Kiahuna Golf Club, now over thirty years  and home to Joes on the Green eatery is planning to have a large renovation project which should include member facilities such as showers and locker rooms, meeting rooms  and Joes is expected to have new kitchen facilities. A second level is on the cards along with a new charter membership. The plans have yet to go through the often lengthy permit process and final approval. The club is anticipating opening it list to its first charter members in late 2009.

The shops at Koloa Town is a newly approved 12 building commercial center for Koloa. To be situated on an eight acre site on the corner Maluhia and Koloa Rd adjacent to the Post Office. The Post Office will be moving to its new home in the center and a supermarket will be taking its place. Some sections of the community have been protesting for the past month about the removal of 12 monkey pod trees and there are concerns about traffic congestion. Meanwhile others are pleased about the upcoming development and the added services it will provide for local residents and visitor. The plans are to include a 76,200 square foot shopping and office complex.

 

As 2007 closes and 2008 begins, I took a few minutes this week to look back historically at sales for the area of Kauai that is close to where I live and work.  I would like to share the data with you, this information was provided by the Hawaii Information Service.  

 It has been a fast pasted and exciting 2007 and the coming year is looking like it will be just as busy with interest rate competitive, lots of inventory to choose from.  Plus ,we were seeing prices not to dissimilar to that of   three years ago and of course the tropical splendor of this very special part of the world is still as spectacular as  always.

Koloa Median Sales 1998 -2007

Month	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Dec
Jan	$276,500.00	$225,000.00	$291,500.00	$206,000.00	$663,750.00	$422,500.00	$347,500.00	$   425,000.00	$   512,250.00	$799,000.00
Feb	$245,000.00	$205,000.00	$342,500.00	$200,000.00	$196,000.00	$289,000.00	$482,000.00	$1,085,000.00	$   649,500.00	$560,000.00
Mar	$244,000.00	$268,500.00	$425,000.00	$369,000.00	$425,000.00	$369,000.00	$494,500.00	$   690,000.00	$   957,500.00	$669,500.00
Apr	$             -	$298,000.00	$307,500.00	$436,000.00	$307,500.00	$436,000.00	$475,000.00	$   712,500.00	$   992,500.00	$730,000.00
May	$220,000.00	$275,000.00	$310,000.00	$365,000.00	$310,000.00	$365,000.00	$565,000.00	$   727,500.00	$   725,000.00	$630,000.00
Jun	$153,650.00	$390,000.00	$475,000.00	$352,500.00	$475,000.00	$352,500.00	$565,000.00	$   727,500.00	$   637,500.00	$642,500.00
Jul	$289,500.00	$197,000.00	$195,000.00	$352,500.00	$315,000.00	$424,500.00	$822,000.00	$   842,000.00	$   625,000.00	$722,000.00
Aug	$300,000.00	$475,000.00	$370,000.00	$392,000.00	$245,000.00	$400,000.00	$660,000.00	$1,175,500.00	$1,175,500.00	$480,000.00
Sep	$300,000.00	$277,500.00	$352,000.00	$297,500.00	$365,000.00	$550,000.00	$689,000.00	$   775,000.00	$   749,999.00	$705,000.00
Oct	$329,000.00	$300,000.00	$271,000.00	$298,000.00	$412,000.00	$345,500.00	$690,000.00	$   650,000.00	$   799,500.00	$585,000.00
Nov	$318,750.00	$521,500.00	$390,000.00	$278,000.00	$449,500.00	$407,000.00	$730,000.00	$   723,000.00	$   640,000.00	$605,000.00
Dec	$265,000.00	$284,500.00	$200,000.00	$313,250.00	$375,000.00	$525,000.00	$565,000.00	$   675,000.00	$   612,500.00	$555,000.00

 

 

As 2007 closes and 2008 begins, I took a few minutes this week to look back historically at sales for the area of Kauai that is close to where I live and work.  I would like to share the data with you, this information was provided by the Hawaii Information Service.  

 It has been a fast pasted and exciting 2007 and the coming year is looking like it will be just as busy with interest rate competitive, lots of inventory to choose from.  Plus ,we were seeing prices not to dissimilar to that of   three years ago and of course the tropical splendor of this very special part of the world is still as spectacular as  always.

Koloa Median Sales 1998 -2007

Month	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007
Dec
Jan	$276,500.00	$225,000.00	$291,500.00	$206,000.00	$663,750.00	$422,500.00	$347,500.00	$   425,000.00	$   512,250.00	$799,000.00
Feb	$245,000.00	$205,000.00	$342,500.00	$200,000.00	$196,000.00	$289,000.00	$482,000.00	$1,085,000.00	$   649,500.00	$560,000.00
Mar	$244,000.00	$268,500.00	$425,000.00	$369,000.00	$425,000.00	$369,000.00	$494,500.00	$   690,000.00	$   957,500.00	$669,500.00
Apr	$             -	$298,000.00	$307,500.00	$436,000.00	$307,500.00	$436,000.00	$475,000.00	$   712,500.00	$   992,500.00	$730,000.00
May	$220,000.00	$275,000.00	$310,000.00	$365,000.00	$310,000.00	$365,000.00	$565,000.00	$   727,500.00	$   725,000.00	$630,000.00
Jun	$153,650.00	$390,000.00	$475,000.00	$352,500.00	$475,000.00	$352,500.00	$565,000.00	$   727,500.00	$   637,500.00	$642,500.00
Jul	$289,500.00	$197,000.00	$195,000.00	$352,500.00	$315,000.00	$424,500.00	$822,000.00	$   842,000.00	$   625,000.00	$722,000.00
Aug	$300,000.00	$475,000.00	$370,000.00	$392,000.00	$245,000.00	$400,000.00	$660,000.00	$1,175,500.00	$1,175,500.00	$480,000.00
Sep	$300,000.00	$277,500.00	$352,000.00	$297,500.00	$365,000.00	$550,000.00	$689,000.00	$   775,000.00	$   749,999.00	$705,000.00
Oct	$329,000.00	$300,000.00	$271,000.00	$298,000.00	$412,000.00	$345,500.00	$690,000.00	$   650,000.00	$   799,500.00	$585,000.00
Nov	$318,750.00	$521,500.00	$390,000.00	$278,000.00	$449,500.00	$407,000.00	$730,000.00	$   723,000.00	$   640,000.00	$605,000.00
Dec	$265,000.00	$284,500.00	$200,000.00	$313,250.00	$375,000.00	$525,000.00	$565,000.00	$   675,000.00	$   612,500.00	$555,000.00

