The West Loch Disaster remains a defining moment in history as an American maritime accident that occurred during World War II at the Pearl Harbor U.S. Naval Base in Hawaii. The incident began in May, 1944, when a staging area for Landing Ships, Tanks (LSTs) and various amphibious assault ships exploded. A fire rapidly spread through ships that were undergoing preparation for an invasion of the Japanese-held Mariana Islands. In the end, 163 navy personnel were killed, 396 were injured, and six LSTs sank.
Many established living places today have a story of perseverance and overcoming hardships. This is definitely the case with West Loch Estates, a census-designated area in Honolulu County, Hawaii. West Loch Estate has grown and prospered since that dark time in history and is now home to roughly 5,485 residents. It covers a total of 1.6 square miles, all of which is land. However, a prime location on the western shore of the West Loch of Pearl Harbor means that residents are close to the beach.
Moving to West Loch Estate
Moving to a new place can always be daunting, but with a little work and preparation, your move to West Loch Estate will be a breeze.
Housing Options
The first step in finding your new rental home is figuring out what you want out of a space. Do you want a house that's a certain size? Are you looking for a home that's convenient to other amenities? Do you want certain amenities in your house, like a washer and dryer or a dishwasher? Decide what you're looking for, then search through available homes in the area. The majority of homes in the area, or 50.3 percent, are single-family, with three to four bedrooms. However, there are also larger homes with five or more bedrooms, if you need the space. For those who want to find apartments in West Loch Estate, nearly 10.6 percent of the real estate selection is comprised of small apartment buildings. You may find a studio apartment or a larger unit. Apartment complexes make up 28.8 percent of the area's real estate, while townhouses make up 10.3 percent of real estate in the area.
What to Watch for
To check out homes you're interested, schedule appointments with landlords or realtors. You'll want to tour through a home and make sure it not only looks good to you, but feels good, too! Especially since apartments can cost so much money, you'll want to do the legwork before you hand over your hard-earned cash. With high quality construction it seems unlikely that there'd, but it's a good idea to have the place checked out before you move in.
Securing Your Real Estate
Hawaii may have a laid-back attitude toward most things, but when it comes to real estate purchases and rentals, you can expect to go through the same steps as you would if you were in, say, Alaska, or Tennessee. What this means is that you will need to have at least one month's deposit ready, along with a valid form of ID, such as a driver's license or a passport. If you are moving into an apartment complex, be prepared to undergo a background check. Since your landlord wants to know that you are able to keep up with rent in full and on time, be prepared to hand over a detailed history of rental payments.
West Loch Estate Neighborhoods
West Loch Estate is a census-designated place within Honolulu County, Hawaii. A neighborhood unto itself, it is considered to be an unofficial part of Kapolei, a medium-sized coastal town. In total, Kapolei has a population of 15,186 people, along with 11 constituent neighborhoods, making it the 14th largest community in Hawaii. Some surrounding neighborhoods include Akupu, Makakilo City, Honokai Hale, and the Town Center, which is where many people go for entertainment and food.
Living in West Loch Estate
West Loch Estate is a pretty small place, which means that you will likely rely on a car to get you where you want and need to go. If you enjoy math and computers, you'll fit right in here. Approximately 95 percent of West Loch Estate's residents are involved with math and/or computers in some capacity. Nearly 34 percent of residents here enjoy a relatively short commute time of 15 to 30 minutes (one way) to get to work.
Fort Weaver Road, otherwise known as Hawaii Route 76, is the main road in the area. Whether you want to head to the store or go into Honolulu for entertainment and activities, this is the road you'll take. Hawaii Route 76 carves its way through West Loch Estate in a north-to-south direction. You can also take this route to the West Loch golf course, one of West Loch Estate's most prized attractions. The 72-par course offers a practice range, along with better maintenance standards than you will find elsewhere.
If you do choose to go into Honolulu, you'll find a whole host of things to do. There's world-class Waikiki Beach with luxury resorts, white sand beaches, and lots of bars and restaurants, like local favorite Duke's or Rum Fire, right on the shore. Also, for more wholesome fun, there's the Waikiki Aquarium and the Honolulu Zoo just minutes from West Loch Estate.
