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Quick answer: For your first weeks on Oahu, book lodging with a full kitchen or kitchenette, a separate bedroom and laundry, within a reasonable drive of base. We spent two weeks in base lodging (NGIS) with only a microwave, and we wouldn’t do that with a baby again. Plan for one car (the Navy ships one vehicle for Hawaii, and ours took about 2–3 weeks), and check what your TLA covers before you book.
When we PCSed to Hawaii in 2019, our first stop was base lodging. It got us started, but there’s a lot we’d do differently next time. Here’s what we learned about where to stay during those first weeks on Oahu, and how to think about where to live.
Our first two weeks: base lodging
We stayed at the base’s Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) when we arrived. It was okay for about two weeks, but we were getting cramped, even with just one kid at the time.
The biggest downside: no kitchenette, just a microwave. With a baby, that gets old fast. Every meal is takeout or something microwaved, and it adds up in money and patience.
What to look for in temporary lodging
If we did it again, here’s what we’d prioritize, in order:
- A full kitchen or kitchenette. This was the most important thing for us.
- Space to spread out: a separate bedroom or a suite, so the baby can nap while you live your life.
- Laundry, in the unit or on-site.
- A reasonable drive to base, because Oahu traffic is real.
- A pool or a walkable beach for your sanity on weekends.
Check your temporary lodging allowance (TLA) with your installation’s housing or finance office before you book, so you know what’s covered while you wait for housing and your household goods. U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, for example, posts a TLA-approved hotel list (August 2026). If base lodging is full or tight, compare nearby hotels and condo-style stays with kitchens:
- Hotels and condos near Pearl Harbor and Hickam
- Stays in Kapolei and Ko Olina on the west side
- Waikiki hotels with kitchenettes
How TLA works at JBPHH while you look for housing
The Temporary Lodging Allowance (TLA) partially pays you back for hotel and meal costs while you wait for base housing or find a place off base. Here’s how Military OneSource’s Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam temporary housing page says it works:
- Report to the Military Housing Office within 72 business hours of arriving, in person, to start TLA. That applies to all active duty members except dorm residents, even if you don’t plan to live on base.
- TLA is processed in 15-day increments. You pay for lodging and meals up front (the Government Travel Card is allowed) and get reimbursed for part of the cost on a regular payday.
- Call the Navy Lodge first. If it’s full, they give you a Certificate of Non-Availability, and then you can book from the TLA hotel list.
- Tell the hotel you’re using TLA when you book. That rate isn’t the same as the “government” rate.
- Book early in high season, December–March and May–August.
- Pets limit your options. The page counts 30 hotels in Hawaii that take pets, and most have a 20-pound limit.
TLA isn’t automatic, and family members have to be command-sponsored, so confirm your maximum with the housing office before you commit to a hotel.
The one-car problem
The Navy will only ship one vehicle for an overseas move like Hawaii. On days when I went to work, my wife and our son were without a car while we got settled.
Plan for that from day one:
- Rent a second car for the first few weeks. Compare rental cars at Honolulu Airport.
- Pick lodging that’s walkable to groceries and a pharmacy if one of you will be home without a car.
- Ship your car as early as you can. Ours took about 2–3 weeks to arrive.
Choosing where to live on Oahu
We ended up living off base at Iroquois Point in Ewa Beach, a privatized neighborhood that used to be military housing. We loved it: the community pool, private beach access, and watching ships and subs come into Pearl Harbor.
A few things we learned about choosing a neighborhood:
- Visit before you sign. Oahu has many close-knit, very local communities, and every area feels different. Drive around at different times of day and talk to people at your new command.
- Ewa Beach has a mixed reputation, but neighborhoods vary a lot. Iroquois Point is tucked away from the rest of Ewa Beach, and it felt like its own community.
- Where Navy families tend to live: many families from the ships live in Kailua or near Kaneohe Bay on the windward side, so that’s the go-to area if you want to be close to friends from the command.
- Drive the commute at rush hour before committing anywhere.
More for your Hawaii PCS
- PCS to Hawaii: what we wish we’d known
- The best Oahu beaches for babies and toddlers
- Our free printable PCS checklist
Frequently asked questions
Where should we stay when we first PCS to Oahu?
We spent our first two weeks at Navy Gateway Inns & Suites (NGIS) on base. It got us started, but it had no kitchenette, only a microwave, which got old fast with a baby. Next time we'd look for a full kitchen or kitchenette first, then a separate bedroom, laundry, a reasonable drive to base, and a pool or walkable beach.
How does TLA work when you PCS to Oahu?
At Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam, active duty members (except dorm residents) report in person to the Military Housing Office within 72 business hours of arriving to start TLA, even if they don't plan to live on base. TLA is processed in 15-day increments, you pay for lodging and meals up front, and it partially reimburses you while you look for housing. Call the Navy Lodge first; if it's full, they give you a Certificate of Non-Availability and you can book from the TLA hotel list.
How many cars does the Navy ship to Hawaii?
The Navy will only ship one vehicle for an overseas move like Hawaii. Ours took about 2–3 weeks to arrive, so we'd rent a second car for the first few weeks and choose lodging within walking distance of groceries and a pharmacy.
How do we know what lodging TLA will cover?
Check your temporary lodging allowance (TLA) with your installation's housing or finance office before you book. U.S. Army Garrison Hawaii, for example, publishes a TLA-approved hotel list; the version we found is dated August 2026.
Where do Navy families live on Oahu?
Many families from the ships live in Kailua or near Kaneohe Bay on the windward side. We lived off base at Iroquois Point in Ewa Beach, a privatized neighborhood that used to be military housing, and loved the community pool, private beach access and watching ships and subs come into Pearl Harbor.
Is Ewa Beach a good place for military families?
Ewa Beach has a mixed reputation, but neighborhoods vary a lot. Iroquois Point is tucked away from the rest of Ewa Beach and felt like its own community. Visit before you sign, and drive the commute at rush hour.
