How do you describe a sweet neighborhood? It’s hard to define sweetness when it comes to place, but when it comes to people, it’s easy. And, the people who reside in Koko Head Terrace are some of the sweetest we’ve ever met. Truly! Wendy D’Innocenti (R) and I have been selling homes in Koko Head Terrace for decades. We’ve fallen in love with the neighborhood and the neighbors. There is a lot to love about this community located at the base of Koko Head Crater in Hawaii Kai, but it’s the people residing there that make it so special. There’s a sweet and neighborly vibe that exists in this place that does not go unnoticed.
You won’t find a lot of glitz and glamor in Koko Head Terrace, but you will find wide streets, level lots, pretty mountain and Koko Crater views, and even some ocean views from some of the more elevated streets. You’ll also find some very charming homes, only surpassed by the charming people who live there.
Koko Head Terrace was developed in the 1960s and early ’70s and is Hawaii Kai’s first single-family home development. It is not only the very first, but is also the largest Hawaii Kai residential subdivision with over one thousand homes!
The original homes are single-wall construction (tongue-and-groove walls) and smaller in size, but many have been remodeled and expanded. The lots average around 6000 square feet and most are level. The overall neighborhood is terraced with each street at slightly higher elevations. As a result, you can catch some pretty vistas and cool breezes from many of the streets. You might also catch a peacock (or two) roaming around the neighborhood.
There is a lot to love about this location. If you or your kids like tennis or baseball, look no further than Koko Head District Park, which is central to this neighborhood. You’ll also appreciate the convenience to the Hawaii Kai Library, Koko Head Elementary School, and Kasier High School, which is right in the heart of the neighborhood. The beaches are nearby, and of course, there is Koko Head Crater, a great place if you like to hike. But, be forewarned, it’s straight up and not an easy climb.
Koko Head Terrace is one of Hawaii Kai’s most affordable neighborhoods, though you’re unlikely to find a home under $1 million. What you will find, though, is value. Value defined not by size or aesthetics, but by a sense of place and people.
Koko Head Terrace is a sweet place to call home!
Kim Soares
October 27, 2022
What a wonderful article about one of my favorite neighborhoods. I gee up in Koko Head Terrace and it was a perfect neighborhood to raise our family! All our neighbors where what made it extra special!