Moanalua - Honolulu, HI Area Guide

Modern-day Moanalua really got started in 1956 when the Damon estate, the inherited owners of the land, sold most of it to commercial and residential developers. Samuel Mills Damon was a businessman and politician in Hawaii who inherited the land in 1884 from his business partner's wife, Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop, a descendant of Hawaiian royalty who originally won the land in battle.

Today, Hawaiian history, art and culture are preserved in the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum, located just outside Moanalua to the east. The peaceful 24-acre Moanalua Gardens also hosts an annual hula festival where locals perform the ancient dance under the massive monkeypod trees.

Most restaurants will be found at the base of neighborhood, just off the freeway and not deep in the valley, which is populated exclusively by homes.

One popular Hawaii eatery, L&L Barbecue, operates its Moanalua location on Ahua Street, serving up what locals call "plate lunches," dishes that include a scoop of rice, a scoop of macaroni salad, and your meat of choice. Meat options include BBQ, fried chicken, kalbi beef, hamburger steak, and many others.

For more of a sit-down restaurant, head to Henry Loui's Restaurant, a local hangout, casual sports bar and home to delicious prime rib. Although the bar is well-equipped with a number of flat screen TVs for watching the games, the atmosphere remains pretty quiet and relaxed. Within Moanalua, this is really the only bar or nightlife option available.

For a night out, most Moanalua residents will head into Waikiki or Chinatown, only a 20-minute drive away. Bar 35 in Chinatown has one of the best happy hours around. Between Battle of the DJs, '80s Night and beer tasting, you'll be coming here a lot.

Back in Moanalua, for traditional Chinese food, make sure to check out Wah Kung Restaurant on Pukoloa Street. The stuffed duck is hands-down the most popular item on the menu. The lemon chicken, black bean sauce and choy sum should also be tried.

Almost all Moanalua residents drive. The close access to the major freeways makes driving to and from this neighborhood easier than almost anywhere else on the island. Free and convenient street parking is not an issue, either.

The public transportation system, The Bus, is also an option, as it runs to all corners of Oahu. A one-way adult fare is $2.50, but frequent riders are better off getting a monthly pass for $60 or a yearly pass for $660. Youth under age 17 ride for half those rates, while seniors and the disabled ride for even cheaper. Bus routes 16 and 31 are the main lines that service the neighborhood.

Uber and cabs are other options within Honolulu, Moanalua included. A ride within the neighborhood will be under $10, while you can also get just about anywhere on the island for around $50.

Biking and walking are not good options in this neighborhood. Its location right off the highway and the uphill stretches into the valley are not conducive to either activity. All in all, Moanalua is very car-dependent.

The Moanalua Gardens is the main neighborhood park and host to an annual hula event. It was one of Hawaii's earliest public parks, a gift to the public from Samuel Damon and maintained by a trust since his death in 1924. The park is well-known for the open grass and monekypod trees. Enjoy the grounds' two streams, taro patch, koi pond,and series of ancient petroglyphs. The large open spaces also lend themselves well to outdoor weddings in the year-round great weather.

Additionally, kids love the park because they can feed the many ducks and koi fish. Parents love the park because it's a free activity with easy parking. Pets are not allowed in the park, however.

For exercise buffs, head to the end of Ala Aolani Street where the tiny Moanalua Valley Neighborhood Park has a few exercise bars and stretch stations. There's also a basketball court where neighborhood kids are usually playing pickup games.

Moanalua is a popular neighborhood with expensive real estate. The average price for a one-bedroom apartment, for example, is $1,700 a month in Moanalua compared to just $1,300 throughout all of Honolulu. The median home price is also higher.

Plate lunch restaurants will run between $5 and $10 a meal, while your average sit-down restaurant meal will start at $10. A beer at a local bar will start at $5.

Gas prices remain high as well, roughly 28 percent higher than the national average.

The shopping options are limited in Moanalua proper. However, the surrounding neighborhoods offer a lot of options, especially in Ala Moana-Kakaako where the massive Ala Moana Center and Ward Village offer a huge selection of clothing, home furnishings, and entertainment options on the island. Only a 15-minute drive away, there you'll find high-end stores, regular department stores, and small boutiques.

For even closer shopping, you could head to the Target or Salt Lake Shopping Center in the adjacent neighborhood of Salt Lake to the south. The short 10-minute drive to the Salt Lake Shopping Center can provide all your grocery needs, home to a Safeway.

The Salt Lake Shopping Center also has a few specialty stores such as Supercuts, L'Amour Salon and Spa, and even the Yuppie Puppie Grooming Salon for your furry friends.

Although there is no farmers' market in Moanalua, the Aloha Stadium Swap Meet & Marketplace is also located just a 15-minute drive to the west of Moanalua. This large outdoor market is perfect for little trinkets to send to your friends as well as local snacks.