Moanalua Hillside Apartments

Pros

• Bond was very respectful and kind.
• He was quick, efficient and communicative.
• The staff are welcoming, kind and honest.
• Dennis toured the complex on moving day and made residents feel safe.
• Dennis greeted residents with a smile, making them feel at ease.
• The gated property with 24-hour security provides a sense of peace and protection.
• Maintenance responses have been prompt and repairs completed in a timely manner.
• Frank did a great job repairing the tub and provided a curing fan.
• Laundry upgrades include new machines and mobile pay, which is very convenient.
• Parking improvements include a designated spot for each unit and removal of abandoned vehicles.
• The maintenance team is consistently helpful and effective.
• The cat loves the kitchen window, a sign of a comfortable home.

Cons

• The property's standards have steadily declined from what they used to be.
• Nearly everything else has become unacceptable - noise, bugs, and especially the parking situation.
• Non-reserved parking is almost impossible to find despite one assigned stall per unit being typical.
• Many spaces are occupied around the clock, with suggestions of overnight street parking or towing warnings creating dangerous visibility issues.
• The decision to convert nearly twenty unreserved spots into staff-only parking is indefensible and the last straw.
• Towing rules remain vague and inconsistently enforced, leaving tenants worried about their cars being removed without clear cause.
• The front office does not answer the phone.
• The lack of a dishwasher or AC is a hindrance, with residents managing with fans.
• Roaches, bad maintenance, mold, and gang-related crimes were concerns, contributing to a declined living environment.
• The parking situation is terrible, with insufficient spots for households with two vehicles.
• Management has failed to provide clear explanations or solutions for parking changes, and communication has been unacceptable.
• This is not the level of management or communication residents should have to accept.

Review

The living experience at this property comes through as a mosaic of consistently attentive staff, responsive maintenance, and a strong sense of security, tempered by a few ongoing challenges around parking, communications, and some amenities. Across multiple interactions, residents repeatedly highlight the courtesy and efficiency of the team, the reassurance of a gated community with 24-hour security, and a welcoming atmosphere that makes people feel at home from the moment they arrive.

From the day of move-in, residents recall a smooth, well-staffed process. Bond, the maintenance professional, is singled out for his respectfulness, speed, and clear communication. The moving-in experience was described as smooth largely because of the staff's hospitality, with security guard Dennis giving a full tour of the complex and repeatedly greeting residents with a cheerful, reassuring demeanor. The leasing staff - names like Elise and Charlene crop up in the praise - are remembered as welcoming, honest, and helpful, contributing to a sense of safety and community right from the start.

Long-term residents emphasize how the property's core features align with their needs. A primary draw has always been that pets are welcome, which is a major factor in choosing to live here. Location is another critical element, enabling easy access to essential points around town. Maintenance is consistently commended for being reliable and diligent, with Patrick and the maintenance team repeatedly thanked for timely repairs. The security team, especially Dennis, is celebrated not only for patrolling and keeping the community safe but also for the everyday warmth and accessibility he brings - he greets people, offers practical guidance when issues fall outside his jurisdiction, and helps tenants feel heard and protected.

Updates over time underscore meaningful improvements that have enhanced daily life. Within a day of submitting service requests, staff responded, even on weekends, which was appreciated by residents who value prompt action. Frank - the technician who addressed a rust spot in a tub - comes in for specific praise for his efficient workmanship, clear explanations, and even thoughtful touches like leaving a fan to help things dry properly. Laundry and parking have seen notable upgrades: newer, more reliable laundry machines with a mobile-pay option streamlined the process, and the complex moved to a system that designates a parking stall per unit and removed abandoned vehicles, a change many tenants see as the single best improvement for getting in and out on a busy schedule. For a military family living here, these improvements - plus the general sense of home - are framed as reasons to stay, even as some residents acknowledge that certain conveniences like a dishwasher and central AC remain absent, with fans taking the place of air conditioning.

Yet, with growth and change come genuine concerns that some residents feel warrant clarification and action. A recurring critique centers on parking: while a designated stall is provided per unit, unreserved spaces are scarce, occupied around the clock, and the potential for towing leaves tenants worried about their daily routines. The shift toward "Staff Only" parking and the vagueness around towing rules have been described as confusing and problematic, with residents asking for a clear explanation of why changes were made, what steps will restore adequate parking, and how future policies will be managed to prevent similar issues. Communication gaps also surface, with some tenants feeling that the front office and security have not offered sufficient updates or solutions when concerns were raised. These points color an otherwise positive experience with a sense that management could do more to keep tenants in the loop.

