Wai'anae

Hawaii on budget? Yes it can be done! Whether just visiting, or moving here for a lifetime, Oahu's overlooked Waianae Coast, on the island's dry side, is where sunshine and low-cost living reign supreme. Located about an hour-and-a-half from downtown Honolulu and Waikiki, Makaha and the Waianae Coast are Oahu's best-kept secret. We are the leeward side's last remaining rural community, where beaches have breathing room, there's a small-town feel and affordable properties can be found.

Two-and-a-half years ago we relocated from the rainy Pacific Northwest after a two-week visit in mid-January. It took us one year to sell our house on the mainland and make the move, but 30 months after resettling across the ocean we haven't looked back. Yes Hawaii on a budget requires compromise, a reduction in your dwelling's square footage perhaps, or leaving your car on the mainland and getting around by bus, and probably a change in diet, and for sure some culture shock, but if tropical sunshine and warm Pacific beaches are your life-long dreams, then the Waianae Coast is the place to be!