oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Enchanted Lake - 09/10/07 07:56 PM
Data current Sept 2007
This family neighborhood lies in a mainly flat section of SW Kailua, which consists mostly of homes originally built in the 1960's. With a maze of curving streets all surrounding Kaelepulu Pond, it is located mostly inside the loop formed by Keolu Drive, but also, North of the loop, bounded by Mid-Pacifc Country Club Golf Course to the East, Auwina Street and Place to the North, and Hamakua Drive to the West. Most of the homes are fairly similar, slab construction, single-family ranch, unless renovated. Some homes are on the lake or canals, on which you can take out your kayak and paddle to Kailua … (0 comments)

oahu: About Kailua - 09/10/07 07:42 PM
Kailua No Ka'oi! If you want to live in a place with a small-town feel, with famed white-sand beaches and turquoise waters, there is Kailua and its many quiet family neighborhoods. Kailua is on the Windward side of Oahu, less than 1/2 hour drive from Honolulu and connected to the Honolulu area by three highways (Pali/H-3/Kalanianaole). Many have said that as they leave Honolulu and head toward Kailua, they immediately feel a sense of peacefulness and relaxation. Perhaps, it is the lush, green scenery or the views of Kailua and Kaneohe Bays coming out through the tunnel, but it also could be knowing the friendly and laid-back people … (0 comments)

oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Coconut Grove - 09/08/07 08:17 PM
Data current Sept 2007 - This article has been updated at www.HomeShoppeHawaii.com/neighborhood-kailua/coconut-grove.html
One of Kailua's older neighborhoods, on flat land, with some homes dating to the early 40's, Coconut Grove is the former site of a large coconut grove. It is the most affordable single family home area, with homes starting from around 600 sq ft in size, and about $650K. Lot size is generally between 3,700-7,000 sq ft, with a few much larger exceptions. Prices generally do not go beyond $1M and most are in the $700-900K range. Homes are in various stages of remodel in this eclectic area and streets tend … (0 comments)

oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Country Club Knoll - 09/08/07 08:14 PM
Data Current Sept 2007
This family neighborhood includes the hills and other areas just South of Kailua Beach Park, if you turn right at the end of Kailua Beach Park (instead of turning left, up Alala, to go to Lanikai). Homes are relatively close to Kailua Beach and many have great ocean and/or mountain, or golf course views or frontage on the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai. Most homes there were originally built in the 70s. Homes are mostly in the $1M to $1.3M price range and between 1700-2600 sq ft. Lots are from about 7,500-11,000 sq ft in size.
… (0 comments)

oahu: About Waimanalo - 09/08/07 08:20 AM
Waimanalo is a Windward Oahu community, just 1/2 hour from Honolulu via the Kalanianaole or Pali Highways. It has a picturesque location, between Waimanalo Bay and the Ko'olau Mountain Range. There are some lovely beachfront properties and also, some more affordable homes. The beaches here are fabulous, turquoise waters and white sand. And the Ko'olau Mountain Range is much closer in, almost to the beach, in parts of Waimanalo, making for the most amazing mountain views. As the people who live there say, "'Nalo" is God's country.
Compared to other areas of East Oahu, Waimanalo has a more rural feel and more traditional Hawaiian culture. It … (3 comments)

oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Bluestone - 09/07/07 12:26 PM
Data current as of Sept 2007This gated hilltop neighborhood bridges Lanikai with Enchanted Lake. It lies just North of Keolu Hills, bounded by Mid-Pacific Country Club and the hills above Lanikai. All properties are on Kalelepulu and Kamahele streets, in the "Bluestone" condominium development, built in 1979. Prices are in the $700K to $950 range (1500-2000 sq ft), many with golf course and/or mountain views. Note that single-family residences on Kamahele St. are considered to be in the Enchanted Lake neighborhood, and single-family residences on Kaelepulu St, near the Mid-Pacific Country Club, are considered to be in Lanikai.
(c) 2007, Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn. All rights reserved.
Kailua Real Estate. … (1 comments)

oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Beachside - 09/07/07 12:23 PM
Data current as of Sept 2007
Beachside is one of Kailua's most prolific neighborhoods, with homes beachfront or very close to the beach, on quiet streets and off private lanes. Prices here can start in low 7 figures, usually around $1.5-2M for fixers away from the beach, and range to possibly, $10-15 million. Homes can be mansions, sprawling plantation-style compounds, shabby beach cottages, and anything in-between. Lots vary in size as well, and there are still a few vacant lots available. Beachside is located between the Kailua Bay beaches and the even-numbered side of N. Kalaheo Drive (but not including all of N. Kalaheo). To the … (0 comments)

