Kalele Kai is one of the premier complexes in Hawaii Kai, and the homes are always at the top of the list of sales prices. 

Kalele Kai Amenities

This is a gated luxury community on the marina in the center of Hawaii Kai, built in 1993.  There are 227 deluxe 2- and 3- bedroom apartments in three 6-story towers, and ten 3/2.5 townhouses on the marina, all fee simple. The units have luxury baths, designer kitchens with state-of-the-art appliances, and huge lanais providing grand indoor-outdoor living. Amenities include pool, spa, barbecue area and clubhouse, and many units have a boat dock. 

Kalele Kai Sales

13 sales in 2007 ranged from $590,000 to $1,400,000.  Prices dropped substantially in 2008, when  9 sales closed, from $615,000 to $855,000.  In 2009, 10 homes sold, from $500,000 to $870,000.  In 2010, 15 units sold, from $525,000 to $1,350,000, the highest condo sale in Hawaii Kai for the year.

Since Jan. 1, 2011, 4 sales have closed. $545,000, $605,000, $655,000, and $1,075,000.  The highest sale was one of the largest homes, 2222 SF, with a 354 SF lanai, 3 bedrooms/2.5 baths.

Kalele Kai Homes on the Market

Currently there are 9 homes available in Kalele Kai.  The one I am holding open this Sunday, March 27, from 2-5 PM, is a remodeled and updated 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home with a boat dock, 2210 SF, with a huge lanai of 674 SF.  Unit #1409.  Asking price is $990,000.  MLS #1100104.

Kalele Kai
1 Keahole Place, Unit 1409
Hawaii Kai
Honolulu

Please stop by and take a look at these stunning Hawaii Kai waterfront homes.  Hope to see you there.

Our real estate market will still be a challenge for sellers this year.  Hawaii has a large inventory of bank-owned and distressed properties, which will pressure valuations for sellers who just want to sell, rather than have to sell.  Oahu is so diverse, that many areas are not affected as much as others, such as Ewa Beach, so local advice and a market analysis by a Realtor experienced in your Oahu community is invaluable.

If you hope to sell this year, you'll need to position your property to be competitive and position yourself to be flexible and negotiable.  Besides the normal recommendations of cleaning, decluttering, and staging your home, here are a couple of ideas from Taniya Nayak of "Designed to Sell" as reported by RISMedia.com.

"Q: What do people need to do to sell a home in this market?
A: For starters, you need to figure out what you're overlooking, what I call forgotten fixer-uppers-things you don't notice anymore. Use a digital camera to take photos, upload them on your computer and look at fresh images. You might be pleasantly surprised. You might be horrified. New hardware on cabinets and new faucet fixtures can make a big difference. They're short budget items but have a big impact. And I could talk for hours about paint. There are a million paint colors out there for homeowners to choose from.

"Q: Do you buy the idea that everything has to be painted neutral to sell?
A: Neutrals are good, but neutral doesn't always mean beige. I try to show people how to accessorize in a way that adds life to your space.

"Q: What's your favorite spot in your home?
A: I love every single spot, but my favorite is the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the river. It's so serene and peaceful. I kept the colors muted to highlight the colors outside, the changing seasons."

Take an unbiased tour of your home and try to see it through a buyer's eyes.  As Ms. Nayak said, use a camera which will pick out details you miss.  Then invite a Realtor to your home, and discuss marketing ideas.  The peak selling season will soon be here, so call or email me today to talk about what you can do to sell your Honolulu home this year.

Many of us in the Islands have friends or relatives in the devasted areas of Japan, and our sincere good thoughts are with them and their families.  Here's a little insight into the effect on Hawaii.

After tsunami warnings, and evacuations where necessary in low-lying areas throughout the islands, we were thankfully spared any major damage.  Waves tore boats from their moorings and wrecked piers, but the damage was far less than scientists feared.  Water swept over the beach in Waikiki and surged over the break wall, but stopped short of the hotels.  In Keehi Small Boat Harbor, about 200 boats were damaged or broke free.    At Haleiwa Harbor, piers were destroyed but no boats were damaged.  Governor Neil Abercrombie said, "All of us had that feeling that Hawaii was just the most blessed place on the face of the Earth today."

