Since its Incorporation in 1964, the City of Hawaiian Gardens
has matured into a viable commercial and industrial base, with
over 600 businesses and over 16,400 residents within just one
square mile. To meet its current needs and in search of other
improvement opportunities, the City is focusing on its growth
in retail and commercial development. With easy access to the
Long Beach and Los Angeles Harbors plus some of the heaviest
commercial routes in Southern California, Hawaiian Gardens is
ideal for any commercial development.
As a rest stop in the 1920’s, Hawaiian Gardens owes its name to
a local fruit stand owner who built a bamboo frame shack covered
with palm leafs. Located immediately off the 605 freeway, with
over 200,000 AADT (Average Annual Daily Trips) trips per day
in both directions, Hawaiian Gardens continues to be a popular
way stop providing shopping, fine dining, accommodations and
is one of only seven cities in Los Angeles County that permits
casino gambling. Hawaiian Gardens is geographically attractive
for new retail opportunities, looking to benefit from the draw of
existing commercial, hotel, and restaurant developments as well
as the expanding casino and brand new bingo hall.
Hawaiian Gardens since Incorporation has been focused on improving services and quality
of life for its residents and businesses. With the dedication of organizations, clubs, citizens
and business owners, Hawaiian Gardens has taken proactive steps towards refurbishing local
schools, funding underfunded afterschool programs, improved and expanded the recreation
facility, dedicated funds to the Housing and Commercial Rehabilitation Programs, law
enforcement, and beautifying the city with road and park improvements.
The City of Hawaiian Gardens enjoys an outstanding business area profile with respect to
location, the people, the neighborhoods, and opportunities:
• In the Gateway Region, Hawaiian Gardens location is central to downtown Los Angeles’s
booming economic core but away from the confines, costs and confusion of the urban
metropolis.
• Hawaiian Gardens offers the recognized promise of reasonable growth with a housing
inventory that meets both family and executive housing demands at prices that are favorable
compared to Los Angeles and Orange Counties, as well as a pledge towards enhancing
commercial development and revitalization.
• The City has stable quality neighborhoods where the crime rate is low and the city
government is committed to a safe and a secure future.
• Hawaiian Gardens is home to the Hawaiian Gardens Casino, an over 57,000 square foot
casino serving surrounding communities since 1996.
Government
Hawaiian Gardens is a full-service, general-law city,
providing police and fire services as well as street
maintenance and repair, building and engineering,
planning, and parks and recreational activities. The
City Council appoints the City Administrator who
oversees all services and the functioning of the City on
a daily basis in accordance with policies established
by the City Council.
Access
Above all the competition, Hawaiian
Gardens offers office and commercial users
excellent freeway access in a dynamic
location that is more than just bedrock for
business, it is one of Southern California’s
best regional locations.
A location accessible to downtown Los Angeles’ booming economic hub, Hawaiian Gardens is at the core of the vital Gateway Region, the industrial heartland of the greater Los Angeles. A location central to three major freeways, with great airport access; 22 miles to Los Angeles Airport, 20 miles to Santa Ana Airport, 10 miles to the Long Beach Airport, and 37 miles to the Ontario Airport. Additionally, Hawaiian Gardens is only 20 miles from the Los Angeles and Long Beach Harbors. Such great access to freeways, airports and
harbors makes Hawaiian Gardens an ideal location as the gateway to Southern California.
The Community
With approximately 16,400 residents, Hawaiian Gardens has a steady and stable population growth. The number of residents is estimated to grow by 6% in the next ten years. This population base offers a skilled, diverse workforce. Over half of Hawaiian Gardens 16,400 residents are 18 to 64 years old, 24% of which have attended college.
Population
16,400
Average Family Income:(2006 Estimate)
$ 34,500
Owner-occupied homes:
45%
Median home value: (2000)
$140,000
Hawaiian Gardens is home to 16,400 residents with over 3,500 residential units.
White
38.2%
Asian
8.8%
Black or African American
4.4%
Native American
.7%
Other races
41.7%
Of the population is Hispanic or Latino
73.5%
Hawaiian Gardens recreational facilities and services are continuing to grow and has been fortunate to have several organizations and citizens that, even prior to incorporation, constantly contribute to advancing Hawaiian Gardens as a community including transportation services for the elderly and disabled, child care services, a food bank, library, fire station and post office to meet the people’s needs. Located in the ABC
Unified School District, Hawaiian Gardens feeds five high schools, one junior high school within the city, and two elementary schools. Three different bus lines serve the City including Long Beach Transit, Orange County Transportation Authority, and Metro.
