St. Louis Heights Homes Offer Fabulous Views Without the Hefty Price Tag

Neighborhood Review: St. Louis Heights. Getting above it all still costs money, but this ridge is cheaper than many others.

September 8, 2016

Rachel Ross,

Photos: Alicia Camacho

St. Louis Heights, perched above Kaimukī between Mānoa and Pālolo valleys, is a beloved neighborhood—by those who have found it. On a recent Sunday, we toured a newly renovated modern home with a pool on a Kanalui Street rim lot with views from the back of Pālolo to Waikīkī for $1,795,000; a split-level Kaminaka Drive property with fabulous views and a separate two-bedroom rental property for $1,575,000; and a newly built home on Bertram Street for $1,399,000.

Who lives here? Those who want views and to be close to Mānoa schools and UH, those who bought back in the 1960s when the homes were originally built, and those who have found it to be the perfect hidden gem between the more expensive Wilhelmina 90210 and Tantalus and Makiki Heights. The Koko Head side of the hill, above Chaminade, is known as Chaminade Terrace, and has wider streets and buried utilities.

Shelley Oates-Wilding, a St. Louis Heights resident, loves the way her home overlooks the hustle and bustle of Waikīkī, as well as beautiful daily sunsets. She also says it’s an easy downhill ride to start the day, and close to all the conveniences of daily life. It’s truly looking out at paradise.

There are nine single-family homes currently on the market, with a broad price range of $650,000 to $1,795,000. So far this year, 10 single-family homes have sold for $850,000 to $1,450,000. The median sale price this year is $962,500, and there’s a single-family home currently in escrow that listed at a low $650,000.