oahu: Kailua Neighborhood Series: Aikahi Park - 09/07/07 12:19 PM
Data current as of Sept 2007
This neighborhood is in a relatively flat area of Kailua, located on the Northwest side of Mokapu Road, bordered by Kaneohe Bay Drive to the Southwest (except for Ilikaa Place, which is West of K Bay Dr.  ordinarily considered part of Kalaheo Hillside) and Marine Corps Base Hawaii (Kaneohe Bay) to the East. Known for its good public elementary school district, this area has mostly single-family homes built in the 1960's, with a smattering of the later decades. Most are slab construction, ranch style, and square footage is all over the board, mostly from 1,200 to 2,000. … (0 comments)

oahu: Rate of Mortgage Foreclosures Increases Nationally and In Hawaii, But Foreclosures In Hawaii Are Still Very Low in Comparison - 09/07/07 10:19 AM
While it is true that many more homeowners are going into foreclosure now than in recent years, many more homeowners were also given the opportunity to buy that they would not have had. According to the US Census Bureau, home ownership hit an all-time high of 69.2 percent of households in the 4th quarter of 2004 and it remains high at 68.9 for the 4th quarter of 2006. Unfortunately, not all who were given this opportunity were well qualified to buy and were not properly screened within the mortgage industry.  
With all the mixed messages in the media, how does the sub-prime mortgage situation … (0 comments)

oahu: Final Results for Hawaii Public Schools and Federal No Child Left Behind Program - 09/07/07 07:45 AM
After facing federal sanctions for failing to meet adequate yearly progress (AYP) standards in the Federal No child left Behind program, 11 Hawaii public schools have sucessfully appealed their status.
Final No Child Left Behind Results for Hawaii Schools
"Good Standing" 120 schools (42.6 percent)"School Improvement" 50 schools (17.7 percent)"Corrective Action" 18 schools (6.4 percent)"Planning for Restructuring" 46 schools (16.3 percent)"Restructuring" 48 schools (17 percent)
Overall Participation & Proficiency Scores Statewide Were as Follows:
Reading goal (Target 44%) - Hawaii met this goal with 60% of students that met or exceeded proficiency levelsMath goal (Target 28%) - Hawaii also met this goal with … (0 comments)

oahu: Update on Superferry - No Service to Maui (for Now, at Least) & Some Oahu Communities Go Green (for Now, at Least) - 09/06/07 08:28 PM
I am sometimes at a loss to explain what is going on at the top levels of government of the State of Hawaii and the City and County of Honolulu.
First, back in 2003, the City & County of Honolulu announces a great new program for curbside recycling. They delivered cans to our home and everything, and there was lots of press on it starting... what happened? no curbside recycling? There were some problems with the pilot program, which was launched and then immediately cancelled in 2004. Something about legal and permitting issues.  For several years, our blue can has sat … (0 comments)

oahu: Sending Your Children to Hawaii's Private Schools - Hawaii Business Magazine - 09/06/07 07:04 PM
If you are interested in sending your children to private school in Hawaii, you should pick up a copy of this month's (September 2007) Hawaii Business magazine. It has an entire special promotional section, 48 pages, devoted to being "The Hawaii Guide to Private Schools."
You might note that this section is presented by the Hawaii Association of Private Schools (HAIS), in conjunction with the Honolulu Advertiser, and only HAIS schools are discussed. Therefore, the list of schools is not all-inclusive.
The contents of the section are:
Choosing The Right School for Your Child Am I Too Late? (Discussed the application deadlines) … (0 comments)

oahu: August Market Data from Honolulu Board of Realtors - 09/06/07 06:26 PM
Median Single Family Home Price for August 2007: $650,000 Up 2.4% from August 2006 (from$635,000) Up 1.9% from July 2007
Median Condo Price for August 2007: $325,000  Up 6.6% from August 2006 (from $310,000) Down 3% from July 2007
Market holding steady. Sales in higher price ranges doing better than those in lower. Inventory increasing slightly, but lower than same time last year.
Still a good time to buy or sell!
(c) 2007,Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn. All rights reserved.Kailua Real Estate. Buy or sell real estate on Oahu. http://www.yvonneahearn.com/
… (0 comments)

oahu: Hawaii Students Scores on SAT Tests Are Mixed, But Overall Are Better Than National Averages - 09/02/07 07:30 AM
According to a recent press release from the Department of Education, Hawaii's Class of 2007 students taking the SAT had higher scores in reading (by 2 points) and writing (by 1 point), but lower scores in mathematics (by 3 points), than last year. National average scores for this year, as compared to last, were lower in reading, writing and math. Reading scores dropped one point, writing dropped three points, and math fell three points nationally.When examined by type of school:
Hawaii's public school students declined in all three subject areas, but not as much in reading and writing as public school students nationally. Hawaii students attending schools with … (0 comments)

