With Hawaii's school budget cuts these days, students, teachers and parents are doing what they can to save their schools' programs. On September 5, 2009 the Kaimuki High School Performing Arts Center held a benefit concert. Various musicians and comedians volunteered their time to help out. We were lucky enough to hear about the concert and spent the evening enjoying the food and entertainment.
The concert started at 3 p.m. in the afternoon. We showed up for a late dinner, around 7 p.m. In the Kaimuki High School cafeteria, we enjoyed a salad, spaghetti with garlic bread and dessert. Next, on the the Performing Arts Center to watch the show.
We arrived just in time to see Mel Cabang, a well known Hawaii comedian. It's been about 20 years since I last saw him performing live at a nightclub in Waikiki. Mel is hilarious. He makes fun of people in the audience and himself. People walking into the show while he's on stage - be prepared! He loves to poke fun at anyone and everyone.
After Mel left the stage, a group called "Vella" played some Hawaiian-style oldies music. Then to top it off, another group named "Soul Vibe by Big D" played their music, which to me sounded like Jawaiian or Hawaiian reggae style. This group was very popular with the high school kids.
By 10 p.m. or so it was getting past our bed time and we called it a night. Soul Vibe was still jamming. It was a great night of food and fun. And on top of that our admission fee benefited the Performing Arts Center of Kaimuki High School.
Organizers said it was financially a great success. Many people donated money and the artists were so kind to give their time. The event was not very crowded, maybe because it started at 3 p.m. and ended around 11 p.m. Maybe next year they'll shorten the event a bit to make things easier on themselves.
We're looking forward to it! Bring back Mel Cabang!
My wife and I recently watched "The Informant" - a movie starring Matt Damon. The movie is based on a true story about a whistleblower at Archer Daniels Midland, a company in Decatur, Illinois.
The main character travels around the world and at one point he attends a meeting in Hawaii. The meeting and a golf outing take place at the Makaha Valley Country Club in West Oahu. In a golf scene the Makaha Valley Towers are a backdrop to the characters walking along the course. When you see the movie, keep an eye out for the Towers 'cause you'll only see them for a few seconds.
Back in the early 1990's (the period that the events in the movie occurred) this resort was actually the Sheraton Makaha. Back then I was an auditor for a CPA firm and actually audited the financials of the resort. We also had corporate events including golf outings there. It was and still is a nice resort, with great ocean views.
Well, go check it out and enjoy! You'll be surprised at how Matt Damon looks in this movie.
Moana's sales office is closed and the salespeople have been instructed to turn in their keys. After much hope with the planned purchase of the property by OliverMcMillan has fallen through. The project is scheduled to be auctioned on September 25, 2009.
For buyers who signed up with Moana Vista, their funds are held in escrow. We expect them to receive full refunds of their deposits.
Keep an eye on the newspapers and TV news for more information about Moana Vista in the coming days.
Buyers have taken action this summer, submitting offers and taking advantage of the market. Some of the drivers getting buyers moving are:
Low interest rates
$8k homebuyers tax credit
Falling home values
Even with price declines seen over the last few years, many buyers find it difficult to find a house in Honolulu that's in their price range. Well, there ARE deals available, it may take some searching outside of the traditional favorite neighborhoods.
Areas such as Kaimuki, Kapahulu and Hawaii Kai are desired by many people. When they see the lower priced homes with 1,000 square feet of interior area selling for $550,000 and up they wonder where the deals are?
Kalihi Uka has some great homes available in the high $300's to mid $400's. Understand that these prices are not for new, top notch condition homes. You CAN get a sweet deal on a home that's in need of some work.
We currently have a house for sale on Murphy Street, MLS 2909334. Originally listed at $360,000, the price was reduced to $335,000 on 10/19/09.. In today's market it's a great price for a home of this size. The house is owner occupied, in time it WILL need some TLC. This is probably best suited to a contractor.
If you're interested in seeing it, please e-mail or call Mike at (808) 548-1220.