A Hawaii disaster official's initial damage estimate for state property was at least $3 million. Damage to private properties is still being assessed.  The tsunami hit Hawaii island's Kona Coast the hardest. County civil defense officials counted 18 homes and apartments that were destroyed or suffered major damage.  20 enterprises, from restaurants to resorts, also suffered major damage from flooding.

I live uphill from Maunalua Bay in Hawaii Kai, and was asleep when the first sirens started about 3 AM.  All the schools and Ala Moana and Ward Centers were closed.  I didn't notice any damage in Hawaii Kai.

Here are some photos of tsunami movement.  I've always been curious how these big waves move across so much ocean, and the images tell the story.

This image provided by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center shows a 'tsunami forecast model' created by the Pacific Tsunami Warning Center in Ewa Beach, Hawaii predicting the wave height of the tsunami generated by the Japanese earthquake on March 11. Hawaii's islands are located at the edge of the yellow pattern.  (photo from CSMonitor.com)

(photo from News.Sky.com)

I now offer a new report on the efforts Hawaii is making toward energy independence.  Request a free copy on my web site.  Along with this, I've rededicated myself to helping others keep our island paradise clean and green, so will be highlighting green issues as well.

The February issue of Honolulu Magazine includes a special section on the New Hawaii Home, a very exciting project under construction in Kaimuki.  This is the combined effort of more than 70 professionals in all the building, supply, and design trades, to create a home which - if managed wisely and well - will run off the electric grid and provide a model to the state and country of sustainable living.  Visit the blog of BIAHawaii (Building Industry Assn of Hawaii) for more information, or read my report on the Greening of Oahu.

Here are some conservation tips included in the recent issue of the magazine, which can apply to any area in the country, but specifically to Hawaii living.

1. Save Energy
Open windows and use our trade winds
Replace old light bulbs with compact fluorescent bulbs (CFLs)
Use cold water whenever possible for your clothes wash
Line dry your clothes
Get a solar hot water heater
Upgrade to EnergyStar appliances
Set your refrigerator temperature to 37-40 degrees and your freezer at zero - Refrigerators use the most electricity after air conditioning and water heating

2. Retrofits that will pay for themselves
Use EnergyStar fans and not the AC
Replace your 10-year or older refrigerator
Install a solar hot water heater (this should be a given in Hawaii)
Switch to CFLs (see above)
Take shorter showers

3. Conserve water
Repair leaky faucets
Use low-flow water fixtures
Water your plants in the morning
Use a flow-restriction nozzle on the hose
Consider a water catchment system
Landscape with local low-maintenance, low-water plants
Buy products with the Water Sense label of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)

4. Clean Green
Purchase cleaning products that are Green Seal Certified
Change your air filters regularly (just like your car)

Resources:
Hawaiian Electric Co - www.heco.com
Energy rebates - www.hawaiienergy.com
Federal tax credits - www.dsireusa.org
Green your home - www.greenhomeguide.org
Compost - www.waikikiworm.com
Appliances - www.energystar.gov
Water sense - www.epa.gov/watersense 
Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative - www.hawaiicleanenergyinitiative.org

Many thanks to Honolulu Magazine for their excellent information.  Let's all work together to make and keep Hawaii Green.  

I'm pleased to report that I have upgraded the MLS search feature I offer visitors to my web sites.  You can now save searches, create searches using many filters, and receive updates by email.

Try out the page on www.BarbarasHawaii.com or the MLS search page on www.MovetoHawaiiKai.com and let me know if it fits your needs.  I'd appreciate feedback so I can make the features exactly what you, the visitor to my web site, wants.  Aloha,

The real estate market on Oahu posted very positive numbers for the month of February.

