Downtown living: Honuakaha

November 14, 2011

Melissa Chang,

Last week's APEC-alypse illustrated one of the benefits of living downtown: having the ability to sidestep dignitary-related road closures, while remaining conveniently near to everything (with the exception of yesterday's freakish traffic jam in the Ala Moana/McCully area).

This week, I'll focus on some highly walkable spots in metro Honolulu, in case you're thinking of moving before the next big world summit…or presidential visit.

Honuakaha, a condo project developed through a partnership of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) and First Hawaiian Bank, is a low-rise next to the old Royal Brewery and Kakaako Fire Station. It's highly walkable-with a Walkscore.com score of 91-meaning you could walk to work as well as to other neighborhood amenities.

There are only 25 loft style units out of the 96 in the building, and, since they are so desirable, they rarely come on the market. Unit 622 is the only loft in the "affordable" price range in this area. (Click here for details.)

This one-bedroom, one-bath unit is 628 square feet and feels more spacious due to its high ceilings and having two stories. It's got new paint, new carpet, and a brand new washer/dryer.

When you're not walking, the access to your car is convenient, as well. This unit is located near the parking elevator, in which the assigned stall is nine spaces away in the covered and secure lot.

Since it's attached to affordable senior housing, and across Kawaihao Cemetery, your neighbors will most likely be quiet. This unit, however, does not face the cemetery, which is a plus.