 

I am always a little slow on the uptake when it comes to technology but I have just come across this great way to customize my office 2007 calendar, and wanted to share. It is very useful if you travel or need to know the time in different time zones as I do.

This feature allows you to display two time zones on your calendar. No more confusion!

While in the calendar window, click on Tools in the ribbon bar and then Options. By clicking on Calendar options you will find advance options at the bottom of the dialog box. Here you will be able to browse for other time zones, label then adjust them for daylight savings.

When you open your calendar you will see on the left hand side the additional time zone clearly displayed.

Happy customizing!

Brace yourself for a new and exciting Koloa. The first Sugar town of Hawai'i is about to get sweeter! With a new shopping center slatted to arrive across from the historic town and next to the post office. New design will meet yester year's old world plantation charm, offering long-time residents and visitors the extra services and amenities such a special place as Koloa deserves. Embracing change as we all know can sometimes be difficult but somehow I feel sure we will all be taking in are stride. Watch your local press for more exciting information as the project is unveiled.

Global warming is not exactly new news, we are hearing on a regular basis something about global warming and how our uses of fossil fuels has caused greenhouse gases which appears to be contributing to the potentially damaging climate change, we are not immune from what is going on around us in the world here on Kauai. So, I respectively suggest we sit up and pay attention.

We can all reduce our "carbon footprint" If you are not up to speed on the concept of carbon footprints, it is basically a way of gauging the effect a business or person is having on the environment by measuring the amount of carbon dioxide their lifestyle, or business, produces.

 Carbon footprints are notoriously tricky to work out, this doesn't just mean working out how much electricity you use it also means looking at the environmental impact all aspects of business and home life can have.

To reduce carbon footprints start with the three P's power, paper and plastic. Where financial regulations allow see if receiving communications electronically over the internet is feasible. Use materials from a recycled or sustainable resource. Or simply look into the possibility of carbon offsetting.

Carbon Offsetting is usually something companies and people do when they cannot reduce their carbon footprints any further. For instance most businesses and homes require more electricity to run than can be practicably be supplied by renewable energy resources. So to offset the carbon dioxide they are creating by the power they need to use, they plant trees, which as we all know extracts carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

Did you know that manufacturing recycled paper uses 70% less energy and less water? It is also releases fewer pollutants and reduces the amount of waste to be disposed.

But 100% recycled paper can't be recycled indefinitely - the fibre downgrades and eventually can't be used for papermaking. So most recycled papers contain a percentage of new fibre

If you are interested why not check out your carbon footprint  

Carbon Footprint Calculator

 

 

 

In a recent NAR report about home feature preferences 46% of those who surveyed said that their homes efficiency was important to them, along with larger garage space, air conditioning and landscaped yards.

When this group was further segmented by age those over 45 years considered the issue of energy effeciecy very important.

With 50% of all residential electricity consumption being used to heat water on Kauai, (if you don't have solar heating), it may just be worth your while checking to see if you are being as energy efficient as you might be in your home. Kauai Island Utility Cooperative has a Residential Energy Specialist who by appointment will visit your home and make recommendations as to how you can reduce your electricity consumption or use electricity more efficiently. Call the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative at   808-246-8280 to make an appointment.

 

Kauai Business Report, Is one of Kauai's local newspapers circulated monthly packed full of real estate news, realty services and much more. What it does do very well is lists who has bought and sold in the previous month plus a table of who has been awarded a building permit.

 

So if you're interested in knowing about  this kind of information, this is the site for you...

Landscaped Lots 'Very Important' to Buyers

The housing downturn has many builders, real estate agents, and home sellers paying close attention to landscaping as a way to generate buyer interest and boost sales prices.

Research by the NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS® says landscaping is "very important" to almost 20 percent of buyers, and University of Washington-Seattle researcher Kathleen Wolf says landscaped lots sell for about 7 percent more.

The exact amount depends on location, with Palm Beach, Fla.-based real estate agent Nancy Macaluso noting that palm trees and flowers can boost a home's price by 10 percent to 15 percent in comparison to the sales prices of properties without such landscaping.

However, most appraisers and tax assessors do not include landscaping in their valuations; and there are no standards governing how arborists and landscape experts calculate a plant's value.

Still, home owners are shelling out hundreds of dollars for yard appraisals as part of their marketing strategies, and builders are expanding their landscaping budgets.

Experts say sellers would be wise to maintain their yards, as unkempt trees and shrubs can conceal views that have the potential to boost sales prices by tens of thousands of dollars.

Source: Wall Street Journal, June Fletcher (08/17/07)