5 Things You Didn’t Know about Aloha, Oregon
Updated 08/2024
Once you cross over the western boundary of Beaverton, you’ll find yourself in the quiet, well-developed community of Aloha. Pronounced a-LOH-ah, the name is similar to the Hawaiian word in that it works as a greeting and a signifier of peace and unity, and this little suburb definitely lives up to its name. It is also remarkable for its community engagement and natural beauty.
It also has unique features worth knowing compared to the surrounding areas, making it an excellent place to buy a home and settle down.
Keep reading to learn 5 things you perhaps didn’t know about Aloha, Oregon.
First, A Bit About the Name – Aloha
Before we dive into our list, let’s address the elephant in the room. The history of how Aloha got its name is a little murky and contested, but the best guess anyone has is that the name originated from the first post office, which was founded in 1912. Some say a railroad man named John Caples chose the name, but this claim was contested in 1983 when Joseph H. Buck asserted that his uncle, the first postmaster, had named the town. According to Buck, his uncle named the town after a resort on Lake Winnebago in Wisconsin, Aloah. This would mean the name was derived from a Native American word, rather than a Hawaiian one.
So, how did we end up with Aloha? The lore passed down from Buck argues that during the application process that established the post office, the last two letters of the name got transposed. So, we can joke all we want about how people mispronounce this commonly known Hawaiian word. But really, it’s more likely that we’ve just been spelling it wrong all along!
That doesn’t mean other theories behind the name are still out there. Some of the rather entertaining ones still circulate today:
- There used to be a company called Aloha that made pickup truck canopies.
- Someone stationed in Hawaii during WWII liked the word, but the pronunciation was corrupted over time.
- The town was so small you would say hello and goodbye simultaneously.
#1 – Aloha Is One of Portland’s Most Diverse Suburbs
True to its (albeit mysterious) name, Aloha has established itself as one of Oregon’s most racially diverse suburbs, ranking 2nd on Niche.com. According to the United States Census Bureau’s latest estimates as of 2023. Aloha’s Asian and Latino populations are strong in the community, coming in at 10.7% and 25.5%, respectively.
The census data also tells us that minority-owned businesses in Aloha make up 28.8% of all employer firms, well above the state average of 12.2% and an increase of 6% from 2019. We look forward to new census data to see how things shaped up in this decade.
#2 – No, Aloha Is Not Technically Part of Beaverton
When you hear folks talking about Aloha, it can seem like it’s just a neighborhood in Beaverton. There’s some truth to this, for sure. Aloha’s eastern boundary sits just blocks from the Nike company store, and downtown Beaverton isn’t much further away.
However, Aloha is technically an unincorporated section of Washington County, which means it doesn’t have its own city council, mayor, and independent governance. Instead, it receives services from the surrounding area. For example, Tualatin provides fire and EMS services. Both Beaverton and Hillsboro serve Aloha for public schools. So, while there are some bureaucratic distinctions, in terms of community, living in Aloha means Beaverton – a top suburb in Portland – is home too.
#3 – Aloha Values Community Engagement
This is one trait that the city shares with the Aloha State of Hawaii. In addition to being highly diverse, the residents here are respectful of each other and can be found socializing through activities like community events, neighborhood cleanups, farmers’ markets, and local celebrations. And Aloha makes it easy for residents to do it. One thing you’ll notice quickly if you spend any time there is that Aloha is chock full of parks. Little nooks here and there make sure everyone has access to green space.
As far as greenspace names go, you really can’t beat them. This little corner of the world has some of the most charmingly named parks on earth. In Barsotti and Melilah parks, you’ll find fantastic play structures for young kids. Butternut Park will satisfy anyone who wants a little creek-side view of ducks and other waterfowl. Mountain View Champions Park provides top-class sporting fields. To the south, Cooper Mountain‘s three miles of hiking trails and native plants await your adventures.
Not so much of an outdoor person? Stay in and cozy up with a book from Aloha’s Community Library. This nonprofit library, staffed by volunteers, opened its doors in 2012 and has served the area ever since. Additionally, it puts a good amount of emphasis on multi-lingual learning and reading.
#4 – Multiple Benefits at a Lower Cost
Aloha is part of Silicon Forest, home to Portland’s technology industry. Businesses in and around Aloha include the state’s largest employer, Intel, as well as Tektronix, HP, Nike, and Fujitsu. These companies set the groundwork for hundreds more startups, and Aloha is close to basically all the tech companies calling Hillsboro and Beaverton home. Combined with its proximity to research organizations and colleges, Aloha attracts top talent.
At the same time, the area offers quick access to all the benefits of those neighboring cities and quality amenities, all at relatively low home pricing. In 2018, we named Aloha one of the most affordable suburbs. Then, the median list price was $350,000. Today, according to realtor.com, that median list price is up to $515,000, so maybe the secret is out, but this average is still much lower than Portland ($549,000), Beaverton ($575,000), and Hillsboro ($565,000). One can also find numerous homes with slightly larger lots for sale given the suburb is further out from the city center.
#5 – Harvey the Rabbit Keeps Aloha Weird
Aloha has some famous residents. One example is Jensen Huang, the CEO of NVIDIA and the 11th richest man in the world. He graduated from high school in Aloha at age 16, a full two years early (of course.) But another large figure has roots here, And we do mean large.
Like Milwaukie, Aloha retains some of Portland’s zaniness despite being a suburb. Harvey the Rabbit is a 26-foot high roadside attraction in Aloha, supposedly an orphaned fiberglass statue that found a home outside the Harvey Marine boat repair shop. The owner, Edgar Harvey, took a liking to the 2,500-pound bunny because of the movie Harvey, in which Jimmy Stewart developed a relationship with a six-foot-tall imaginary rabbit.
Now you can find it waving to you on the side of the road. Reviews of this public art installation range from creepy to endearing and everywhere in between. So take a drive down SW Tualatin Highway to judge for yourself, and to wave to Harvey!
Find a Home in Aloha, Oregon
We have a beautiful map to look for homes for sale in Aloha, if you want to take a look. Maps can be very helpful, and searching online for homes can be fun. But the best way to find out if Aloha, Oregon is the place for your next home is to go check it out in person. Our experienced real estate agents can help you find the best homes for sale in Aloha today. Contact our top 1% buyers’ agents to get your home search going. We’ve been helping home buyers in the Portland metro for over 20 years. Give us a call or chat with the bot on this site. We’d love to connect today!
Now you can find it waving to you on the side of the road. Reviews of this public art installation range from creepy to endearing, and everywhere in between. So take a drive down SW Tualatin Highway to judge for yourself, and to wave to Harvey!
