' racial demographic. A population of 14,428 is comprised of 56 percent whites, 21 percent blacks, and 16 percent hispanics. Unlike the rest of Hawai'i, Schofield does not have significant pacific islander or Asian populations, which are represented at 1.6 and 3.1 percent, respectively. Males make up 60 percent of the population on base, with over 80 percent of residents from out of state.

Adjacent Wheeler Army Air Field, formerly an Air Force base, was built by the Army in 1922, and is home to several Department of Defense organizations. Named a National Historic Landmark in 1987, Wheeler was attacked by Japanese bombers on their way to Pearl Harbor during World War II. Today the Air Field is home to an estimated 2,830 military personnel and their families.

The bases have undergone beautification projects throughout their long history in Hawai'i, planting trees and planning architecture in an effort to make the installations more pleasant places to live. Wheeler is the site of Hawai'i's only Garden City Neighborhood, designated by looping streets and small parks designed to undermine urban sprawl and industrial pollution. Additional resources on base that have been added throughout the years include a golf course, bowling alley, commissary, inn, and health clinic.

Mililani

Located at the heart of O'ahu, Mililani is one of Honolulu's largest suburbs, with over 28,600 residents, 9,000 households, and six community recreation centers. Mililani Town is one of Hawai'i's planned cities.

The ethnic profile of Mililani is typical of Hawai'i, with 46% of residents reporting Asian ancestry, mostly Japanese. Mililani also has a very low poverty rate; only 2.5% of the community's nearly 8,000 families live below the poverty line.

Originally located on plantation land, Mililani was intended as an affordable housing community to ease a housing crunch in Honolulu. Developer Castle & Cooke first began selling homes in the new town in 1968 through Oceanic Properties, one of its subsidiary companies. It was connected to Honolulu with the construction of the Interstate H-2 in 1976.

The Mililani Town Association, established as part of the community's master plan, collects dues from homeowners that it uses to upkeep common areas, maintain community recreation centers and pools, and provide other services to individual residents and the community at large.

The town is the only place in Hawai'i to be named an All-American city, a designation Mililani earned in 1986 and carries to this day. Because of Mililani's success, a newer, more upscale subdivision was planned and built in the 1990s called Mililani Mauka. A primarily residential area, Mililani ranks among the highest-income zip codes in the state, with an average family income of over $70,000.

Mililani and Mililani Mauka are very family-friendly, home to dozens of youth baseball, soccer, football, and basketball teams. There are also multiple venues for shopping and entertainment, with several commercial centers, parks, restaurants, and movie theaters.

Mililani prides itself on the education of its children, who attend several elementary schools, a middle school, and Mililani High School, home of the Trojans. Students in these schools have higher average test scores than the national average in both reading and math. Mililani High is also one of the largest public schools in the state, with a growing enrollment of over 2,400 students.

Residents of Mililani are known for their pride of place and community cooperation. With such a family-oriented lifestyle, it's easy to see why these residents love their All-American--yet uniquely Hawai'i--town.

North Shore

Over the past thirty years, the North Shore of O'ahu has achieved worldwide fame as the home to some of the best and biggest surf anywhere. Along the Pupukea stretch, spots such as Velzyland, Sunset, Banzai Pipeline, Backdoors, and Waimea draw crowds of surfers and spectators during the winter surf season. Summertime draws crowds of beachgoers, lured by the calm summer ocean, fantastic beaches, and excellent weather far from Waikiki resorts.

Originally settled more than 900 years ago, Native Hawaiians on the North Shore grew taro and sweet potato near fresh water sources (such as the Waimea Valley River or the Anahulu Stream in Hale'iwa). They also supported themselves by fishing along the coast. Today, many of these fishing spots have become popular snorkeling and diving areas such as Shark's Cove and Three Tables, part of a Marine Life Conservation District at Pupukea Beach Park.

Locals can generally be found enjoying the area's various beaches or cruising down a popular bike path that parallels Kamehameha Highway along the coast. Most residents of the North Shore commute to work, with average travel times ranging between 30 and 40 minutes.