During summer the surf action is mostly on the south shore of Oahu. We've had some great swells so far. Overhead sets, light winds and lots of fun!
Roy Vierra of RV's Surf Shop gave me a call and talked about the surf he's been catching at Ala Moana Bowls and Old Man's, including some overhead barrels! Roy's a full sized guy so catching a barrel is really something, in other words we're getting some great surf this summer!
Roy asked if I've been catching some waves. Yeah, there's been some fun stuff at Concessions at Ala Moana Beach Park. I meet my brother in law first thing in the morning and then scoot off to work. Diamond Head is another favorite as long as the wind is not too strong.
Roy said the summer swells are bringing customers to his shop and board sales are doing well. RV's has some great deals on new boards as well as used boards. Stop by and check it out sometime. The staff is really friendly. Besides Roy, there's Sanae, Kapena, Mike and a few others. RV's sells surf-related equipment too, including leashes, wax, fins and traction pads.
South Shore Surf - where to go?
We're talking about Waikiki, Diamond Head, Ala Moana, Black Point, and Portlock. Ewa and Makaha are on the west side of the island, they still catch the summer swells.
If you want to learn how to surf, don't be shy, take a lesson! It will save you time, frustration and it's safer than trying to learn on your own. Roy is a surf instructor, give him a call!
RV's Ocean is located at 3348 Cambell Avenue in Kapahulu. They're open from 11 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily. Call 732-7137 to schedule a lesson of for driving directions.
I read an article in the newspaper a few months back about mistakes people make on job interviews. It struck me that many of these mistakes might also apply to realtors when meeting with homeowners for listings presentations. Here are some mistakes (modified for real estate).
- Don't Prepare - Not being able to answer questions such as: How many homes have sold in this neighborhood this year? What's the median sale price? Days on market?
- Dress Inappropriately - Well, I'm in Hawaii and things are a bit different here. Aloha shirts and shorts are the norm. I think we might be concerned with OVERdressing as well as UNDERdressing. For men, don't wear a three piece suit if the seller is wearing a t-shirt and rubber slippers. And don't wear a t-shirt with holes in it. For women, it seems that skirts at least to the knees or pants are appropriate in the islands.
- Poor Communication Skills - Positively connect with the seller. Shake hands, make eye contact and show confidence without being an arrogant know-it-all.
- Too Much Communication - Turn off your cell phone or leave it in the car, unless you're expecting a REALLY urgent message. Don't make the seller feel like a nobody.
- Talking Too Much - Answer questions concisely, don't be a "Portagee" and ramble on for days.
- Talking Too Little - Being short and giving "Yes" and "No" answers will not convince the seller you have the communication skills needed to sell their home.
- Avoid Fuzzy Facts - Make sure you're accurate when you give out information. If you don't know, tell the person you'd like to check. Be sure that the info you provide is accurate.
- Giving The Wrong Answer - Listen to the seller's question carefully and make sure you answer it, instead of answering another question that wasn't asked.
- Badmouthing Others - Saying bad things about other homeowners, buyers and real estate agents does not make you look better. Be nice and show Aloha!
- Forgetting To Follow Up - Take notes and follow up on the items you talked about. If not, the seller will respond to the other realtor who did the follow up.
It's summer time! Buying season is here and interest rates are back below 5% - let's sell some homes!
On June 30th 2009, Iolani School announced that it purchase a large parcel of leasehold land owned by Lum Yip Kee Ltd. and Lum Chang Tai Inc. The price - $23 million dollars.
The highlighted area below shows the property purchased by Iolani School. Map courtesy of Google Maps.
The land consists of approxmately 21 properties situated on a block of land in a prime area of Honolulu. It's bordered by Date and Laau Streets, near the Ala Wai Golf Course and Kapiolani Blvd. Nearby neighborhoods include Waikiki, Kaimuki and Kapahulu.
The purchase includes a private road (Laau Street), four vacant lots, two individually-owned apartment buildings and nine coop buildings - Iolani Banyan, Lani Home, Laau Gardens, Iolani Gardens, Princess Anne Apartments, Canal House, Hale Laau, Hale Laau II, and Diana Apartments.