Closed Sales, all properties, increased 13.1%
Closed Sales, single family homes, increased 2.3%
Closed Sales, condos, increased 20.9%

Single Family Market Overview, February 2010 to February, 2011
Closed Sales rose 2.3%, from 177 to 181
Days on Market increased 52.6%, from 38 to 58
Median Sales Price decreased 1%, from $575,500 to $570,000
Average Sales Price increased 2%, from $685,249 to $699,034
Housing Affordability Index rose 4.6%, from 65 to 67
Inventory of Homes decreased 9.7%, from 1545 to 1,395
Months Supply of Homes for Sale decreased 16.9%, from 6.5 months to 5.4

Single Family Market Overview, Year-to-Date 2010 to 2011
Closed Sales rose 7.0%, from 356 to 381
Days on Market increased 13.6%, from 41 to 46
Median Sales Price decreased 1.7%, from $580,000 to $570,000
Average Sales Price increased 2.3%, from $683,211 to $699,026
Housing Affordability Index rose 4.6%, from 65 to 67

Condo Market Overview, February 2010 to February, 2011
Closed Sales rose 20.9%, from 244 to 295
Days on Market increased 13.7%, from 51 to 58
Median Sales Price increased 7%, from $299,000 to $320,000
Average Sales Price increased 10.2%, from $356,520 to $392,714
Housing Affordability Index fell 2.5%, from 118 to 115
Inventory of Condos decreased 4.1%, from 2,014 to 1,931
Months Supply of Condos for Sale decreased 10.3%, from 6.3 months to 5.7

Condo Market Overview, Year-to-Date 2010 to 2011
Closed Sales rose 16.0%, from 486 to 564
Days on Market increased 33.8%, from 40 to 54
Median Sales Price increased 2.8%, from $299,000 to $307,500
Average Sales Price increased 1.9%, from $349,407 to $356,210
Housing Affordability Index fell 2.5%, from 118 to 15

A graph provided by the Honolulu Board of Realtors shows a steady increase in sales for the past 3 years, both in February and year-to-date, and for both single family homes and condos.  Let me know if you would like a complete copy of the thorough statistical analysis of our Oahu real estate market.  I can email you a .pdf file with charts and graphs.

For local knowledge, and sales in specific communities, call or email me.  Oahu's real estate market is quite varied, from the water-centric homes of Hawaii Kai, to old Hawaiian historic homes in Manoa, to the new 2nd city of Kapolei.  I'll be happy to do a market analysis of any area on Oahu for you.

Both Single Family and Condo sales in Hawaii Kai were slow in February, with 7 home sales and 14 condos closed.  This compares to 2010 with 7 home sales and 6 condo closings.

Single Family

The 7 sales ranged from $684,000 for a 3/1.5 in Koko Head Terrace to $1,600,000 for a 4/3.5 on a 10,613 SF lot in Kamehame Ridge.

There were 2 sales in Koko Head Terrace, and three of more than $1,000,000.  These million-dollar sales were in NaPali Haweo, Spinnaker, and Kamehame Ridge.

Condos

The low sale was a FA unit in Mawaena Kai for $448,000, 3/2 with boat slip, main level.  The high sale was $785,000 for a waterfront home in Koko Isle.

Of the 14 sales, 3 complexes had the highest number.  Colony at the Peninsula, Kuapa Isle, and Lalea each had 2 sales.

Call or email me  for information on any condo complex or neighborhood in Hawaii Kai.  Each area is different and has its own sales history and amenities, so you need local expertise.

According to data released by the 2010 census, Hawaii's population grew about 12.3% to 1,360,301 people in the last decade.  The largest jumps were in Maui (20.9%) and Hawaii (24.5%) counties.

In Honolulu County, on Oahu, the Ewa Gentry area saw the largest percentage growth, 359.4%, out of all areas in the state. In 2000 there were 4,939 residents, but by 2010, there were 22,690.  Pearl City had 54% growth, to 47,698 people.

