If you like to wake up to the birds singing, you probably don't want to live someplace where your neighbors stay up all night playing poker in the garage and blasting music. Here's what to look for, and what to look out for, in your quest to find a Hawaii neighborhood that's right for you.

1. Make a list of the activities you engage in regularly and the stores you visit frequently.
2. See how far you would have to travel from each neighborhood you're considering in order to take part in your favorite activities.  Be aware of Hawaii's peak traffic times in this calculation.
3. Drive through the neighborhood in the evening to get a sense of what it is like when everyone is home. Things can seem quiet and normal when everyone is at work, but be chaos in the evenings and night.
4. If you have kids, or you're planning to, be sure to check out the local school district.
5. Research the neighborhoods that you like. PrudentialLocations.com's Neighborhood Info is a great tool that gives demographics, school, restaurant, and shopping information.
6. Find-out the long-term appreciation of the neighborhood. Ideally, you want to buy in a neighborhood where your home will be appreciating in value.  
7. Make sure you have a thorough understanding of any restrictions on the home and property in a neighborhood. You would hate to buy a home for its ocean view only to have your neighbor in front of you add-on a second story to his home or plant a large tree. Likewise, you would be disappointed if you have plans to add-on or change something only to find out later that you can't.
8. Consider the development plans for the surrounding area. If you are purchasing in a more rural neighborhood and you like the way things are, make sure there aren't future plans for a new mall, mass transit station, highway, or a large scale hotel/condo development.
9. Check traffic reports on local television each workday and do a test drive to your workplace during rush hour to see how long your commute would take. Maybe the area you are considering is more congested than you're willing to tolerate.  This especially applies to Ewa beach, and the Leeward side.
10. Take note of the general appearance of the homes. Are they well maintained? Are they nicely landscaped?
11. Compromise. You can't always find the perfect house in the perfect neighborhood, but you can find a house and a neighborhood that you will enjoy living in.
12. If you have kids, consider how many children are in the neighborhood. It is nice to have age-similar neighbors for your children compared to having a neighborhood full of retirees who are concerned about peace and quiet.

Article from Hawaii Homes Professionals: Prudential Locations.

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