Hawaiian Gardens is fortunate to have the Tri-City Medical Center located in the City. There are nearly 350 physicians and surgeons serving the community and striving to continuously improve their work processes and the interactions between people so that we can achieve higher levels of measurable outcomes and satisfaction from the customers’ perspective.
Within only 9/10 square mile, there are three city parks and is home to the Robert E. Lee Activity Center, designed to provide a variety of leisure, recreational and cultural activities for the entire community. The center is highlighted by a fullsize gymnasium with basketball, volleyball, and badminton courts. There are three indoor handball/racquetball courts, and equipped boxing and weight rooms.
Additionally, the city’s close proximity to several major transportation sources such as bus lines, airports, freeways and harbors gives the residents access to regional, national and international markets.
Development
Today, Hawaiian Gardens gives office and commercial users a chance to build on a secure and established
base. Aided by one of Southern California’s most progressive and experienced city governments,
Hawaiian Gardens provides incentives for upgrading commercial properties, consolidating smaller commercial
properties, and redeveloping underdeveloped properties through the City’s Rehabilitation Program.
Commercial and Industrial uses make up over 25% of the land area. Because the major arterials Carson Street and Norwalk Boulevard perpendicularly intersect in the middle of the city, they serve as axes, providing immediate access from the freeways to the rest of the City.
Hawaiian Gardens is approximately 99% built out, and such, the City’s intention is to guide redevelopment towards revitalizing the commercial corridors into high quality, pedestrian friendly districts that are harmonious with residential and non-residential uses.
The City is looking to develop a broad range of commercial uses ranging
from retail sales, service-related uses, entertainment, community
service organizations, and professional offices.
Latest Developments
Hawaiian Gardens Casino
Only twenty minutes from downtown Los Angeles, located just off the 605 Carson St. exit,
south of the 91 Freeway, lays this gem of a card room. Still largely undiscovered, Hawaiian
Gardens has quietly crept its way to becoming the second largest card club in the greater Los
Angeles area. Hawaiian Gardens Casino has a history that began in 1995 when a referendum
was approved to allow the casino to operate. The casino operation started in a trailer with
five tables. The facility has expanded over the years to 180 gaming tables today, serving
approximately 15,000 people living in the immediate area surrounding Hawaiian Gardens
and growing. In the works, the Casino plans to expand another 130,000 square feet, with 300
gaming tables, a banquet room, buffet style restaurant, sushi bar, and a sports bar.
Bingo Hall
In addition to the Hawaiian Gardens Casino, The Hawaiian Gardens Bingo Club is
the largest in Southern California, offering games seven days a week.
La Quinta Inn – Hawaiian Gardens
Located on Carson Street, the brand new La Quinta Inn supports the development and growth
in Hawaiian Gardens providing easy access to the surrounding freeways, airports and harbors.
La Quinta Inn provides clean and comfortable guest rooms, suites, and meeting rooms that
offer many of the frills you would expect at higher priced hotels. LQ Management LLC is one
of the largest operators of limited-service hotels in the United States. With exceptional service
and a wide range of popular amenities offered at La Quinta Inn & Suites nationwide you’ll find
the best rates, and the widest variety of room options.
A New Facelift
Along Norwalk Boulevard and Carson Street, businesses and commercial centers are
receiving façade improvements thanks to the City’s Commercial Redevelopment Program.
Looking to revitalize and enhance the City, the Hawaiian Gardens Redevelopment Agency,
in cooperation with the City of Hawaiian Gardens, has set in motion an aggressive program
that will advance the economy and reform the city in preparation for continuous and
successful growth. The development of partnerships with private developers, businesses,
state and federal agencies, non-profit and cultural organizations and neighborhood groups
is one of many methods being taken in order to get the job done.
Library
The new Library and Public Safety Center will include the library on the first floor, a
computer room, offices, community assembly room and Sheriff’s offices. Construction
started February 2008 and is anticipated to be complete winter 2008.
Agency Meetings
HAWAIIAN GARDENS
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT
AGENCY
Michael Gomez
(Chairmember)
Victor Farfan
(Vice Chairmember)
John F. Heckerman
(Director)
Michiko Oyama Canada
(Director)
Betty J. Schultze
(Director)
The Agency meets 6 p.m. on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of each month in City Hall.
