Robello’s guidebook

Kalihi Neighborhood Guide To the east of downtown Honolulu and to the west of Salt Lake, lies the diverse close-knit community of Kalihi. Comprised of both long-time and new residents, commercial businesses and restaurants, houses and apartments, Kalihi has various options for living and working in its neighborhoods: Kalihi Uka (the mountains), Kalihi Waena (between), and Kalihi Kai (the harbor). Residents enjoy proximity to health centers, box retailers like Costco and Home Depot, and peaceful parks, as well as educational sites sharing Hawaii’s history, like Kamehameha Schools and the Bernice Pauahi Bishop Museum. Kalihi is a convenient commute to downtown Honolulu, the airport, and military bases. And with three new rail stations set to open soon – Middle Street, Kalihi, and Kapalama – the neighborhood will become even more convenient and livable. The City and County of Honolulu approved plans for Kalihi to have Transit-Oriented Development (TOD), outlining a vision for the community that includes pedestrian- and biker-friendly roadways along with diverse housing and employment opportunities, new shopping and services, reinvigorated educational centers, and even a promenade along Kapalama Canal. Kalihi’s diverse history, affordable housing, pleasing parks, excellent employment opportunities, and convenient commute make it a desirable mixed-use neighborhood to call home. Interesting Facts Stories have been told about wallaby sightings in Kalihi Valley. These 10 to 15 pound mini-marsupials native to Australia were brought to Hawaii in 1916 and seem to still have a home in the Kalihi hills. An older name of the Kalihi ahupua‘a was Kalihilihiolaumiha, which translates to “the eyelashes of Laumiha.” Laumiha, a goddess said to have once roamed the lands, has a name that means “intense silence,” perhaps alluding to the peace of Kalihi Valley. Fifty percent or more of Kalihi residents use other modes of transportation than cars, such as bicycles and the bus. Taro once thrived in the freshwater near Kapalama Canal. Lo‘i Kalo Park has restored taro farming to the area and hosts educational events for the community. Transportation Commute Time. With minimal traffic, it takes 8 minutes to arrive in downtown Honolulu and 28 minutes to arrive in Kapolei. Buses. TheBUS serves Kalihi with routes A, 1, 2, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 13, 43, 53, 85, 85A, 88, 88A, and PH4. History Kalihi means “the edge” in Hawaiian. Kalihi was once an ahupua‘a, or land division, for the early Hawaiian settlers that included freshwater from Kalihi Stream and saltwater from the currently-located Sand Island. Early Kalihi residents built innovative fishponds and enjoyed the lush valleys that filled with fresh waterfalls after a rain. Hawaiian ali‘i (royalty) spent summers in Kalihi, building homes on the islands off the shore. In the early 1900s, Kalihi was developed as a residential district for mainly middle-class Hawaiian, Portuguese, and Chinese residents. By the late 1930s, Kalihi evolved into a working-class affordable neighborhood and welcomed people from around the world – Japanese, Filipinos, Hawaiians, Chinese, Koreans, Puerto Ricans, and Portuguese – many who had come to Hawaii to work on plantations. Some military families also settled in Kalihi, enjoying the convenient commute to Fort Shafter and Pearl Harbor. During this time, commercial buildings and a jail were built, adding an industrial flair to the neighborhood. Today, Kalihi continues to be a mixed-use community for working families from around the world, but with the new rail project and a vision of revitalization for the neighborhood, its history is set to evolve.