Despite these tensions, the maintenance team - especially Bond - continues to be a bright spot in the community. Bond is repeatedly credited with fast, professional service, from fixing a thermostat within hours of a request to tackling more routine repairs with a reassuring degree of care. The broader maintenance crew earns praise for responsiveness and a personable approach, with multiple notes of appreciation for the ease of getting repairs done and the positive interactions that come with those visits. Frank also features prominently as a trusted name in maintenance, recognized for completing repairs efficiently and leaving tenants satisfied with the outcomes.

In the most candid moments, residents show a fierce pride in the community they've built here. Some speak passionately about the cats that call the complex home and the pet-friendly ethos that makes Moanalua Hillside feel like a natural fit for animal lovers. One particularly emphatic note defends the on-site pet culture, arguing that the resident community looks out for one another and that the management's willingness to accommodate pets is a key reason they've chosen to stay. Even as some complain about noise, bugs, and parking, the core message remains that the property offers a meaningful home for families, singles, and military personnel who value security, community, and responsive service.

Overall, the property presents as a place with strong, people-first leadership and a commitment to keeping the living environment secure, clean, and comfortable. The combination of a helpful, courteous staff; reliable maintenance support; and a gated setting with visible security creates a foundation that many tenants deeply appreciate. While parking and some communications could be improved, the ongoing improvements to facilities, the quick attention to service requests, and the dedicated, personable maintenance team - led by standouts like Bond and Frank - continue to shape a positive living experience. For pet lovers, military families, and anyone prioritizing safety, responsiveness, and a welcoming community, this residence represents a solid, often exceptional option, with tenants expressing both gratitude and a desire for continued growth in the areas that still need attention.

Physicians

• Women's Health Clinic - VA Honolulu (0.2 miles)
• Melanie M Lau MD - Lau & Shigezawa MDS (0.5 miles)
• Community Living Center (Formerlly Center for Aging) (0.8 miles)
• McKoy, James Dr-Kaiser Mapunapuna Clinic (1.5 miles)
• Aloha Vision Consultants (2.1 miles)
• Pali Momi Neurology Clinic (2.7 miles)
• Maluhia Health Center (3.6 miles)

Hospitals

• Kaiser Permanente Moanalua Medical Center (0.3 miles)
• Kaiser Permanente Hospital (0.3 miles)
• Sparks M. Matsunaga VA Medical Center (0.8 miles)
• Asn Consulting Services (0.8 miles)
• Tripler Orthopedics (0.9 miles)
• Hmce (4 miles)
• Kuakini Medical Center (4.3 miles)

Pharmacies

• Zee Medical Service (0.4 miles)
• Longs Drugs (1.7 miles)
• CVS Pharmacy (1.7 miles)
• Longs Drugs (2 miles)
• Times Supermarkets (2 miles)
• Good Neighbor Pharmacy (2.3 miles)
• Longs Drugs (2.8 miles)

Restaurants

• Ani's Bake Shop (1 miles)
• McDonald's (1.7 miles)
• McDonald's (1.9 miles)
• Wendy's (2.1 miles)
• McDonald's (2.3 miles)
• Restaurant 604 (2.3 miles)
• Leahi Market (2.8 miles)

Parks

• Salt Lake District Park (1.2 miles)
• Neal S. Blaisdell Park (3.9 miles)

Places of Worship

• St Philomena Church (1.7 miles)
• Community Lutheran Church Wels (2.1 miles)
• Izumo Taishakyo Mission of Hawaii (4.4 miles)

Cafes

• Starbucks (1.9 miles)
• Starbucks (2 miles)
• Starbucks (2.4 miles)
• The Bishop Museum Café by Highway Inn (3 miles)
• The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf (4.8 miles)

Transportation

• Hertz Rent A Car (2.7 miles)
• United Airlines (2.8 miles)
• TSA Security Check Point (2.8 miles)
• Baggage Claim 9-11 (2.8 miles)
• Daniel K. Inouye International Airport (HNL) (2.8 miles)
• Terminal 1 (2.8 miles)
• Diamond Head Concourse (2.8 miles)

Theaters

• Sharkey Theater (2.8 miles)
• Regal Dole Cannery ScreenX, 4DX, IMAX & RPX (4 miles)