Where does an NSA whistleblower-to-be call home? The city of Ewa Gentry, HI, of course! Until Edward Snowden took flight, he and his girlfriend lived in a quiet neighborhood in this small community on Hawaii's Island of Oahu.
The movie-makers of Hollywood don't spend money lightly, so you know there must be something special about the island of Oahu, Hawaii
Where does an NSA whistleblower-to-be call home? The city of Ewa Gentry, HI, of course! Until Edward Snowden took flight, he and his girlfriend lived in a quiet neighborhood in this small community on Hawaii's Island of Oahu.
The movie-makers of Hollywood don't spend money lightly, so you know there must be something special about the island of Oahu, Hawaii. In the past 10 years, a slew of films were shot against this gorgeous backdrop, including The Informant, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, The Shaggy Dog, and Snakes on a Plane. Oahu's city of Ewa Gentry is your ticket to a life of endless balmy tropical weather, so pack your bags, ditch your sweaters, and start looking for apartments and rental houses in this island paradise.
The beauty of Ewa Gentry is that despite its ideal location, housing prices are more affordable than other Hawaiian cities. The downside, of course, is that this is not a well-kept secret. So many people want to move into the area that it is very difficult to find apartments for rent or house rentals in Ewa Gentry. Allot plenty of time to find a place before your move-in date, be persistent, and soon you will be relaxing on Ewa Beach, hiking the pristine forest and wildlife reserves, and exploring the locations where Jurassic Park was filmed.
When you are packing for your move, let go of anything that doesn't have sentimental value. With a very few exceptions, you will pay more to ship your stuff than to replace it. Have a yard sale or dump your old furniture on some young adults getting their first apartment -- heck, leave it on your yard with a "free" sign if you have to. You can feel good about your altruism and at the same time start your new life clutter-free. In fact, some folks move to Ewa Gentry just to get away from years of accumulated junk!
Sure, there aren't a great deal of neighborhoods in this island town. But with gorgeous weather and island flavor, who cares? Check out both sides of Ewa Gentry and decide where you want to call home.
East Ewa Gentry: The East Ewa Gentry neighborhood is particularly desirable because of its close proximity to the waters of the West Loch. There are a variety of homes to suit any combination of people, from detached houses to high-rise apartment complexes.
West Ewa Gentry: On the other side of Fort Weaver Road, residents of West Ewa Gentry are pretty sure they have the prime real estate. After all, there is something to be said for the convenience of being just a stone's throw from the Kalaeloa Airport. The area is buffered from the outside world by trees and green space on three sides, which is particularly helpful in keeping out of the way of tourists.
Ewa Gentry is a master-planned community that is expected to reach 10,000 homes when fully built out. Residents enjoy an active community association and a long list of amenities, including membership at the Ewa Gentry Community Center. In addition to a heated swimming pool, the Community Center is a hub for cultural events, like the annual Hawaiian Slack-Key Guitar and Pride for Ewa Festivals. If you haven't mastered the slack-key guitar quite yet, this is your chance to learn from the masters.
Getting around is easy with bus stops every few streets, and shopping for your day-to-day needs can be done on foot. Someday soon, you might even get to hop aboard the elevated high-speed rail that is currently under construction, easing commute time and saving you countless hours of sitting in traffic.
Keeping Busy
There are plenty of places to eat when you don't feel like cooking. If your visitors haven't turned green with envy already, they will when you take them to the club at your favorite golf course for lunch.
Ewa Gentry is practically surrounded by parks, and golf lovers have their pick of five courses in a 10-minute radius. The island offers leagues, clubs, and teams for just about every sport you can think of, from roller derby and cycling to hiking, canoeing, and any sport that involves balls. You can take up surfing at any age. Hockey on an island? Sure! There is an active inline hockey league in Oahu, though ice might be too much to ask for.
When you are ready for a bit of the big city, Honolulu is just 12 miles away. You can mix in with the crowds and enjoy the Waikiki Aquarium, the Honolulu Zoo, and the USS Arizona Memorial. Fans of the performing arts flock to the Honolulu Symphony and the Diamond Head Theatre. Of course, the best part is that you don't have to retreat to a hotel at the end of the night. Your own, comfortable home is waiting for you in Ewa Gentry.
What's Different About Island Living?
If you are planning a move within the state, you probably already know the ins and outs of island living. Those coming from the mainland might have a few surprises in store. Generally, sticker shock is the number-one thing that sends newcomers into fainting spells. Recent price checks put a gallon of milk at several dollars more than you would pay on the mainland's east coast. That is, of course, because Hawaii doesn't produce many of the marvelous conveniences and delicious treats you are used to, and they all have to be imported at a hefty cost. However, we doubt you'll be that concerned with the price of goods when you're soaking up sun in a tropical paradise every day.
