Kapolei Guide - Information On Oahu Kapolei, Hawaii

Kapolei is one of Oahu’s newest and fastest growing cities, but it wasn't always this way.

Location

You'll find the city of Kapolei on the leeward, or west, side of the island of Oahu. More specifically, it's located on the southwest tip of the island. To the north is the Waianae Coast and to the east is the city of Ewa Beach. The 16 mile journey from Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) takes around 25-30 minutes. If traffic is bad expect it to take a lot longer. You see, the one thing the developers didn't do is to create a road network that, well, works.

Another nearby airport is Kalaeloa Airport (JRF) which has recently started providing some inter-island flights. Still, the vast majority of flights on and off the island are still served by Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL).

Kapolei History

Back in 1877, James Campbell purchased 41,000 acres of land for $95,000 USD. After drilling Hawaii's first artesian well, he uncovered a huge amount of ground water. That water transformed once barren land into a thriving sugar plantation.

By 1955, the Estate of James Campbell first created the long term Ewa Master Plan. This plan would transform the land so it could be used for agricultural, commercial, industrial, and residential uses. The first tenant in this new master plan was Standard Oil, which today is Chevron.

In 1977, the City & County of Honolulu designated the Ewa Plains as Oahu's second city (the first being Honolulu) to accommodate future growth. And grow it did! Barbers Point Harbor was built in 1985 to allow for large ships to dock. A year later and ground breaks on the Ko Olina Resort.

Beginning in 1990, they broke ground on what will officially be the City of Kapolei. The following few years see the development of new housing and commercial buildings. The first official government building opened in 1998 and major additions have been happening ever since.

Kapolei Today

The city today has changed a lot in such a short span of time and continues to expand and grow daily. With less than 12,000 homes and 43,000 residents in 1990 to over 34,000 homes and 107,000 residents in 2015, it's easy to see why this is Oahu's second city. The city is expected to gain over 50% more homes and people over the next 20 years.

Major Attractions

The big attraction in Kapolei is the beautiful Ko Olina Resort. This master planned resort complex features a mix of residential housing along with hotels. Developers carved out four man made lagoons, complete with perfect sandy beaches. These picture perfect settings have attracted Marriott's Ko Olina Beach Club, Aulani A Disney Resort And Spa, and the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina.

Inside the Ko Olina Resort you'll find plenty to see and do including several stores, restaurants, Paradise Cove Luau, and the Ko Olina Marina. Wet 'n' Wild Hawaii is a fun water park that's perfect for kids and adults alike. Golfers will enjoy the Ko Olina Golf Club or Barbers Point Golf Course.