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Relief on the way for owners of older Hawaii homes

November 22, 2014 By Mark G. Howard Leave a Comment

The Hawaii State Historic Preservation Division has come up with a list of home-improvement projects, including solar photovoltaic installations, interior renovations for mid and high-rise buildings and bathroom and kitchen repairs, that have no potential to affect historic properties based on previous reviews and staff judgement.

The new list is aimed at easing the burden of unnecessary reviews on owners of homes built 50 years ago or more across Hawaii, reducing the demands on staff time in county planning departments and decreasing the need for SHPD architecture staff to do unnecessary reviews.

It also will allow SHPD to focus its efforts on the projects that have a real potential to affect historic properties and to engage in proactive preservation activities, the state agency said.

Once the final list is compiled, it will be given to the state agencies with permitting authority and the four county planning offices for implementation.

SHPD has opened a comment period for the new list until Nov. 28. Comments should be sent to Anna Broverman.

The SHPD Architecture Branch spends about 80 percent of its time reviewing permits on homes that are 50 years old or older.

During the last fiscal year that ended June 30, the branch reviewed about 6,000 projects, 3,670 of which were reviewed in accordance with the law.

Most of the projects reviewed involved additions or alterations to homes that range from interior electrical upgrades to demolition.

SHPD said its analysis of these reviews shows that the majority result in a determination of “no historic properties affected.”

Additionally, this analysis indicates that some types of projects always result in a “no historic properties affected” determination.

Other projects on the new list include installation of electrical meters, interior electrical upgrades, demolition of additions and detached structures less than 50 years of age, in-kind repairs of interior and exterior features such as doors, windows, siding, fascia and decking, antenna and satellite dish replacements on existing towers and structures not subject to FCC permits, in-kind repairs to carports and garages and the enclosure of existing rear lanai.

The Building Industry Association of Hawaii and historic preservation officials in the state have not seen eye to eye on this issue.

BIA-Hawaii contends that the 2008 law mandates that SHPD complete a time-consuming review of a potential historic home’s building permit application if a homeowner plans to renovate or rebuild their home.

Duane Shimogawa Reporter – Pacific Business News

Filed Under: Featured Blog, Oahu Communities, Oahu Island Tagged With: oahu real estate in the news

Liliha Neighborhood Profile – About.com

July 30, 2014 By idx guys Leave a Comment

Liliha is the next door neighbor neighborhood to Nuuanu on the western side of Pali Highway. The neighborhood feels far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu but is actually located just ten minutes away. You’ll find very easy access to Pali Highway, Likelike Highway, H1 and H3.

Liliha People

Liliha fits somewhere on socio-economic scale between Nuuanu and Kalihi. You’ll find military personnel who appreciate the easy commute opportunities, young families just buying their first homes and retired kamaaina who have lived in the neighborhood for decades. You’ll find more cultural diversity here than in many other neighborhoods with many first and second generation families from all parts of Asia and the South Pacific. The median household income for the neighborhood is $69,000 (Honolulu city average: $63,000).

Apartments and Real Estate

The average median home value for Nuuanu is $680,000, as compared to the rest of the city’s average home value of $840,000 (average Hawaii state value: $550,000). A quick scan of available rental apartments shows most 1-bedroom units priced at around $1500, with two-bedroom apartments available for under $2,000.

Hospitals

There are a many hospitals within a short distance distance of the neighborhood: The Queen’s Medical Center at 1301 Punchbowl, Straub Emergency Room at 888 S. King St., and close by Kuakini Health System, which has a small emergency room operation at 347 N. Kuakini St.

Libraries

The closest public library is located at 1515 Liliha St.

Otherwise, the main State Library of Hawaii is located at 478 S. King St.

Parks

Nuuanu Pali State Park, a famous overlook and just a short distance from Liliha up the Pali Highway, was an infamous battleground for the fight which occurred between the warriors of King Kamehameha I (who reigned over the Big Island) and Chief Kalanikupule (who oversaw Oahu and Maui). Today, the site remains a favorite of visitors to the island, as the lookout provides a stunning bird’s eye view of the windward side of the island. Parking is free for kamaaina guests with a Hawaii state drivers license. It is always windy, so pack a jacket.