Urban Honolulu is the most populous area, with 337,256 people.  Oahu tallied 953,207 residents.

It is hard to predict whether any Oahu districts will require changes in voting representation.   Despite the large growth on Hawaii (Big Island) and Maui, they are unlikely to see more seats in the state Legislature.

Asians make up the largest ethnic population throughout the state, 38.6% with about 525,100 people. There are roughly 135,400 native Hawaiians in the state, and 336,600 whites.  As of 2010, there are 2.6% fewer blacks in Hawaii, down to approximately 21,400.

Hawaii has always been an ethnic melting pot, and reinforces our Aloha spirit.  There are very few who don't feel welcome as soon as they arrive.  If you are considering relocation, ask for my free relocation package, on my web site, which has just been updated with news on the "greening of Oahu."

(resources for census numbers from StarAdvertiser.com)

       
After more than 7 years of missteps and community disputes, the new investors of Hale Ka Lae (formerly Hale Alii) in Hawaii Kai are ready for buyers.  I attended their formal Grand Opening yesterday, Feb. 19, and was impressed with the commitment shown to bring this project to market, and the changes they have made to satisfy community concerns.

Here are some of the changes the developers have made in the $300 million, 10-story project since originally conceived:

1. Replace key executives
2. Draw new architectural plans
3. Move the footprint of the building and amenities
4. Build a new sales center
5. Reduce condo prices
6. Revise the affordable housing agreement with the city and build the required units on another site in Hawaii Kai
7. Correct fines and actions for improper soil grading and archaelogical monitoring
8. Set up an archaeological preservation plan and reach agreement with the Trust for Public Land to purchase and maintain a 5-acre portion of the site as a cultural preserve.

Mike Greco, the project's chief operating officer. committed to, and has delivered, a fresh start for the development.  He said they hope to begin construction in June on Phase 1 of the 242 units, and finish in 2013.  Unit prices range from $685,265 for a one bedroom/1.5 bath home to $3.4 million for 3 bedrooms/3.5 baths.  Sizes are generous - 992 - 1233 SF for a 1 bedroom/1.5 bath home up to 2,886 SF for a 3 bedroom/3.5 bath penthouse unit.

Features will include a private dining room, electric vehicle charging stations, a golf simulator, a theater, pools and a fitness center.  The show room is beautiful and they have said the same high quality will be included in all the condos.  Kitchens feature top-of-the-line Miele German appliances, and the entire home will be "upgraded" so there will be no additional upgrades to purchase. 

Please let me know if you have an interest, so I can sign you up on their list.  Remember, for you as a buyer to have a personal agent in new construction, that agent (hopefully me) needs to be involved from the very first interest you show.  Watch here for follow up posts on the construction and progress of Hale Ka Lae.

Jordan LaPier, senior director of the program for Washington D.C.'s America's Promise Alliance (APA), announced that Honolulu had again made the list (also in 2006 and 2008).  Communities were chosen for collaborating to shape policy that serves the needs of young men and women and reduces high school dropout rates,   "Our winning communities are not perfect places," said LaPier. "Every community has its challenges. But these are communities that are dedicated to making youth a priority and taking action to make that commitment a reality." Honolulu was one of more than 350 nominees drawn from across the nation for consideration, representing all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Programs that contributed to the award include the A+ after-school programs, Keiki Caucus, a group of lawmakers and administrators who propose legislation to address the needs of children, and Youth Service Center, which focuses on providing children with volunteer opportunities.  Although Furlough Fridays (a decision last year to cut school expenses) were considered, the APA felt the community turned that negative into a positive.  Many local partners came together and created service opportunities for kids on those days when they weren't in school," LaPier said. "They used that opportunity to enrich what they were learning in the classroom and connect it to experience in the real world."

Request a free relocation package from my web site and call or email me with questions on our Honolulu lifestyle.  Let's talk about whether living here will fit your needs.