Aiea, Hawaii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
ʻAiea
|
|
|---|---|
View overlooking Pearl Harbor and Aloha Stadium from the Aiea Heights neighborhood of Aiea
|
|
Location in Honolulu County and the state of Hawaii
|
|
| Country |  United States |
| State |  Hawaii |
| County | Honolulu |
| Area | |
| • Total | 1.77 sq mi (4.58 km2) |
| • Land | 1.66 sq mi (4.30 km2) |
| • Water | 0.11 sq mi (0.28 km2) |
| Elevation | 249 ft (76 m) |
| Population
(2020)
|
|
| • Total | 10,408 |
| • Density | 6,266.10/sq mi (2,419.39/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC-10 |
| ZIP code |
96701
|
| Area code(s) | 808 |
| GNIS feature ID | 2413992 |
ʻAiea (pronounced "eye-AY-ah") is a town in Hawaii, United States. It's located in the City and County of Honolulu. In 2020, about 10,408 people lived there. ʻAiea is known for its history, especially its connection to Pearl Harbor.
Contents
Where is ʻAiea?
ʻAiea is located at 21°23′9″N 157°55′51″W / 21.38583°N 157.93083°W. It covers about 1.8 square miles (4.58 square kilometers). Most of this area is land, with a small part being water.
The town is near Pearl Harbor. A main road called Kamehameha Highway (Hawaii Route 99) runs through it. Another big road, Interstate H-1, also crosses the town. These roads help connect ʻAiea to nearby places like Pearl City and Halawa.
The residential area called ʻAiea Heights is on a ridge above the town. Some nearby communities, like Waimalu and Hālawa, also use ʻAiea in their mailing addresses.
A Look at ʻAiea's Past
The name "ʻAiea" originally came from an ancient Hawaiian land division called an ahupuaʻa. This was a piece of land that stretched from the coast into the mountains. The name also comes from a type of plant found in the area.
In the late 1800s, a sugarcane plantation and mill opened in ʻAiea. It was called the ʻAiea Sugar Mill. This mill was a big part of the town's early economy.
In July 1941, before the attack on Pearl Harbor, a U.S. Navy Commander named Thomas C Latimore disappeared in the hills above ʻAiea. His disappearance was never fully explained.
On December 7, 1941, the area around ʻAiea and the ships in Pearl Harbor were attacked. Many people took photos of the attack from the hills in ʻAiea. After this, parts of Naval Base Hawaii, like the Aiea Naval Hospital, were built in ʻAiea.
After World War II, the sugar plantation closed. The mill became a sugar refinery. Over the years, ʻAiea grew into an important suburb of Honolulu. The sugar refinery closed in 1996, and the old sugar mill was taken down in 1998.
Fun Things to Do in ʻAiea
ʻAiea is home to Pearlridge, which is Hawaii's biggest indoor shopping mall. The mall has two main parts, Uptown and Downtown, and even has a monorail to connect them! Near the mall, you can find a hospital and Hawaii's largest watercress farm.
Aloha Stadium is also very close to ʻAiea. This stadium used to be where the University of Hawaiʻi Warriors football team played. It also hosted the Hawaii Bowl and the National Football League's Pro Bowl for many years.
ʻAiea also has Keaiwa Heiau, which is an ancient Hawaiian medicine shrine. There's a 4.5-mile (7.2 km) loop trail nearby where you can hike. You can even see the remains of a World War II plane that crashed on the trail.
Schools in ʻAiea
Public schools in Hawaii are managed by the Hawaii Department of Education.
- Elementary Schools: Alvah A. Scott Elementary School is in ʻAiea. Gus Webling and ʻAiea elementary schools are in the nearby Halawa area. Pearl Ridge Elementary School is in Waimalu.
- Middle and High Schools: ʻAiea Intermediate School is in Halawa, and Aiea High School is in ʻAiea.
There are also private schools like St. Elizabeth Catholic School and Our Savior Lutheran School, which teach students from kindergarten to 8th grade.
Famous People from ʻAiea
Many notable people have connections to ʻAiea, including:
- Dennis Alexio, a kickboxer and actor
- Brandon Elefante, a politician
- Bette Midler, a famous singer, actress, and comedian
- Robert T. Kuroda, a Medal of Honor recipient
- Mark Takai, a member of the United States House of Representatives
See Also
In Spanish: Aiea (Hawái) para niños
