Pearl City

A large suburban community located on at the northern edge of Pearl Harbor, Pearl City is home to 30,976 people (2000 Census). Pearls harvested from oysters in the Pearl River gave the area its name, but upland cattle ranching in the 1940s displaced soil and other pollutants in to the river, killing the oyster population. Later, the river was dredged to create Pearl Harbor, a major military installation in the Pacific. Like adjacent 'Aiea, some Pearl City land was once used to grow sugar cane, although many independent farmers and fishermen also settled in the area.

On December 7, 1941, Japanese bombers razed Pearl Harbor's naval base, triggering the United States' entry into World War II. Pearl Harbor remains the headquarters of the U.S. Pacific Fleet. Visitors to the harbor should look for the newly-opened Pacific Aviation Museum, and daily tours are offered to the Arizona Memorial, a monument erected over the sunken hull of the U.S.S. Arizona. Fifty-three percent of Pearl City's residents report Asian ancestry, with a 17.24% white population. A great place for families, Pearl City boasts parks, affordable housing, and convenient health care. The Pearl Highlands Center provides residents with shopping and entertainment.

Interesting Fact: Former Miss Universe Brook Lee and actor Jason Scott Lee (The Jungle Book) are originally from Pearl City.

'Aiea

'Aiea was originally the ahupua'a that went from 'Aiea Bay into the mountains in the north. 'Aiea is also the Hawaiian word for a small shrub that was once found in abundance in the area and was used to tie together strands of pili grass. These strands were used for thatched houses that the Hawaiians lived in. The 'Aiea shrubs were dug up to make way for sugar cane and the community grew around the Honolulu Plantation Co. mill.

During World War II, much of the plantation land was lost to the war effort and eventually the plantation closed down. The Oahu Sugar Company took over the land that was left and continued to produce sugar. The California and Hawaiian Sugar Refining Company then took over the mill. At one point, the mill supplied practically all of Hawai'i's refined sugar, but C&H closed the refinery in 1996 and tore it down in 1998, even though many in the community protested that the 99 year old mill be kept as a landmark that celebrated the town's sugar days.

'Aiea is also home to a the Keaiwa Heiau State Park and the 'Aiea Loop Trail. The heiau was a site that ancient Hawaiians visited when they needed to see a kahuna lapa'au, or a medicine man who was believed to have supernatural healing powers. A wing of a Japanese Zero fighter that was shot down during the Japanese December 7, 1941 attack on Pearl Harbor can be seen suspended in the tree branches on the loop trail.

'Aiea has since shed its plantation roots and now sports a suburban environment with a population of 9,019. Like the rest of Hawai'i, a prevalent Asian population of 58.31 percent comprises most of the area's residents. 'Aiea is home to Aloha Stadium, where the University of Hawai'i Warriors play their home football games, and it also hosts the NFL's yearly all-star game, the Pro Bowl. The stadium has also held concerts by acts like the Rolling Stones, the Eagles and Michael Jackson. A swap meet is held in the stadium's parking lot on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays.

Pearlridge Center is an important retail part of 'Aiea. The center is home to a shopping mall filled with shops, restaurants and a movie theater. 'Aiea is also home to the Sumida Farm, one of the largest watercress farms in Hawai'i.

Across the street from Pearlridge Center is where the Kam Drive-in once stood. The drive-in was opened in 1962 and was closed in 1998, to the disappointment of many O'ahu families who had many fond memories of the historic drive-in.

Interesting Fact: Many 'Aiea and Hawai'i residents tell their friends that 'Aiea is the only city in the world whose name is comprised entirely of vowels. This is false for several reasons. The 'okina is considered to be a consonant in the Hawaiian language and many people are unaware of this. Even if the 'okina was ignored, there are other towns in the world whose names are also comprised entirely by vowels: Ea (in Spain), Aue (in Germany) and Ae (in Scotland). 'Aiea does have the distinction of being the only town in the United States whose name consists entirely of vowels.

Salt Lake

A small oasis outside of Downtown Honolulu, the Moanalua area is surrounded by a valley, a stream, and the Ko'olau Mountain Range. This growing community of more than 54,000 people spans portions of Salt Lake, Red Hill, and Halawa.

This residential community is not only home to the locals, but has become the place of choice for military personnel from neighboring Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy bases and their families. As a result, the ethnic make-up of the neighborhood differs from that of a typical Hawai'i community. Although 38.6% of the population is of Asian decent, the Caucasian population rounds in at a close second with 33.7%.

Don't expect this area to stop growing any time soon. With a developing commercial center that includes community malls and industrial areas, Moanalua is fast becoming a place people like to call home.

Salt Lake's community is built on the volcanic craters of Makalapa, Aliamanu and Aliapa'akai. During the 1960's, the construction boom started the early neighborhood developments of high-rise condominiums and family housing. Today, Salt Lake has grown to include schools, a public library, shopping center, satellite city hall, and three parks with various hiking trails.

Halawa

In addition to being a growing community, Halawa is also prized as highly sacred to Hawaiians with ancient temples and burial grounds. With the opening of the H-3 Freeway, Halawa was split into two sections causing it to merge with the neighboring Aiea and Moanalua area. With such a large area, it is hard to believe that most of the Halawa Valley is still undeveloped.