Hawaii Real Estate Resource

I posted information on how to dress up your Excel charts way back in June 2007 and I am still getting comments on it.  Today, Margaret Woda suggested I repost for those who missed it.  Rather than repost, I'm providing a link to the original HERE (http://activerain.com/blogsview/126829/Advanced-formatting-to-dress-up-Excel-charts).  The before and after looks are shown below.

Before...

...and after

Aloha!

 Search Kauai/Big Island | Search Maui | Email | About Me | Visit Website | Phone/Text (808) 651-4550

 Engineering Hawaii Dreams Today--Helping Buyers Find Dream Homes & Sellers Find Buyers

Visit www.KauaiRocks.com for Hawaii real estate information 

Wow, Gloria Estefan was in Hawaii and performed in Honolulu at the Blaisdell Arena Saturday evening!  There are few opportunities for shows and concerts in Hawaii which only added to the excitement of this event!  I was fortunate to get 2 tickets in front of the stage just 9 rows back and I enjoyed it immensely. 

Gloria & The Miami Sound Machine performed for about 2 hours with no break then returned for a double-encore at the "demand" of the thrilled audience.  Overall, it lasted over 2 1/2 hours.  Gloria's teenage daughter was introduced and she proceeded to play some hair-straightening acid rock on the electric guitar and after that, went to town on the drums.  She is VERY talented for such a youngster and it's only my gray hair that caused me to cringe a little at the sounds coming from the guitar. Gloria was gifted more leis than she could manage and she is the one who made a joke of being "lei'd" in Hawaii.

The picture below is the best I could get using my cell phone cam but it captures the essence of the performers.

What a performance and one I will remember forever!

Aloha!

 Search Kauai/Big Island | Search Maui | Email | About Me | Visit Website | Phone/Text (808) 651-4550

 Engineering Hawaii Dreams Today--Helping Buyers Find Dream Homes & Sellers Find Buyers

Visit www.KauaiRocks.com for Hawaii real estate information

Year-end sales statistics from the Kauai & Maui multiple list systems have been released completing the picture for all of 2008.  2008 was a year for buyrs who got some really good deals compared to years past.  Sellers are clearly hoping for an improved 2009.  I'll continue to monitor and report as 2009 statistics are released by the separate Kauai & Maui multiple list systems.

Data is presented in the tables below.  Median sales prices on the two islands were similar in 2008 except for vacant land which jumped substantially on Maui while slumping on Kauai.  The number of sales on Maui are substantially higher (except for vacant land) and exceeds what one would expect solely on the population ratio of 2.2 to 1.  Prices on the two islands continue to hold up fairly well (and in some cases are up) although the number of sales have taken a big hit.

Keep in mind that the data is as reported by agents and reflects what has sold, not the change in value of an individual property.  Data is deemed reliable but is not guaranteed and should not be relied on for buying or selling decisions.

Median Sales Price (Full Year 2008)

Number of Sales (Full Year 2008) 

Aloha!

 Search Kauai/Big Island | Search Maui | Email | About Me | Visit Website | Phone/Text (808) 651-4550

 Engineering Hawaii Dreams Today--Helping Buyers Find Dream Homes & Sellers Find Buyers

Visit www.KauaiRocks.com for Hawaii real estate information

One of my favorite things to do on Maui (when I'm not at the beach) is to hike into Haleakala Crater.  While getting up at 3 AM to see the sunrise at the top of the crater is a favorite of tourists, few actually venture down inside which is where the real beauty lies.  I do this often and frequently stay overnight in 1 of 3 cabins reserved through the National Park Service.  Here is a short pictorial overview to motivate those who haven't yet been inside.  I suggest you add this to your "bucket list".

 Looking down inside Haleakala Crater.  So pretty that this one deserves a larger size.  It's a real photo, not an artist's depiction.

 Sunrise from the summit

 Trails keep you from getting lost and it protects what limited vegetation survives the climate.

 Cabin at the foot of the crater walls.  Sleeping bunks for 12 plus wood heating stove and cookware.  Reserve through the National Park Service for 1 night max.  Yes, it's chilly at the 1 mile altitude.

 This pair of Nene were always hanging out in front of the cabin until my last trip when there was only one. Very sad since they mate for life.

 Silversword is only found in Haleakala.  Here it's flowering which it only does once before it dies

. This Silversword isn't flowering yet which is a good thing because once it does, it dies.

Come visit Maui and make sure to bring some warm clothing and hiking shoes!  Aloha!

Search Kauai/Big Island | Search Maui | Email | About Me | Visit Website| Phone/Text (808) 651-4550   

  Engineering Hawaii Dreams Today--Helping Buyers Find Dream Homes & Sellers Find Buyers

Visit www.KauaiRocks.com for Hawaii real estate information 

Overall Kauai real estate inventory continues to trend downward which could be a sign of good things to come in 2009.  While it's still a bit early to declare this a trend, it is nevertheless encouraging after enduring a relentless climb that began 2 1/2 years ago.

Unfortunately our resort area of Poipu is not yet improving as mainland buyers continue to stay away.  Poipu has a large inventory of vacation condos which will only begin to sell once our mainland buyers return.  Long term, Poipu's future would seem to be bright as it's within a Vacation Destination Area and thus not affected by Kauai's new restrictions on vacation rentals. 

Aloha! 

Search Kauai/Big Island | Search Maui | Email | About Me | Visit Website| Phone/Text    (808) 651-4550   

  Engineering Hawaii Dreams Today--Helping Buyers Find Dream Homes & Sellers Find Buyers

Visit www.KauaiRocks.com for Hawaii real estate information 

[Information herein is based on 3rd party reports that are deemed reliable but content is not guaranteed]