Queen’s main facilities—The Queen’s Medical Center at Punchbowl (so-called because it is near the Punchbowl Crater) and The Medical Center at West O‘ahu —are located on the island of O‘ahu.

O‘ahu has, by far, the most residents of any other island. Close to a million people (or 70% of Hawaiians) live on O‘ahu. Many people choose to move to O‘ahu because of its variety of entertainment and shopping options. 

With beaches as lovely as Kauai and Maui, O‘ahu is the preferred location for most Hawaiians and geographic transplants. Notably, O‘ahu is also where you’ll find Hawaii’s capital of Honolulu.

Among Queen’s two locations on O‘ahu, one is near Honolulu (Punchbowl), while the other is at ‘Ewa Beach on the western side of the island.

The Difference Between Living in Punchbowl and ‘Ewa Beach

Punchbowl is considered living in town. As part of greater Honolulu, Punchbowl is a hub of activity in Hawai‘i and is populated with many residents and tourists.

‘Ewa Beach, which is located to the west of Pearl Harbor, is quieter than Punchbowl but still populated by quite a few mainland transplants. 

Nearby Kapolei and Makakilo are large residential areas with newer constructions. ‘Ewa, Kapolei, and Makakilo are within an hour’s drive of the town. This fact combined with their more affordable housing options make them great relocation destinations for many new residents. 

Queen’s Molokai General Hospital serves the island’s 7,000+ inhabitants. If nightlife and shopping are your thing, Molokai is probably not the right location for you. On the other hand, for those that love nature, Molokai is home to a great number of endemic plant and animal species.

Queen’s also has facilities on the Island of Hawai‘i (referred to locally as “The Big Island” because it is the largest of the five islands). The Island of Hawai‘i has active volcanoes, world-class fishing, and diverse landscapes to explore. The population of Hawaii’s “Big Island” is around 150k, but due to its size, people are quite a bit more spread out than on O’ahu.