Hawaii Kai as a Community: our Sense of Place

A recent poll released by Gallup and the Knight Foundation found several qualities which create a passion for the community by its residents, and Hawaii Kai fits them all.

The study, "Soul of the Community," looked at 26 places and surveyed a random sample of more than 10,000 people (Hawaii Kai wasn't included - I guess the study heads didn't want a vacation on our islands). They found that residents are most attached to their communities when they have fun places to gather (the ocean, the beach, the marina), there's a welcoming atmosphere (Aloha), and there are beautiful and green spaces (the ocean, the beach, the marina, the parks) to enjoy.

As reported by RisMedia, "'While the pain from the recession is deep, other factors far outweigh economics when it comes to determining how emotionally attached people are to their communities,' said Warren Wright, managing partner for Gallup, in a news release. Positive feelings about a community, however, do have a connection to local GDP growth over a longer-term period, according to the report.

"The study, in its second year, explores the connection between economic growth and residents' emotional attachment to their communities. Gallup has shown that increasing an employee's emotional connection to his or her company leads to better financial performance of the organization."

One of the purposes of the study was to help local planners idenitfy what residents want from their communities. Katherine Loflin, lead consultant on the project, said, "Have you ever gone somewhere and said ‘I could live there?'" I have to add, have you visited Hawaii Kai? That's about the first thing you will think of when you come.

She continued, "What keeps residents passionate about their communities are some of the things they'd show off to visitors: elements that make for a fun social life, beautiful features, or the historic town square-things that root people in a community." Hawaii Kai offers the opportunities for social life - mainly water sports, but many other activities from bridge to dog walking in our new Dog Park to running the Honolulu Marathon. We have the beauty - no one will argue that. And we have the Hawaii Kai Towne Center and the Koko Marina Center. So we fit all the requirements of a great place to live and call home.

Other findings of the survey include:

*Residents more satisfied with their jobs are more likely to have an emotional connection with their community.
*The community should be open and welcoming to college graduates.
*Having fun places to gather help community attachment.
*A creative and diverse workforce is a positive attraction.

If you are looking for a place to grow roots, for a community with a distinct and very strong Sense of Place, come visit Hawaii Kai. Now is the time to consider a real estate investment - we have a Buyer's Market here just like the rest of the country. You can find some great bargains. Contact me to discuss our community - I've lived and worked here for more than 20 years and wouldn't go anywhere else - or to get a free Relocation Package for Hawaii Kai.