hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Banks still Have Aloha - 12/05/08 12:00 PM
An AP article Nov. 25, 2008 explained why Hawaii banks have been profitable and will continue to be, even in these dire economic conditions.  Bank of America and Washington Mutual aren't there any more for one thing.  The 4 dominant banks, which have been doing business in the islands for decades, have followed good banking practices the last few years:  Bank of Hawaii, American Savings Bank, First Hawaiian Bank, and Central Pacific Bank.
These banks have been more conservative, and Hawaii borrowers also have been more cautious, than their mainland counterparts.  The state had a bad real estate slump in the … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai Sales - a Look at the High and Low of the Last 2 Months - 11/16/08 11:57 AM
34 Condos sold in Hawaii Kai the last 2 months, ranging in price from $385,000 to $785,000.  For single family homes, 24 sales closed, from $604,800 to $1,475,000.
Here are the highlights:
Lowest condo sale - Naniwa Gardens, 7th floorThis home is 862 sq ft with a 75 sf  lanai, 1 assigned parking stall.Monthly maintenance fee is $482.List price was $390,000, sale price $385,000.Days on market 84.Naniwa Gardens on Hawaii Kai Drive was built in 1974, and amenitiesinclude exercise room, pool, resident manager, security guard, extra storage, meeting room, and BBQ.
 
 
Highest condo sale - Peninsula at Hawaii Kai … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai July Real Estate Sales Activity - 08/07/08 10:56 AM
The Hawaii Kai real estate market is a little softer than 2007, but not significantly.  Sellers are paying more concessions, but prices are generally holding at earlier levels.
Hawaii Kai Single Family Market
16 homes sold in July, compared to 22 last year.  Median sales price was $820,000 compared to $878,800 in 2007.
Year-to-date, 103 homes have sold, with a median sales price of $868,000, compared to 136 for last year, and $875,000 median price.

Hawaii Kai Condo Market
16 condos sold in July, compared to 23 last year.  Median sales price was $498,000, compared to $509,000 in 2007.
Year-to-date, … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Aiea, HI: 98719 Iho Place, Panoramic Ocean View, $339,000 - 07/17/08 04:23 AM
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hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai Dog Park Finally Open for Business - 07/14/08 01:18 PM
The grand opening of the Hawaii Kai Dog Park June 29 was fantastic!
I was there at 8:00 to set up for opening and left at 10:45, then went back at 12:30 and was amazed at how many people and their dogs were there - and they were all thanking us - they were so happy - it is working!
The story of the creation of the park is a real lesson in community public and private partnerships.  Hawaii Kai dog walk started 4 years ago to raise people's awareness of what we were trying to do and to raise money for the park.  … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai 4th Annual Dog Walk a Woofing Success - 07/11/08 11:47 AM
Sunday, June 22, 2008 was a fun day for lots of folks and their dogs, as you'll see from the photos below.  We raised funds for the newly-created Hawaii Kai Dog Park and Hui 'Ilio Hawaii, the non-profit so instrumental in making the park a reality.
This year we had 350+ walkers and a great variety of dogs and (some of us) had to be there at 5:00 am to start setting up - in the dark!
Photos courtesy of Monica Schwartz, who advises, "Wag More, Bark Less!"
My web site has a page devoted just to pets in Hawaii - be … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Real Estate Sales Report: Hawaii Kai and Oahu, June, 2008 - 07/06/08 03:12 PM
An article in the Honolulu Advertiser today quoted Mike Sklarz, a well-known economist on Oahu.  He said home prices are flattening, following the steep increases of the last few years, creating a stairstep effect.
In the first 6 months of this year, the median price for single-family homes island-wide was $629,000, compared to $645,000 last year in the same period.
For a stark contrast, consider that the median sale price in 2001 was $299,900, and in 2005 $590,000.
Sales on Oahu are down 26% so far this year, and if that continues, the decline will create the lowest level since 1998.
Shouldn't … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai Real Estate Market Activity - 02/15/08 01:51 AM
Real Estate Sales continue strong in Hawaii Kai
Since the first of the year, more properties have gone into escrow than in December, and prices are holding firm.  This reflects both the renewed interest after the holiday season, and the strong real estate market typical of Hawaii Kai, in East Oahu.
 
Here are the stats for the first 2 weeks of February, single family:
Total active listings - 115 from $598,000 - $15,000,00015 under $799,99917 from $800,000 - $999,99917 from $1,000,000 - $1,199,99942 from $1,200,000 - $1,999,99924 over $2,000,000
Total under contract - 31 from $599,999 - $6,795,00012 under $799,9996 from $800,000 - $999,9993 from … (2 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Portlock: Prestigious Waterfront Neighborhood in Hawaii Kai - 09/04/07 10:51 AM
Portlock Road, on the east end of Hawaii Kai, at the east tip of the island of Oahu, has long been known as one of the most exclusive residential areas on the island.  Henry Kaiser, who developed Hawaii Kai, built his multi-acre estate there, overlooking Diamond Head and Maunalua Bay, and many other legendary figures have owned property in this spectacular setting. 
 
The area is named after Captain Nathaniel Portlock, who is remembered for writing the first published description of Pearl Harbor, in his journal, printed in 1789.  The diary related his experiences on a voyage of discovery in command of the … (0 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Admissions Day Aug. 17 - 08/13/07 10:13 AM
The 3rd Friday in August is celebrated as Admissions Day, commemorating the date - August 21 - when Hawaii achieved statehood in 1959. The state became the 50th, and last, state to join the Union. President Eisenhower unfurled the new 50-star flag at the White House ceremony, but the flag did not become official until July 4, 1960.
At the ceremony, Eisenhower was joined by Vice President Nixon, House Speaker Sam Rayburn, Secretary of the Interior Fred Seaton, and Hawaii politicians-elect: Senator-elect Oren Long, and House-member-elect Daniel Inouye, who has represented Hawaii in Congress ever since, and is still one of … (1 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: New Project in Hawaii Kai Under Construction - 08/06/07 12:29 PM
Jim Schmit, architect of 9 unique homes at the base of Kamehame Ridge in Hawaii Kai, found opportunity where others only saw a thin stretch of land on a busy road. He is a modernist, and jumped at the chance to build a different kind of project, with a modern approach. The 2 completed homes look like warehouses from the outside, but inside you can see the blending of modern materials and an island-inspired courtyard and loft. Schmit is facing building challenges, not unusual in our island home. He's had to put in water, sewer, and repave the part of Hawaii … (2 comments)

hawaii kai realtor: Hawaii Kai's Hahaione Valley, Upper and Lower - 05/11/07 12:22 PM
Hahaione Valley
Hahaione Valley, with its beautiful lushly covered mountains, is the first valley when entering Hawaii Kai from downtown Honolulu.  It is divided into Lower Hahaione, consisting of around 320 homes built in the early 1970s, and Upper Hahaione, with 350 plus, including many custom built homes, which were built from the mid 1970s through the 1980s.
Upper Hahaione is at a higher elevation giving the lovely Koko Head and ocean views from houses on the east side, and lush mountain views from those on the west.                                                    
There is a bus route along the roads separating the upper and lower valley, with … (0 comments)