Though not a park, another local favorite is walking or running the Old Pali Road. It’s a scenic detour that parallels Pali Highway for about two miles. The road was originally commissioned in the late 19th century, and functioned as the primary mode of traffic for trips to and from the windward side of the island. While being constructed, skulls and bones from nearly 800 fallen warriors during the Kamehameha and Kalanikupule battle were found.

Nuuanu Valley Park is home to a playground, tennis and basketball courts and plenty of grassy areas to run around on. The official address is 2925 Pali Highway, but access it by turning onto Puiwa Road. Additionally, Liliha Road, when headed toward mauka, eventually intersects with Puunui Community Park.

Schools

Liliha schools are housed within the Roosevelt Complex of the Hawaii School District. There are six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high-school within the Roosevelt boundaries. For the Hawaii State Department of Education School Finder tool, click here. For a full listing of all schools, click here.

Shopping & Restaurants

Liliha is within close proximity to some of the major shopping centers on Oahu, including Ala Moana Shopping Center and Victoria Ward Centers. For small kine errands, check the Nuuanu Shopping Plaza where you’ll find a laundromat and dry cleaners, floral shop, and the requisite sushi joints. Two fan favorite Liliha eateries are located close by: Bangkok Chef and Liliha Bakery.

Other Neighborhood Links

Queen Emma Summer Palace: “Built in 1847, the restored and furnished home of Queen Emma and King Kamehameha IV offers a glimpse into the lifestyle of the Hawaiian monarchy.”

Consular Row: learn more about the consuls in Hawaii, many located along Pali Highway close by. I Love Liliha is an organization that puts on an annual Liliha neighborhood festival in August.

Learn more about living and working in Honolulu. Visiting the islands on vacation? John Fischer has some excellent ideas for you here.

Liliha Area Active MLS Listings

Filed Under: Featured Blog, Oahu Communities, Oahu condos for sale, Yelp

Priceline.com says Oahu second most popular summer beach destination

June 13, 2014 By idx guys Leave a Comment

Tourists crowd Waikiki Beach in this undated file photo. Priceline.com says Oahu is the second most popular beach destination for summer travel this year.

Tourists crowd Waikiki Beach in this undated file photo. Priceline.com says Oahu is the second most popular beach destination for summer travel this year.

Hawaii has made Priceline.com’s list of top summer destinations, with Oahu rated as the second most popular beach destination and the 10th most popular summer destination of all.

Oahu, home to the world famous Waikiki Beach, was second only to San Diego for top beach destinations, while Maui took the No. 6 spot, after such Mainland beach destinations as Myrtle Beach, S.C., Miami and Virginia Beach, Va.

Maui also topped the list of bargain destinations for summer, because of a 10 percent year-over-year decrease in the average daily rate for hotels on the island. A recent report by Hospitality Advisors LLC and STR Inc., however, found that the average daily rate on Maui rose 7.6 percent during the first quarter compared to last year.

Priceline.com (Nasdaq: PCLN) also note that national airfare averages are running about the same as last year, making it more affordable for travelers to book vacations.

“Consumers who shop carefully will find that, for many destinations, summer 2014 is a buyers market for travel, Brian Ek, travel editor for Priceline.com, said in a statement. “This past winter’s ‘polar vortex’ effect kept many would-be travelers at home, and now many destinations are working extra hard with amazing deals to lure spring and summer tourists.”

Janis L. Magin Managing Editor – Pacific Business News

Filed Under: Featured Blog, Oahu Communities, real estate in the news Tagged With: Waikiki in the news

Nuuanu Neighborhood Profile – About.com

April 14, 2014 By idx guys Leave a Comment

nuuanu01Located ever so slightly out of town, Nuuanu feels far removed from the hustle and bustle of downtown Honolulu. The area once housed the summer home for King Kamehameha III. It’s no wonder royalty migrated there during the warm summer months; Nuuanu receives regular precipitation and cool breezes keep temperatures milder than other parts of the island.

The Pali Highway cuts through Nuuanu, providing easy access to the H1, downtown Honolulu (about 10 minutes), and the windward side (less than half an hour). The western side of Pali Highway is home to the few high-rises that exist in the neighborhood, and the eastern side is full of single family units.

Nuuanu streets are lined with churches and embassies, giving insight as to the pace and tone of the neighborhood. Toward dusk, couples and families stroll with their dogs, and at night the loudest noises usually emanate from the crickets or stream. A small shopping plaza, several schools, and a local YMCA make up the rest of the neighborhood.

