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Honolulu And The Island Of Oahu

No matter where you’re from you’ve probably heard of Honolulu. Unless you’ve spend time in Hawaii, however, you may never have heard of Oahu. In reality, what most people call “Honolulu” is actually the island of Oahu. That is, the names are used interchangeably these days to mean the entire island on which the capital of Hawaii sits. Technically, though, Honolulu makes up only one small part of the island of Oahu – the urban center on the island’s southeastern shore.

The local government structure on Oahu backs up the practice of calling the whole island “Honolulu.” Established as a consolidated city-county in 1907, the City and County of Honolulu is divided into nine administrative districts that encompass the entire island of Oahu. Honolulu’s urban district serves as the state’s largest city and capital, while the county consists of a diverse group of unincorporated subdivisions, which are unofficial towns and cities. Some are surfing paradises and tourist havens, like North Shore and Waikiki, and others, like Kailua and Mililani, are residential bedroom communities for business professionals seeking a quieter life.

The spectacular scenery that dominates Honolulu, as well as its laid-back island vibe, makes it a desirable real estate hotspot. Today the housing trend in Honolulu is still strong compared to some mainland areas. In fact, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors, in 2013 the residential real estate market continued to enjoy strong sales, with thousands of homes changing hands at a median home price of $575,000.