Note: This page shows all homes for sale in Ewa Beach, which includes homes from 6 neighborhoods we have created:
Ewa Gentry,
Hoakalei,
Ocean Pointe,
Ewa Villages,
Westloch Fairway & Estates and
Old Ewa Beach.
Ewa Beach real estate just isn't the easily defined term it used to be. Not just in terms of geographical scope, but in the range of property you can find, and buy, there as well. Until the closing of the 20th Century, a browsing of listings was a lot easier.
Before that time, when you referred to Ewa Beach that could only mean the small town along the coastline, beneath the vast farmlands that covered almost every other square inch of the Ewa Plain.
The closing of those plantations was a pivotal moment, starting a rush to turn those agricultural lands into badly needed residential areas. This development let loose a flood of pent up demand from
Oahu homebuyers. New communities began to spring up to the immediate north of the town, creating what were, and are, considered 'Ewa Beach Homes', yet weren't actually within the city's limits.
3 decades on from there the new, greater Ewa Beach real estate district still isn't done, with some significant projects still to come. It's where the primary interest is and will continue to be for some time to come.
Most of these Ewa Beach homes fulfill a similar purpose as those in their namesake town. They satisfy two markets that have seen their options wither in east Oahu. One is the 1st Time Homebuyer, the other is the buyer, especially families, who wants to own a new(er) single family home with 2 to 4 bedrooms, a yard and even a driveway. Faced with drastic compromise at best in
Honolulu's real estate, West Oahu presents a more reasonable price point and features that are difficult to impossible to get elsewhere. That's not the entire story, however.
Recent years have seen an expansion of residences, and residential experiences, adding a level that addresses a market with higher budgets and expectations. It is no accident that the old Ewa Beach now has 3 different golf courses sitting on its borders, each with neighborhoods that sit along their fairways. Large, upscale Ewa Beach homes can now be found, often in gated communities and with private recreation centers to serve their clientele.
The most seismic reshaping of all is the emergence of Hoakalei. It brings the resort lifestyle of
Kakaako to the lands beside White Plains Beach. The massive private lagoon for residents to play in, homes gathered around the hotel & golf course along with the leisure options of a vacation integrated into daily life make up a community inconceivable in Ewa Beach just a generation ago, or even less. No longer.
More is coming, such as the Hoonani neighborhood in Ewa Villages or a cornerstone of the 2nd City,
Hoopili, which will bridge Ewa Beach and Kapolei with almost 12,000 homes as well as agricultural lands, commercial areas and everything else that will make it almost a self-contained community within the West Oahu whole.
That said, the working class roots of the original Ewa Beach community are alive and well in its now expanded area collected under its name. What has changed, though, is much more than a broader selection of property. Now this is a place that can be home forever.
Previously, when grown children started their own families or a residential upgrade was needed, Ewa Beach residents often had to leave. The lack of inventory as well as a limited variety of properties made that necessary. No more.
Now, Ewa Beach real estate has it all, from starter homes to luxury houses, in newly added neighborhoods, with more still to come. The Ewa Plain can now be home forever, keeping extended families closer together, and allowing homebuyers to know they may move at some point, but they can maintain their local roots and bonds here. That might be the greatest benefit of all.
A better understanding of the new Ewa Beach real estate category, and its connected 2nd City areas, requires a look at the individual neighborhoods that make it up.
Old Ewa Beach The original town holds homes primarily from the 1950s to the present day, its long history and organic growth obvious in the varied styles and sizes of houses, with a few low-rise condos as well. Lots tend to be close together on these streets. Much of the locals can walk or bicycle easily to the beach.
Ewa Gentry In development since the early 1990's and still in progress, Ewa Gentry has it all, from the townhomes of Terrazza and Cortebella to the Laulani residences aimed at 1st time homebuyers or the family-ready dimensions and dual levels of Latitudes & Sandalwood houses, there's literally every level of real estate. Even large, upscale homes in Cypress Point that line deep green fairways.
Hoakalei Made up of 4 neighborhoods, 3 with large single family homes with different architectural styles and 1 made up of townhomes, all beside or surrounded by the
Ernie Els designed golf course. All except the townhome community have their own recreation centers with pool and tennis courts, plus all residents have access to the Wai Kai Lagoon, big enough for kayaking, paddleboarding & swimming.
Ocean Pointe Bordering on the
Hoakalei Golf Course, this neighborhood is close enough for at least some residents to walk to the beach. Houses are very roomy, most having 3BR/2BA, but all giving you a fenced yard, Central A/C and a 2 Car Garage. All homes built between 1998 to 2009.
Westloch Fairway & Estates In Westloch Fairway you'll find a mix of single and dual level townhomes here, along with single family homes, some of which sit right on the southern West Loch Golf Course fairways. Known for its tree-canopied main road as well as its 12 acres of green space, including 2 parks for residents to play and enjoy.
Westloch Estates was the 1st neighborhood of the new Ewa Beach, this area is known for single family homes with larger dimensions & multiple bedrooms, usually 3 to 5, making them popular with Oahu families. Sited on the north side of the
West Loch Golf Course, there are a large number of cul-de-sac streets, emphasizing privacy and closer ties between neighbors.
Ewa Villages A rich mix of vintage Plantation style homes from the 1920s to 1940s, many State Historic residences, along with newer development that began in the 1980's and still continues. Lokahi Greens, for example, lines the
Ewa Villages Golf Course and recent headlines have noted the new Ho'onani project, which will add 7 different floor plans to these lands with 3 to 5 bedrooms in single family homes and duplexes.
History of Ewa Ewa's early history is shrouded in mystery. Although archeological sites have been found, we still know little about life here before the 19th Century. It seems that there were Native Hawaiians here, but in extremely small numbers and far from where the Ali'i usually dwelt, making it unimportant in the life and lineage of Oahu during the Pre-Contact years.
What ultimately sparked activity here was the same thing that impacted all of Hawaii - Sugar. In 1877 Businessman James Campbell, after first building a successful sugar business on Maui, bought 41,000 acres of Ewa real estate. This purchase was ridiculed by many because the land was thought to be completely infertile. How wrong they were.
The Ewa plantations produced a vast amount of sugarcane, making Campbell an even richer man than he was already. The fields' labor needs brought workers from China, Japan and the Philippines to the area, producing the rich mix of cultures that remains a proud part of this area today.
The US Military also made a home here, establishing both Navy and Marine Air Stations at Barbers Point in 1940. Tragically, the airfields here were the first to be attacked on December 7, 1941, even before Pearl Harbor. Barbers Point would rebuild to become a vital part of Hawaii's role in World War II.
Change must come, though. Sugar died out fully by the end of the 20th Century and the Air Stations were both closed down in the 1990's. Tourism has now taken their place fully, employing much of the population. They serve the growing number of travelers who spend their vacation on this side of the Island.
Amazingly, what was once seen as worthless land has not only proven to be fertile, it has now become a prime player in an industry that depends on attracting visitors from around the world. For James Campbell's contemporaries, who wouldn't even travel the 20 miles from Honolulu to see this same place, this reality would be incomprehensible. Campbell knew something long before anyone else - Ewa real estate is, and always has been, full of wonderful surprises.
Other Pages