Waikoloa Village, HI 14 Apartments for Rent

An ancient footpath, known alternatively as the King's Trail, or Ala Kahakai -- "trail by the sea" -- runs along Anaeho'omalu Bay in Waikoloa's lower coastal regions. The path traces the coastline for 175 miles of the island's circumference. It passes and connects ancient fish ponds, temples, and fishing villages on its route.

Located on the Big Island of Hawaii's Kohala Coast, Waikoloa Village is a housing community that was designed around a Robert Trent Jones, Jr., golf course and is adjacent to the Waikoloa Beach Resort. Downslope from the more mature town of Waimea, Waikoloa Village lies near the bottom of a lava-covered pass between Mauna Kea and Hualalai volcanoes.

Moving to Waikoloa Village

Unless you are prepared to buy a home, moving to Waikoloa Village will be challenging. Located on the dry, coastal Kona side, Waikoloa Village is in the heart of Big Island tourist country. Waikoloa Village is, itself, a planned neighborhood that caters to mainlanders who have made the move to Hawaii. Rental homes in Waikoloa are, therefore, scarce, and non-vacation apartments for rent are few and far between.

If you're not moving from within the state of Hawaii -- or another island -- a consideration you may want to keep in mind is a phenomenon that Hawaii residents call "island fever." On a fairly regular basis, mainlanders will move to Hawaii, usually after a vacation, only to find island life limited and stultifying. Often, they will return to the mainland after living in Hawaii for only a short time. Avoid getting stuck with a property you have to sell from afar or a long-term lease that you can't back out of; try to find an apartment with a short-term lease elsewhere on the Big Island before committing to anything longer term in Waikoloa Village. Live through a few earthquakes and get a feel for the community. If Hawaii's for you, this strategy will afford you ample time to search for a longer-term solution to your housing needs. If not: no harm, no foul, and hey -- you got to live in Hawaii for a few months!

One final thing to think about when looking into Waikoloa Village as your next place to live is association fees. Because it is a planned housing community, an association maintains all the community spaces, including streets, green spaces, and the golf course. All homeowners are required to pay dues amounting to several hundred dollars per year in order to share the expense of such maintenance. This is something to keep in mind not only as a homeowner, but as a renter, too. If you are renting, make sure it's clear who is in charge -- between you and the landlord -- of making sure association fees are kept current.

Shopping for Places to Live in Waikoloa Village

While there is not a lack of multi-family dwellings -- especially in the condo-heavy beach resort area -- in Waikoloa Village, the problem of finding a longer term rental is more a puzzle of economics. As a resident renter, you might not be willing to pay the same nightly rate for a rental apartment or condo for rent as a vacationer. A home or condo owner, with the right place in the right location, can potentially earn considerably more over the course of a year by renting their property to people vacationing in Waikoloa Village rather than to a resident renter. You'll have to keep this in mind and try not to get frustrated while battling the vacation rental market, which can be a competitive one at times.

Waikoloa Village Neighborhoods

Waikoloa Village doesn't have neighborhoods per se; however, the community can be divided into two distinct areas: the upslope -- mauka in Hawaiian -- residential and golf area; and the seaside, or makai, beach resort. Apart from physical geography and proximity to the Pacific, the major differences between the two areas is the type of housing available. The Waikoloa Beach Resort area offers predominantly condominium style residences with both two bedroom apartments for rent and studio apartments for rent. Most are privately owned or are vacation rentals. Some are time shares. The beach resort area is also where most of the area's shops and restaurants are located.

The part of Waikoloa Village that is up the slope, adjacent to the golf course consists of more single-family detached, or townhouse style residences. If searching for a rental homes in Waikoloa Village, keep in mind that the farther you get from the ocean, the more square footage will be available. There aren't many luxury apartments in Waikoloa Village but you will find lovely, affordable homes that are more than comfortable to live in.

Living in Waikoloa Village

Of note for those with children, Waikoloa Village has a public, combined elementary and middle school that serves more than 700 students in kindergarten through 8th grade. Once they reach 9th grade, Waikoloa Village students attend the nearby public high school in Waimea.

Once you find a place to live in Waikoloa Village, you should not find yourself lacking in activities. The entire community is within just a few minutes of a gorgeous beach along Anaeho'omalu Bay, while fronted by a few large resorts, such as the massive Hilton Waikoloa Village complex, the beach -- like all beaches in the state of Hawaii -- is accessible and open to the public.

The King's Trail offers access to many historically and culturally significant sites. A well-preserved collection of petroglyphs is also found within Waikoloa Village.

There's really no place that compares to Hawaii and anyone who has been there can attest to this fact. Waking up to stunning rainbows on the beach with a backdrop of lush green mountains and the relaxed Aloha culture truly make this little beach town one of the most desirable places in the world.