Moving to Laie: Pros, Cons & What to Know
Moving to Laie means moving to a real, genuinely distinctive windward Oahu community anchored by a real university-tourism relationship unlike any other market this project has documented.
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Learn moreA real, defining university-town identity
BYU-Hawaii's real, substantial student population (2,822 students, 2025-2026, representing 61 countries) defines Laie's genuinely young, international character (base record).
A real, structurally interdependent local economy
The Polynesian Cultural Center (~1,100 employees) draws approximately 80% of its workforce from BYU-Hawaii students, a real, mutually dependent university-employer relationship (base record).
A genuinely extreme, disclosed housing market
Laie's cited median listing price ran $2.49 million (May 2026) -- genuinely among the highest this project has documented for any Hawaii Tier B market (base record).
A general characterization of safety
This pass's research characterized the Laie area as 'very safe,' though this record discloses that as a general impression rather than a numeric crime statistic (base record).
Key takeaways
- Laie's identity is genuinely defined by BYU-Hawaii and the Polynesian Cultural Center's close relationship.
- Approximately 80% of PCC's workforce is made up of BYU-Hawaii students.
- Housing costs run genuinely extreme, with a cited $2.49 million median listing price.
- The area was generally characterized as 'very safe,' though a numeric crime statistic specific to Laie was not found this pass.
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