Roy's in Hawaii Kai Hosting Wine Night

Roy’s Restaurant will present 20 leading winemakers from across the country at Roy’s in Hawaii Kai on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 from 6:30 – 8:30 pm.

The industry-style wine tasting will feature 90 wines from 20 different winemakers. This is a special opportunity for wine enthusiasts to experience some really great American labels. Roy’s chefs will be creating special pupus for the occassion to pair with the wines.

Here is a list of the wineries and vineyards participating in this special event:

Karma Fine Beverages – Patrick S. Wilson
Babcock Vineyards – Alan Jahns
Handley Cellars – Milla Handley
Saintsbury – David Graves
Selby Winery – Susie Selby
Dark Horse – Mike Lokaysek
Honig Vineyard & Winery – Patti Hawker
Diamond Terrace – Maureen Taylor
Domaine Serene – Eleni Papadakis
Bonaccorsi – Jenne Lee Bonaccorsi
L’Ecole No. 41 – Debbi Frol
Merry Edwards Winery – Cheryl-Lynn Mattos
Kaena – Michael Sigouin
Beckman – Michael Sigouin
Rombauer Vineyards – James Heinemann
Duckhorn Wine Company – Michelle Watkins
Landmark Vineyards – Andy Wolfe
Miner – Samantha Kasper
Plumpjack & CADE Winery – John Conover
Longboard – Oded Shaked

Price per person is $60 including tax & tip.

Please call Roy’s Hawaii Kai at 396-7697 or visit Roy's Events to make a reservation.

Our office of East Oahu Realty is next door to Roy's, so let me know if you want to discuss real estate before wine tasting and I'll meet you there.

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

Cash for Clunkers starts July 24 in Hawaii Kai

Cash for Clunkers, where owners can trade in low-mileage cars for cash, starts officially Friday, July 24 nationwide. The program gives $3,500 or $4,500 trade-in vouchers to customers who bring in their old vehicles to be junked. To qualify, cars must be 10 to 25 years old, get 18 miles per gallon or less and have been insured by the owner for at least a year.

The program, in effect since July 1, has been awaiting federal rules for implementation. Hawaii auto dealers are fervently hoping for a boost in car sales, and suggest owners visit Cars.gov to see if their vehicle qualifies. Car sales in Hawai'i have slipped by 31.5 percent in the first six months of 2009, compared with last year.

Most people who qualify will get at least a $3,500 voucher. Those who buy a new vehicle that gets 10 mpg or more than their clunker will receive $4,500. Dealers are required to provide proof of disposal of the clunkers at approved scrap-metal yards. So far, no scrap yards have been announced for dealers to take the cars to, nor is there any word on how to stay below the government's $1 billion allotment.

As reported by the Honolulu Advertiser, "Dave Rolf, executive director for Hawaii Automobile Dealers Association, was optimistic and complimented the speed of implementing the program since the act was signed on June 24.

"'I don't think in all my years I have seen a program come together this fast," Rolf said. "It's a great compliment to the people in federal government. When you look at how many moving parts are in a car and then how many cars there are, and then how many people are in America; and to get a program moving in 30 days?

"'That's a lot of moving parts.'"

Since we live on an island, with limited resources and disposal facilities, and our gas price is the highest in the country, hopefully this program will be a huge success on Oahu.

Contact me for relocation information for Hawaii Kai, and other innovative programs now in place to keep Hawaii Green.

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

Hawaii Kai Relocation Packages Just Released

I've finished the Complete Hawaii Kai Relocation Package and the Hawaii Kai Condo Relocation Package with sales data through June, 2009, and updates on new waterfront condo complexes that have sold this year.

Request your free copy at my web site, MovetoHawaiiKai.com, or for condos only, the Condo Page. Or just call/email for your free copies.

If you want additional information on real estate throughout Oahu, but specifically on Hawaii Kai, just let me know. It's my home, and I've been a Realtor here for more than 20 years.

Aloha,

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

WestJet Increases Flights to Hawaii

On Nov. 7, WestJet will launch a weekly flight every Saturday from Victoria to Honolulu, with an introductory roundtrip fare of $259.

In addition, WestJet said it will increase the frequency of its Vancouver-to-Honolulu flight to seven days a week Oct. 8, to 11 times a week Nov. 1, and 12 times a week Dec. 16. It also will boost its Vancouver-to-Maui service to seven days a week Oct. 7, 10 times a week Nov. 1 and 12 times a week Dec. 16. Lihue service will begin Dec. 16.

WestJet, headquartered in Calgary, has been operational since 1996, when it started service to 5 cities in Western Canada. It is now Canada's leading high-value low-fare airline, offering scheduled service to 55 destinations in Canada, the United States, Mexico and the Caribbean, with its fleet of 79 Boeing Next-Generation 737-series aircraft equipped with increased legroom, leather seats and live seatback television provided by Bell TV.

To book a flight and check schedules, visit WestJet Guest.

All the more reason for Canadians to visit Hawaii and Hawaii Kai, and consider a real estate investment here!

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

Hawaii Kai Real Estate Market Report June, 2009

Condos

15 sales occurred in June in Hawaii Kai Condos. The low price was $349,900 for a 1 bedroom unit in the Commodore. The highest was a 3 bedroom home in Kuapa Isle, on the marina.

