Salt Lake, Hawaii facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Salt Lake
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Neighborhood
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Salt Lake while in development
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Location of Salt Lake on Oʻahu
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 Salt Lake
Location in Hawaii
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| Country | United States |
| State | Hawaii |
Salt Lake is a neighborhood in Honolulu, Hawaii, located on the island of Oʻahu. It's also known as Āliamanu, named after a nearby crater. The area itself sits in a crater called Ālia pa‘akai, which means "salt pond" in the Hawaiian language.
The Salt Lake community was built in the 1960s. This was a time when many new buildings were going up. Residents here enjoy amazing views of downtown Honolulu and the old sugarcane fields of O‘ahu. Today, Salt Lake is a mix of tall apartment buildings, townhouses, and homes. These buildings wind around what's left of a lake, which is now freshwater.
The postal code for Salt Lake is 96818. This area is part of the 15th District of the Hawaii Senate and the 32nd District of the Hawaii House of Representatives. It's also part of Council District VII for the City and County of Honolulu.
Discover Salt Lake's History and Geography
The Salt Lake community is built inside a large, eastern crater. This crater is one of three overlapping ones in the area. Long ago, a lake formed in this crater. It was about 1.5 kilometers (almost a mile) wide but very shallow.
How Salt Lake Got Its Name
The lake used to be very salty because it had no outlet. Water would evaporate, leaving salt behind. People even collected salt from its shores! In 1910, a special well was dug to bring in more freshwater. This made the lake less salty. A tunnel was also built to control the water level. These changes eventually removed the salt from Salt Lake.
Land and Development in Salt Lake
In ancient Hawaii, an ahupuaʻa was a land division. It stretched from the mountains all the way to the sea. The area known as Moanalua, which includes Salt Lake, became part of the estate of Samuel M. Damon. He was involved in the government that took over after the Hawaiian Kingdom ended.
The Damon estate sold some of this land for homes and businesses in 1956. After Hawaii became a state, Governor John A. Burns supported developing the area. He saw it as a way to modernize the island. In 1966, the lake was mostly filled in. Only a small pond remains today within the Honolulu Country Club golf course.
Getting Around Salt Lake: Roads and Highways
Salt Lake grew quickly because it was easy for people to travel to places like downtown Honolulu and Waikīkī. Many residents worked in these areas.
Salt Lake Boulevard is the main street. It runs through the whole community, connecting Moanalua High School to Aloha Stadium. Other important streets include Ala Ilima Street and Ala Lilikoi Street. Many of Salt Lake's streets are named after local plants and animals. For example, the ‘ilima is the official flower of Honolulu.
Major highways near Salt Lake include the Queen Lili'uokalani Freeway and the Moanalua Freeway. These highways make it easy to get to other parts of O‘ahu.
Salt Lake's Military Connections
Salt Lake is surrounded by important military bases. Fort Shafter is nearby and is the main base for the United States Army in the Pacific. Hickam Air Force Base is where the United States Pacific Air Forces are located. Pearl Harbor is the main base for the United States Pacific Fleet. The United States Pacific Command is just north of Salt Lake.
Tripler Army Medical Center, a large hospital, is also nearby. It's the main U.S. military medical facility for Asia and the Pacific.
Close to the Airport
The Honolulu International Airport is very close to Salt Lake, just to the south. The area around the airport is a busy place with offices and shops. It also has the main United States Postal Service center for Hawaii.
Salt Lake Community Life
In 2003, a newspaper called the Honolulu Star-Bulletin described Salt Lake as an area with many well-off, middle-class families. It has a mix of people from different backgrounds. These include people of European, Filipino, Japanese, and Korean heritage.
About 30,000 people live in Salt Lake. Many residents are professionals who work in Honolulu or military officers who choose to live off base. The neighborhood is home to families of service members from the Air Force, Army, Coast Guard, and Navy.
Education in Salt Lake
Moanalua High School opened in 1972. It quickly became known for its excellent education. Other schools serving the community include Radford High School, Aliamanu Elementary School, and Aliamanu Middle School. Salt Lake Elementary School is also in the area.
There are also two Catholic schools: Holy Family Catholic Academy and the Saint Philomena Early Learning Center.
Salt Lake Shopping Center
The main shopping area in Salt Lake is the Salt Lake Shopping Center. It has a Safeway grocery store and a Longs Drugs store. It also has the only McDonald's in the area.
The shopping center used to have a public library branch. This library later moved to the campus of Aliamanu Elementary and Middle Schools.
Parks and Green Spaces in Salt Lake
Salt Lake is known for its many parks and green areas. The largest is Salt Lake District Park, which was updated in 2003. This park has walking trails around the old craters. It also has playing fields, basketball courts, tennis courts, and a gym. A new 50-meter swimming pool was recently added.
Smaller parks are located among the tall apartment buildings. Salt Lake Municipal Park hosts a "People's Market" every Saturday morning. Here, residents can buy fresh food from local farmers and fishers. Hoa Aloha Park is another popular spot for weekend soccer games.
Fun Community Events in Salt Lake
Salt Lake hosts several public events each year:
- Menehune Classic is a marching band competition held in the fall. High school marching bands perform at the Moanalua High School football field. Moanalua High School has one of the best marching bands in Hawaii.
- Winter Craft Fair happens every December. Local artists and businesses sell unique items and hot food at Moanalua High School. A similar craft fair is also held in the spring.