Current MLS Listings for Nuuanu Neighborhood

Nuuanu People

Residents tend to range from high-income singles to seniors who are living out their golden years. The median household income for the neighborhood is $77,000 (Honolulu city average: $63,000).

Nuuanu Apartments and Real Estate

The average median home value for Nuuanu is $770,000, as compared to the rest of the city’s average home value of $840,000 (average Hawaii state value: $550,000). A quick scan of available rental apartments shows most 1-bedroom units priced at around $1500, with two-bedroom apartments available for under $2,000.

Hospitals

There are a many hospitals within a short distance distance of the neighborhood: The Queen’s Medical Center at 1301 Punchbowl, Straub Emergency Room at 888 S. King St., and right within Nuuanu, Kuakini Health System, which has a small emergency room operation at 347 N. Kuakini St.

Libraries

The closest public library is located at 1515 Liliha St., within walking distance for residents located on the western side of Pali Highway.

Otherwise, the main State Library of Hawaii is located at 478 S. King St.

Parks

Nuuanu Pali State Park was an infamous battleground for the fight which occurred between the warriors of King Kamehameha I (who reigned over the Big Island) and Chief Kalanikupule (who oversaw Oahu and Maui). Today, the site remains a favorite of visitors to the island, as the lookout provides a stunning bird’s eye view of the windward side of the island. Parking is free for kamaaina guests. It is always windy, so pack a jacket.

Though not a park, another local favorite is walking or running the Old Pali Road. It’s a scenic detour that parallels Pali Highway for about two miles. The road was originally comissioned in the late 19th century, and functioned as the primary mode of traffic for trips to and from the windward side of the island. While being constructed, skulls and bones from nearly 800 fallen warriors during the Kamehameha and Kalanikupule battle were found.

Nuuanu Valley Park is home to a playground, tennis and basketball courts, and plenty of grassy areas to run around on. The official address is 2925 Pali Highway, but access it by turning onto Puiwa Road.

Schools

Nuuanu schools are housed within the Roosevelt Complex of the Hawaii School District. There are six elementary schools, two middle schools, and one high-school within the Roosevelt boundaries. For the Hawaii State Department of Education School Finder tool, click here. For a full listing of all schools, click here.

Shopping & Restaurants

Nuuanu is within close proximity to some of the major shopping centers on Oahu, including Ala Moana Shopping Center and Victoria Ward Centers. For small kine errands, check the Nuuanu Shopping Plaza where you’ll find a laundromat and dry cleaners, floral shop, and the requisite sushi joints. Two fan favorite Nuuanu eateries are located close by: Bangkok Chef and Liliha Bakery.

Current MLS Listings for Nuuanu Neighborhood

Filed Under: Featured Blog, NUUANU AREA, NUUANU-LOWER, Oahu Communities

22 Amazing Hidden Gems To Uncover In Hawaii

January 5, 2014 By idx guys Leave a Comment

1. The Surfboard Fence

The Surfboard Fence

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Flickr: kw_traveller

Why It’s Awesome: Donald Dettloff’s surfboard fence started in 1990 when he heard a hurricane was approaching and wired his boards together to keep them from blowing away. Instead of taking it down when the weather had cleared, he decided to keep it up and continue adding boards. Now he has 647 different surfboards, displayed around his property in Haiku, Maui, which earned him a Guinness World Record for the largest collection of surfboards.
Accessibility: The fence is on Kaupakalua Road and can’t be missed.

2. Moiliili Underground Caves

Moiliili Underground Caves

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alohafrom808.com

Why It’s Awesome: The neighborhood of Moiliili, Oahu, sits over cavernous limestone caves, which are said to be dark, cramped, and filled with water. The limestone base was formed from an old coral reef, and rainwater caused it to erode creating caves.
Accessibility: The caves are accessible, but good luck getting anyone to tell you where there’s an entrance. Additionally, the quality of the air and water in the caves is poor and possibly hazardous.