Complexes with sales included: Colony at the Peninsula (2), Colony Marina (1), Commodore (1), Esplanade (1), Hawaii Kai Cp (1), Heritage House (1), Kaimala Marina (1), Kuapa Isle (1), Mariners Village 3 (1), Mauna Luan (3), Moana Kai (1), and Villa Marina (1).

Days on Market ranged from 254 (Moana Kai) to 8 (Mauna Luan).

Request my reports on the condo complexes and get more sales statistics on the Condo Page of my web site.

Single Family

17 sales occurred in Hawaii Kai for single family homes. The low price was $500,000 for a 3/2 home in Kalama Valley, and the highest $2,100,000 for a magnificent view home in Koko Kai.

Neighborhoods represented included: Kalama Valley (4), Lower Hahaione Valley (1), Mariners Village (1), Laulima (1), Koko Head Terrace (1), Mariners Cove (3), Mariners Ridge (1), Queen's Gate (1), Koko Villa (1), Kamilo Nui (1), Triangle (1), and Koko Kai (1).

Days on Market ranged from 317 (Kalama Valley) to 1 (Kalama Valley, Mariners Cove).

Request reports on all the neighborhoods on my web site, and read full statistics on the Hawaii Kai Market News page.

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

Hawaii Kai Holds Value as a Real Estate Investment

There was a very interesting article this month in the Honolulu Magazine titled, "How Much is Your Home Worth Now?" While the appreciation in Lanikai (Kailua) and Manoa (above U of Hawaii) was not surprising, an investment in the Ewa Plain would have produced an excellent return in the last 60 years. A home in Mililani, however, would not have been as lucrative an investment if owned since 1969 (rather than 1948). Of course, the types of houses are all very different, as are their locations and sizes.

Their example in Hawaii Kai was my main interest. It shows a 3 bedroom/2 bath home, 1252 sq ft, 5,995 sq ft lot, purchased in 1968 - as adjusted for 2009 dollars - at $248,772 - offered for sale today at $599,000 (fee simple). The home shown is at the base of a hillside, and is a modest size and lot for East Oahu, and Hawaii Kai in particular. Obviously, Koko Kai, Portlock, and some marinafront communities in Hawaii Kai will have homes worth considerably more, and at better appreciation rates. But the author chose this as representative of Hawaii Kai single family homes.

Since we know Hawaii Kai has better stability than most locations on the island, and - while it is not immune to market fluctuations - recovers faster to down cycles - I wondered why this particular home had not brought the owners as large a return as some other neighborhoods on Oahu.

The article shows charts of the Hottest and Coldest Neighborhoods on Oahu during this, our Buying Paradise of 2009, for single family homes and condos. For homes, Wahiawa is the hottest, and the other 4 are (in order) Mililani, Ewa Plain, Aina Haina-Kuliouou, and Kapahulu-Diamond Head. Not Hawaii Kai.

The coolest areas are (in order): Waialae-Kahala, Pearl City-Aiea, Moanalua-Kalihi, Windward Coast, and North Shore. Not Hawaii Kai.

For Condos, hottest and coolest neighborhoods - Hawaii Kai was not included in either.

Why? In my opinion, because our market is more stable. You might not get huge appreciation (depending of course on purchase price - some folks did the last few years) but you also won't suffer huge losses (which many homeowners in other parts of the island certainly have had the last couple of years).

Bottom line: Hawaii Kai is a pretty great place to own real estate, and over the long haul, will be a great investment in one, if not the, premier location to live on Oahu.

Here's a link to the full article in Honolulu Magazine. For specific Hawaii Kai Market News, visit my web site, where you also can receive free reports on any neighborhood or condo complex in Hawaii Kai.

It's certainly a buyer's market now - don't lose your $8,000 tax credit or this opportunity to buy in what Harvey Shapiro (research economist for the Honolulu Board of Realtors) calls the best time to buy in a decade. Call or email me to discuss ideas.

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

Monk Seals in Hawaii Receive More Protection

The federal government has significantly expanded the critical habitat for endangered Hawaiian monk seals to include beaches and waters of the main Hawaiian Islands. The seals are among the most endangered of the world's marine mammals, numbering fewer than 1200.

Previously, the critical habitat was limited to the remote and largely uninhabited Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, where it was first established in 1986. Seal pups have only about a 1 in 5 chance to survive to adulthood. About 80 to 100 seals live in the main Hawaiian Islands, where they have higher survival rates.

The Hawaiian Monk Seal's Hawaiian name is Ilio holo kai. It means the dog who runs the sea.

The new habitat designation means greater protection under the Endangered Species Act, and limits federal government activities, which must undergo reviews to ensure they do not harm the seal or the habitat. "It will give this species a fighting chance," said Vicki Cornish, wildlife policy director at Ocean Conservancy. "When we protect critical habitat for monk seals, we are also protecting the larger ocean ecosystem on which we all depend."

Hawaii Kai, and our island chain, are so very lucky to have the wildlife we do. Let's do our part to preserve and protect our heritage.

Barbara Abe, Realtor
www.barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com

(photo courtesy of HawaiiLifeofLuxury)