oahu: MORE DEVELOPMENT ON NORTH SHORE OF OAHU, HAWAII OPPOSED BY RESIDENTS - 09/01/07 09:35 AM
After a recent public hearing over whether to issue a Special Management Area Use Permit to a proposed new subdivision on Oahu Hawaii's North Shore, many in the community were left feeling that it was a bad idea. The proposed subdivision, to be located in Kawaiola, near Waimea Valley, would include 25 homes, on lots ranging from 7,000-13,00 sq ft.
Planners for the project point out that this density is much lower than that allowed in the area, zoned R-5 and permitting 5,000 sq ft lots, each with one single family home. They also state they are in compliance with all other laws … (0 comments)

oahu: HONOLULU, OAHU, HAWAII IS THE UNITED STATES' 15TH "SMARTEST" LARGE CITY - 08/30/07 09:27 PM
Bizjournals.com recently analyzed United States Government Census Data to determine which US cities were the "Brainiest." The number one result, among large cities --- Seattle, with runner-ups San Francisco and Austin, TX.Not suprisingly, to those who live here, our beloved city of Honolulu, Oahu ranked #15 out of America's 53 Largest Cities. The study ranked the cities' brainpower based upon a formula that analyzed the percentage of people in each city holding high school, bachelor and advanced degrees, and who took college classes, even without attaining degrees. People under the age of 25 were not counted in calculating the percentages of the population with education. In … (0 comments)

oahu: ANOTHER CELEBRITY BUYS IN PARADISE - SEAN PENN ON OAHU HAWAII'S NORTH SHORE - 08/30/07 08:42 PM
The Hawaiian Islands have been longstanding favorite places to live and own vacation retreats with international celebrities. Among those famous faces to live or have lived in Hawaii are Elvis Presley, Richard Chamberlain, Charro, Bette Midler, Oprah Winfrey, Jim Nabors, and John Travolta & Kelly Preston, among many others.
Last month, Hawaii residents on Oahu saw another celebrity purchase in Hawaii. Oscar-winning actor, Sean Penn and his wife Robin Wright Penn, who have two teenaged children, purchased a 1/2 acre lot, on Oahu's North Shore, for $2.6 million. The property, located in the Sunset Beach Colony, was previously owned by retired First Hawaiian Bank CEO Walter … (0 comments)

oahu: BASIC HAWAIIAN WORDS & PHRASES THAT EVERY HAWAII RESIDENT SHOULD KNOW - 08/29/07 11:05 PM
HAWAIIAN GEOGRAPHY & REAL ESTATE TERMSMany of these words are used as (or as parts of) place names, street names, housing developments, etc. Learn these and you will always know where you are going!Aku - directional, away (from me)
Akau - North
Awaawa - valley
'Aina - the earth or land (that feeds)
Ala - road or path, often used in street names, such as "Ala Moana"
Caldera - A geographic feature formed by the collapse of land following a volcanic eruption (actually, not a Hawaiian word, comes from a Spanish word)
Ewa - used as a direction, to the West or Leeward … (15 comments)

oahu: FOLLOW UP: BEST EAST O'AHU NEIGHBORHOODS FOR HISTORIC HOMES - 08/29/07 07:04 PM
These are some of the East Oahu, Hawaii neighborhoods with historic (pre-1930) homes that come to mind, by approximate price. The areas are indicated in the parentheses -- DH -Diamondhead Area, HM - Honolulu Metro, HK - Hawaii Kai, K- Kailua:
$$$$ - Black Point (DH), Diamondhead (DH), Dowsett (HM), Kahala (DH), Lanikai (K), Portlock (HK), Tantalus (HM)
$$$ - Makiki Heights (HM), Manoa (HM), Maunalani (DH), Nuuanu Area (HM), Old Pali (HM), Pacific Heights (HM),
$$ - Kaimuki (DH), Kapahulu (DH), Wilhelmina (DH), Palolo (DH)
$ - Kamehameha Heights (HM), Kapalama (HM), Makiki (HM), Nuuanu Lower (HM), Punchbowl (HM)
… (1 comments)

oahu: BUYING AN OLDER HOME IN EAST OAHU - 08/29/07 11:36 AM
Mainland home buyers are often a bit surprised at the quality and condition of real estate when they come to Hawaii to look for a house. This is particularly true when you are looking at older homes, in the more popular areas of East Oahu (Metropolitan Honolulu, Diamondhead, & Kailua and the older areas in Hawaii Kai), under about $1M or even up to $2M, if within a block or so of the beach or with excellent views.Older homes, when beautifully remodeled, are very desirable and people will pay a premium for them. I love old homes, having lived in San Francisco and Portland, … (3 comments)