Kaneohe is a suburban town because about all the businesses it has is a couple shopping malls. 

Laie has a University and a major tourist attraction in the Polynesian Cultural Center. It even has a modest Hotel. And there are major wind power sources in the area for additional development. 

I'd say Laie is striving to be a city and not a suburban neighborhood. Probably many of the visitors to the long strand of North Shore beaches stay at the many vacation rentals in the area. 

We've been able to keep the North Shore fairly rustic despite the huge concentration of tourism in the area. But the workers need housing. And they don't want to commute by bus from Honolulu or the west side.