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Congratulations on your PCS to Hawaii! Marine Corps Base Hawaii is located on the Mokapu Peninsula on Windward side of Oahu in one of the most picturesque locations in the world. You’ll be amazed by the beauty of the area including the beaches, the hikes, and much more.
Hawaii VA Loans is the longest-running VA loan specialized lender in Hawaii. Since 2007, we’ve helped hundreds of Servicemembers and Veterans purchase their island home. So let’s take a look at the neighborhoods and local housing market surrounding Marine Corps Base Hawaii.
Marine Corps Base Hawaii Neighborhoods: Kaneohe & Kailua
Located southwest of Marine Corps Base Hawaii, the community of Kaneohe with its 35,000 (approximate) residents has one of the best geographical situations in all of Oahu with its beautiful views of the Ko’olau Mountains and the stunning scenery of Kaneohe Bay. Lush and green due to its abundant rainfall, breathtaking waterfalls can be seen flowing on the mountains on rainy days.
Kaneohe real estate is also considered to be more affordable, resulting in opportunities for single family home and condo/townhome buying. The majority of Kaneohe’s shopping district and retail stores can be found easily on Kamehameha Highway. Kaneohe’s location is ideal for travel to Honolulu (approximately 30 minutes). There are three major highways (Pali/Likelike/H3) that are accessible for commuting to town and to military bases around the island. Even more, route 83 from Kaneohe will take you up the Windward coastline to the North Shore.
Kaneohe Weather
The temperature in Kaneohe varies so little throughout the year that it is not entirely meaningful to discuss hot and cold seasons. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 68°F to 84°F and is rarely below 63°F or above 86°F.
Kaneohe experiences significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall.
The rainy period of the year lasts for 11 months, from July 8 to May 25, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 0.5 inches. The month with the most rain in Kaneohe is January, with an average rainfall of 2.3 inches.
Kailua
Located southeast of Kaneohe Marine Corps Base, the town of Kailua offers nothing short of the complete package for island living. Driving through the Pali tunnel on your way to Kailua with its stunning views of the Windward coast immediately tells you why nearly 40,000 people call Kailua home.
Kailua is a versatile town that offers plenty of activities for people who crave adventure and the outdoors. Voted one of the best beaches in the U.S., Kailua Bay’s popular water sports include kite surfing, kayaking, stand up paddle boarding, body boarding, and surfing. If ocean sports aren’t your thing, there are equally enough options for walking, hiking, sightseeing or simply relaxing.
To access MCBH from Kaneohe and Kailua, you have two options. The Main Gate, located at the end of H-3, is open 24 hours. The Back Gate, also known as the Mokapu Gate due to its location on Mokapu Road, is recently renovated and open on weekends. Due to Kailua’s popularity, the single family home real estate market is on the higher end of the Windward coast. However, Kailua’s condos offer more affordable options.
The distance from Kailua town to Honolulu International Airport is approximately 25 minutes via H3. Kailua is a desired choice to live for Servicemembers stationed not only at MCBH, but also Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam and other bases around Oahu. Places of interest for visitors and residents include Lanikai Beach, Lanikai Pillbox Hike, and Kailua Beach Park.
Kailua Weather
Like Kaneohe, the temperature in Kailua varies so little throughout the year that it is not entirely meaningful to discuss hot and cold seasons. Over the course of the year, the temperature typically varies from 69°F to 84°F and is rarely below 65°F or above 86°F.
Kailua experiences significant seasonal variation in monthly rainfall.
The rainy period of the year lasts for 10 months, from July 9 to May 24, with a sliding 31-day rainfall of at least 0.5 inches. The month with the most rain in Kailua is January, with an average rainfall of 2.3 inches.
Oahu Local Housing Market: Kaneohe & Kailua
The following local market data for condos and single family homes near Marine Corps Base Hawaii is updated from the Oahu Local Market November 2023 Update by Honolulu Board of Realtors. Monthly rental prices are provided by Zillow.com.
After you take a look at the local market data, compare monthly rental prices to what your monthly Basic Allowance for Housing (BAH) can purchase with a VA home loan. Why pay someone else’s mortgage by renting when you can use your BAH to invest in your own home?
| Neighborhood | Median Condo Price | Median Single Family Home Price | Average Monthly Rent (3-bedroom) |
| Kaneohe | $675,000 | $1,167,500 | $3,500 |
| Kailua – Waimanalo | $747,500 | $1,600,000 | $4,800 |
What do these prices mean for your housing budget if you PCS to Marine Corps Base Hawaii? Let’s take a look at Honolulu County’s BAH rates to find out what estimated condo or single family home purchase price you could make solely using your BAH as the monthly mortgage payment.
Want to purchase? We can help with a VA loan! PRE-APPROVED VA buyers with full entitlement are able to purchase a home with no down payment. VA buyers with remaining entitlement (those who have one or more existing VA mortgages) will use Hawaii’s conforming loan limit set by the FHFA to calculate down payment. Contact us to get started by calling 808-792-4251 or fill out our secure online loan application.