The lessors are selling the property in fee simple and are not offering the fee to current lessees. Many of the lessees are owner occupants.
Leases expire in early December, 2012. That leaves three years and several months for current lessees to use their properties or sell them. Iolani School has indicated that it will convert the area to other uses in a gradual manner. This may mean that occupants will have a chance to extend their leases under the new lessor.
Obviously, many lessees were hoping to see the fee offered on the units they purchased. It's not clear whether the purchase complies with section 514-C2 of Hawaii State Law.
§514C-2 Right of first refusal. When the leased fee interest in land under a condominium project or cooperative project or any part thereof is to be sold to any party other than the association of owners or the cooperative housing corporation, the seller shall first provide the board of directors of the association of owners or the cooperative housing corporation with written notice delivered or mailed by registered or certified mail, return receipt requested, postage prepaid, to any two of the president, vice-president, or managing agent (if any), of its intent to sell that interest, together with a complete and correct copy of the purchaser's written offer, which offer shall contain the full and complete terms thereof. The association of owners or cooperative housing corporation shall have a right of first refusal to purchase that leased fee interest for the same price as is contained in the written purchase offer. [L 1988, c 298, pt of §1; am L 2008, c 28, §33]
There may be hope yet for lessees on Date and Laau Streets. I imagine some of the lessees are going to start making some noise about getting their first right of refusal to buy these properties. This could be in interesting show! It's a prime area for affordable living in town, close to the beaches and Waikiki. In recent years, lease prices of properties in the area have been in the $20,000 - $50,000 range, making them good investments for owner occupants as well as investors.
This year's liveable city ratings have been published by Monocle Magazine. Honolulu ranks first in the United States! Many Hawaii residents have known it for a long time, it's still nice to hear it from another source though!
The top city worldwide was Zurich, Switzerland. Honolulu is 11th worldwide.
Monocle Magazine noted Honolulu has a "combination of big-city excitement and natural beauty."
Here's a photo of the shoreline along Kahala and into Waialae. Natural beauty is showing every day in Honolulu!
If you're looking for your own piece of paradise in Honolulu or other ares in Hawaii, please contact me!
I received an interesting e-mail yesterday regarding a listing at Waialae Iki. Check it out below. Note - I deleted some of the contact info, just in case the scammers used the phone and e-mail address of an innocent person:
The INTERNATIONAL MONETARY FUND contacted us for your compensation of $850.000.00 USD directed in cash credited to file KTU/9023118308 at the owner of this email address a couple of hours ago due to your allocated security code.
We are unable to complete a transfer directed at an email address, so we require some more information in order to complete this transfer. In order to resolve this problem,please email via Western Union Solicitors Fund verification Department; E-mail (customercare111) As soon as this information is received,and you have complied with the requirements of payment of the western union charges $250USD, payment will be made to your nominated bank account or at the counter directly from The Western Union Transfering Bank.
Sincerely, Rev.John Hillary. Direct Line +xxx-xx189407
So let's see, someone wants to wire the full purchase price of the house, sight unseen, no questions asked? They didn't even sign a purchase contract! Oh, and I see they want me to send $250 so I can collect $850,000.
Why would the International Monetary Fund get involved with a wire transfer? They are busy doing research, lending money to countries in need and gathering statistics. I can't imagine that the IMF would contact someone about a wire transfer that didn't go through.
In a television special on CNBC the other day, reporters visited Nigeria, where many of these scams originate. Rumors are that one scammer made $40 million so far this year through transactions like this, promising money after they get your bank account number. Don't do it!
Disclaimer: ActiveRain Corp. does not necessarily endorse the real estate agents, loan officers and brokers listed on this site. These real estate profiles, blogs and blog entries are provided here as a courtesy to our visitors to help them make an informed decision when buying or selling a house. ActiveRain Corp. takes no responsibility for the content in these profiles, that are written by the members of this community.
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