Oahu’s fastest growing town, Kapolei is located on Oahu’s southern shore about 25 miles (40 km) west of Waikiki. With a post office, public library, and schools the area has quickly become a thriving community.
The development plans for Kapolei envision a urban center that is second only to Honolulu. The current population of Kapolei is about 100,000 people but the area’s growth is projected to nearly double in the next two decades.
Much of Kapolei’s growth is taking place in the Ewa Plain around Kapolei on former sugarcane and pineapple farming lands. The median income of people in the Kapolei zip code (96707) is the second highest on Oahu, and about seventy percent of Kapolei residents own their home.
One popular attraction of Kapolei is the Wet’n’Wild Water Park with more than 25 rides and attractions. From the 400,000-gallon wave pool to the 130-foot tunnel slide of the Tornado, kids love this Kapolei water park. The Water World interactive children’s area is filled with minislides, water cannons and fountains.
Near Kapolei is the Campbell Industrial Park with a deepwater port, and the Barbers Point Naval Air Station including Kalaeloa Airport. Just to the west of Kapolei are the beautiful child-friendly beaches of Ko Olina Lagoons at the Ko Olina resort community.
The name Kapolei means “Beloved Kapo” referring to the Hawaiian goddess Kapo who was the sister of the volcano goddess Pele.