Hawaii Sports Heroes and Heroines Summer 2008

Not only was August the month for the Olympics, and Hawaii was well-represented in the medal-winner circle, but Waipahu just won the Little League World Series Aug. 24.

At the Olympics, Natasha Kai of Kahuku, with the US Women's Soccer Team, won the gold; the US Women's VolleyBall team won gold with 2 former UH stars; Clay Stanley with the US men's volleyball team won gold; Brandon Brooks won silver in water polo; the women's volleyball team with 4 Hawaii athletes won silver; and Brian Clay of Kane'ohe won the Decathlon Gold Medal - earning the title "World's Greatest Athlete."

Clay competed in 10 events over a 36-hour period through driving rain and hot humid conditions. Only 26 men finished from a field of 40. Clay never trailed in any of the events, and won by 240 points, the largest margin of victory since 1972. He joins an all-star groups of names like Jim Thorpe, Bob Mathias, and Rafer Johnson.

Hawaii sent 18 athletes to the Olympics, and 2/3 returned with medals. According to the Honolulu Advertiser, Hawaii's athletes - those who grew up in Hawaii and have ties to Hawaii, mostly through the University of Hawaii - "won more Olympic medals in the past 16 days than they have in the past 50 years. More than most countries."

Those achievements put Hawaii and Oahu on the map for athletic ability, and for pure joy add in yesterday's stunning victory by Waipahu over Matamoros, Mexico 12-3 in the Little League World Series. For only the 2nd time in series history, a team scored each inning in the title game. Wearing leis and smiles after the win, the press reported the Hawaii players as a "tired and soft-spoken bunch." Shane Victorino, Phillies' centerfielder from Hawaii said, "They gave 100 percent every game . . . It definitely exemplifies what Hawaii is all about."

Congratulations to our Hawaiian athletes!

Barbara Abe, REALTOR

Hawaii Kai is my Home

808-226-2537
http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/
barbara@barbarashawaii.com

Panoramic Ocean & Pearl Harbor View Home For Sale - Honolulu

98719 Iho Place, Unit 5/1402, in the Colonnade on Greens, is now available.

Visit my Open House Sunday, July 20, 2 - 5 PM.

You won't find a home with the amenities and view at this price anywhere else on the island.




Contact me for a private showing or more details.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
808-226-2537

Hawaii Kai Sales Statistics May, 2008: Single Family Homes

The Honolulu Board of Realtors statistics for the 1st Quarter of 2008 show 46 sales in Hawaii Kai, with a median sales price of $865,300. This compares to 51 sales in the 4th quarter of 2007, with a median price of $919,000.

Median list prices were considerably higher: $1,269,700 for the first quarter of this year, and $1,314,200 for the 4th quarter.

In May, 2008, 18 homes sold in Hawaii Kai, with a price range from $630,000 to $2,100.000. Averages for sold homes were 2,076 square feet, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, 96% list:sales price, and 93 days on market.

Our 2008 sales year so far in Hawaii Kai has been very robust, with 71 sales. Averages were 2,305 sq ft, 4 bedrooms/3 baths/96% list:sale price, and 84 days on market. Prices ranged from $551,000 for a home in Kalama Vally to $6,400,000 for a home in Koko Kai.

I specialize in Hawaii Kai, have lived here, and helped buyers and sellers of real estate in Hawaii Kai for more than 20 years. Contact me for full market statistics.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537

Like to Walk? Here's a New Site to Test Your Neighborhood's Walkability

http://www.walkscore.com/ is a new web site that measures your Hawaii community's walkability, on a score of 0 to 100. The score is based on the number of businesses, parks, schools, and services, within walking distance of a given address.

I tried a few in Honolulu and was amazed at the results, because usually Hawaii neighborhoods are the last to be added to mapping sites. My office location got a score of 60, and an address on Kapahulu a score of 85. The map and text show names, addresses, and a street map marking the destinations.

The site will soon add Google street view, which will allow users to actually see the streets they would walk.

Co-founder Matt Lerner says of his venture, "The goal is simple: to promote walkable communities." And that translates to a healthier population.

With our wonderful weather, and the views and variety of outdoor activities, using a site that tells you if something is within walking distance might be helpful in your search for Hawaii real estate. But when it comes to deciding on real estate opportunities and market conditions, you'll want a local realtor to give you insight into specific Hawaii neighborhoods.

Aloha,

Barbara Abe

Realtor specializing in Hawaii Kai

http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/

barbara@barbarashawaii.com

808-226-2537

Real Estate Condo Activity for Hawaii Kai, May, 2008

The real estate condo market in Hawaii Kai in May, 2008 was down from 2007. In May, 20 units sold compared to 36 last year, for a median sales price of $559,500 compared to $565,000 in 2007. Year-to-date, 91 condos have sold vs. 106 last year. Median sales price this year has been $540,000 against $545,000 in 2007.