Hale'iwa

Historic Hale'iwa Town is split by Kamehameha Highway at the heart of O'ahu's North Shore. Located near Waimea Bay, nothing is more satisfying after a long day in the sun and salt water than a generous helping of Matsumoto's Shave Ice (with ice cream—and azuki beans). Hale'iwa is a vibrant center of art on the North Shore, famous for its double-arched narrow bridge and quaint plantation-style buildings. A favorite stopping point for tourists, restaurants, shops, beaches, and surf abound, supporting a populace of just over 2,200 residents. A small bay and boat harbor provide docking for water recreation, and the Hale'iwa Surf Center at Ali'i Beach Park offer surfing lessons and training for the popular Junior Lifeguard program each summer.

Founded in 1832 by Christian missionaries John & Ursula Emerson, Hale'iwa Town began as a mission and girl's seminary. The Queen Liliu'okalani Protestant Church, established by the Emersons, is still in use today. Later, the town gained more exposure—and its name—when Honolulu businessman Benjamin Dillingham built the Hale'iwa Hotel in 1898. Translated as "house of the 'iwa (frigate bird)," Hale'iwa marked the endpoint of a railway system that led through Wahiawa's sugar and pineapple fields. With the advent of the hotel, tourism began on the North Shore. Enterprising plantation workers set up small businesses in and around town, some of which are still standing today.

Popular annual events include the Hale'iwa Arts Festival, Hale'iwa Sea Spree Carnival and the Hale'iwa Town Christmas Parade. Many other community events throughout the year keep residents and visitors alike busy and entertained.

Today, Hale'iwa has been named an historic town, and remains one of the most colorful communities along the North Shore. Now, Hale'iwa Joe's (a popular bar & grill) provides food and entertainment where the Hale'iwa Hotel once stood. The railway has long since disappeared, but the enterprising spirit of Hale'iwa remains.

Waialua

Waialua is a former plantation town located just past Hale'iwa on Kamehameha Highway. A place steeped in history, the Waialua Sugar Mill was once a production site for a booming Hawai'i sugar industry. It was one of the last mills to remain open on O'ahu, finally closing its doors in 1996. No longer a sugar-producing plant, the mill now hosts a weekly farmer's market. The old sugar mill is also the production site of Waialua Coffee—the only coffee mill currently in production on O'ahu. With a population of 3,761 residents, Waialua boasts a high school, elementary school and a small commercial center. Residents gather at the Waialua Bandstand once a month for community concerts or attend the Waialua Farmer's Market each Saturday at the old sugar mill.

Popular yearly events include the Waialua Community Association's Cultural Festival and the Waialua Hongwanji Mission Bon Dance. Like the rest of the North Shore, commutes to work are a necessity for Waialua residents, with an average traveling time of just over half an hour. The area's ethnic makeup is also reflective of its history as a plantation town—over 35 percent of the population is of Filipino ancestry, with 74 percent of residents reporting Asian or mixed-Asian ancestry. A median household income of $46,763 and a relatively low poverty rate are indicative of the relative economic stability of residents in the area. Like nearby Hale'iwa, Waialua is a unique town with a strong sense of community and place. Residents are very proud of their plantation background, never averse to telling—or hearing—stories from the good old days.

Mokule'ia

Located against the Wai'anae Mountain Range at the far west end of the North Shore, Mokule'ia is a true country town. A small, remote locale, Mokule'ia is home to the Dillingham Air Field, Dillingham Ranch, and YMCA Camp Erdman. Polo games, skydiving, and camping regularly draw visitors to the area.

Mokule'ia Beack Park is a popular remote camping location, with Ka'ena Point—the westernmost tip of O'ahu—marking the area's boundary. Ka'ena Point, a natural reserve and bird sanctuary, plays an important role in ancient Hawaiian folklore as the place where the souls of the dead jump off the cliffs in order to enter the spirit world.

According to the 2000 U.S. Census, 1,839 people live in Mokule'ia, with a median household income of about $50,000 yearly. By contrast with nearby Waialua (a former plantation town), most residents in Mokule'ia are white—over 57 percent, with 74 percent of residents of white or mixed-white backgrounds. A place far off the beaten path, Mokule'ia is one of the last places on O'ahu where the only sounds heard at night are crickets and silence, or perhaps a slight breeze rustling through the trees.