Statistics for East Oahu are slightly different. Sales volume of fee simple condos for East Oahu declined 16.9% in number of sales, from 148 to 123; median sales price increased 4.3% from $517,500 to $540,000; average sales price increased 13.4%, from $586,617 to $665,126.

Sales of leasehold units in East Oahu weren't quite as robust. 15 sales closed in May compared to 16 last year, for an average median sales price of $475,000 - down from $528,500 last year, and an average sales price of $502,605, up from $500,878 in 2007.

So, while numbers of sales have decreased in 2008 compared to the same period last year, prices are still modestly increasing in East Oahu, and holding steady in Hawaii Kai.

Inventory is increasing this year - in May, 107 condos were active in Hawaii Kai, vs. 95 in April, and 74 in May, 2007. East Oahu as a whole has 7.2 months of inventory available, against 3.1 months last year.

Current real estate listings for Hawaii Kai, as of June 1, range from $409,000 for a 1-bedroom unit in the Esplanade, to $1,675,000 for a 3-bedroom home in Kalele Kai. I'm familiar with all of the Hawaii Kai condo complexes, their amenities, and management, and can help you make a sound investment decision on Hawaii Kai property.

Visit my Hawaii Kai real estate market analysis page on my web site for full details: http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/Hawaii_Kai_Market_News/page_1893904.html

The Honolulu Board of Realtors issues very complete statistics for monthly sales on Oahu. The statistics provided here are courtesy of HBR. Contact me for a free copy:

Barbara Abe, Realtor for Hawaii Kai
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537

Pets and Hawaii Kai Real Estate

Getting your Hawaii Kai property ready for sale involves more than cleaning and staging the home. If you have pets, their welfare needs to be considered - but so does their effect on potential buyers.

In Hawaii, we love our pets but they don't always help a sale. Not all buyers like cats - or dogs. Some Hawaii Kai condos are grandfathered only for the pet in residence, not future ones. Here are some tips if you are considering selling a home in Hawaii Kai, and you own a pet:

1. Get rid of pet odor - like kitty litter, hairs, dog smell in carpets. This should be part of your cleaning process.

2. Don't show the home with the pet in residence. Cats may hide, but dogs want to be found. Take them for a walk or, at the very least, step outside with your dog while buyers preview the property. If you work, consider doggie day care.

3. Also hide pet toys, food bowls, etc. - if buyers don't like pets, they won't like the evidence that your property has one.

4. Some folks have allergies to pets. If they want to see your Hawaii Kai home even after you have advertised the resident pet, then be as accommodating as you can and remove the pet during showings.

5. No pets at home during open houses - it just isn't worth the risk of your losing your best friend through a door someone left open.

6. Realize that when you clean before closing, you will have more work and expense to remove all pet odors and hair from your home. Plan and budget ahead.

Visit my web site pet page for informative pet links and news about the pet scene in Hawaii Kai and Oahu. Also featured are ways you can help homeless pets, and pets for the deaf.

Contact me with any questions about the Hawaii quarantine process, if you are relocating to Hawaii Kai, and the real estate market in Hawaii Kai or East Oahu.

Barbara Abe

Hawaii Kai Realtor

barbara@barbarashawaii.com

http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/

808-226-2537

4th Annual Discover Recycling Fair Scheduled

Sept. 25-27 in the Blaisdell Arena will be the site of the 4th Annual Discover Recycling Fair sponsored by the City & County of Honolulu. The pilot program of curbside recycling in Hawaii Kai and Mililani launched last October has been so successful, that the city will expand the program in November to 40,000 more homes, including East Oahu neighborhoods from Kuliouou to Kapahulu and Manoa.

Living on an island, there is no reason NOT to recycle! It keeps our garbage costs down, keeps our communities even more beautiful, and keeps our real estate values high.

To encourage support of recycling, Mayor Mufi Hannemann started the Tour de Trash to lead residents on tours of the waste-processing and recycling facilities on Oahu. Upcoming tours will focus on recycling of yard trimmings, tires and cooking oil; recycling of construction and demolition waste, and metal car parts and appliances; and the H-Power garbage-to-energy plant, which disposes of more than 600,000 tons of trash every year while producing enough electricity to power 45,000 homes.

Other efforts the City of Honolulu is making under his leadership for a greener Oahu include Earth Hour March 29, and implementation of a fixed guideway transit system, from Kapolei to Ala Moana. Stay tuned for more information on this important transportation project.

His efforts to make a difference in the fight against global warming certainly help our real estate market. We all should be supportive.

Barbara Abe, Your Hawaii Kai REALTOR
808-226-2537
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
http://www.movetohawaiikai.com/
http://www.barbarashawaii.com/
http://www.barbarashawaii.blogspot.com/