3. Redwood Trail

Redwood Trail

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Flickr: tslaks82

Why It’s Awesome: Over the course of three decades beginning in 1927, the USDA Forest Service planted 130,000 redwood trees across the Hawaiian Islands. The trees were planted to reestablish watershed ruined from logging in the 1800s, and were used before native conservation was prioritized. Even though the trees are not as tall as those in California, their growth in the warm climate, cool mists, and high elevations of the islands is still awe-inspiring.
Accessibility: Redwood Trail is accessed from Maui’s Polipoli Spring State Recreation Area.

4. Sanju Pagoda

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Flickr: jenniferboyer

 

Why It’s Awesome: Built in 1966, the 119-foot pagoda at Honolulu Memorial Park on Oahu is a replica of a temple in Japan. It is said to be the largest pagoda in the U.S.
Accessibility: The pagoda once housed urns, but it is now crumbling and has been closed due to safety concerns, although it can still be viewed from the outside.

5. The Wallaby Colony

The Wallaby Colony

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edenwithin/edenwithin

Why It’s Awesome: In 1916, two brush-tailed rock-wallabies escaped from a private zoo, after being attacked by dogs. The male and female wallaby went into Kalihi Valley, where nature took its course, and now it is believed a community of wallabies lives there.
Accessibility: No one really knows how many wallabies live in Kalihi, since they are very rarely seen, but every few years someone captures one of them on film.

6. Red Hill

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imagesdesavions.com

 

 

imagesdesavions.com 

Why It’s Awesome: Inside Red Hill, and 450 feet underground, runs a train that services 20 massive fuel tanks that were built to be safe from attack during the World War II era. It’s one of Hawaii’s most amazing engineering feats and was placed alongside the Eiffel Tower, Hoover Dam, and Panama Canal as a historic landmark. It is still used by the Navy, and fuel flows directly from the facility through a three-mile tunnel to Pearl Harbor.
Accessibility: It was top secret until the 1990s when it was declassified. After the Sept. 11 attacks, tightened security made Red Hill off limits to the general public.

7. Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden

 

Kapiolani Community College Cactus Garden

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Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Why It’s Awesome: This cactus garden is a labor of love, founded by Moriso Teraoka in 1988, who ordered the plants from catalogs and later donated them to the school on Oahu. Now in his eighties, Teraoka still maintains the garden with the help of volunteers.
Accessibility: The garden is located on Kapiolani Community College’s campus near Diamond Head and is free to view.

8. Koloa Sugar Mill

 

Koloa Sugar Mill

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Flickr: larrymyhre

Why It’s Awesome: Founded in 1835, this sugar mill on Kauai was used during Hawaii’s plantation era, when much of the islands were owned by the five big pineapple and sugar corporations. The mill operated for 161 years before it shut its doors in 1996.
Accessibility: The sugar mill is protected by an enclosed fence, but its rusted shell can still be viewed from afar.

9. Big Island Bees

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Why It’s Awesome: Garnett Puett became famous in New York for his beehive sculptures, which are now included in the Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture Garden in Washington, D.C., before moving to the Big Island to start his bee farm.
Accessibility: Big Island Bees in the Kailua-Kona area includes a free museum on the history of beekeeping and honey tasting.

10. David Hockney’s L’Enfant et les sortilèges

David Hockney's L'Enfant et les sortilèges

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honolulumuseum.org

Why It’s Awesome: The Honolulu Museum of Art’s second location, Spalding House, sits on the hillside of Oahu’s Makiki Heights and overlooks the city. It features a site-specific installation by David Hockney called L’Enfant et les sortilèges with backdrops and props inspired by Maurice Ravel’s children opera of the same name. The immersive space simulates an eerie and magical place from another world.
Accessibility: The museum is easily reached from Honolulu, and admission costs $10 for adults.

11. Pu’u o Mahuka Heiau

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Why It’s Awesome: This heiau is the largest on the island and sits on a hillside overlooking Waimea Bay. It may have been constructed as early as the 1600s, and for the Hawaiians it served as a major focal point for social and political activity. During the late 1700s, when there was great upheaval, it is likely that humans were sacrificed at the temple, possibly for success in war.

Accessibility: The heiau is off of Pupukea Homestead Road and is free to the public during daylight hours.

12. Manoa Chinese Cemetery

Manoa Chinese Cemetery

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Flickr: frigginacky

Why It’s Awesome: This is the oldest and largest Chinese cemetery in the state. At the top of the cemetery is the Tomb of the Unknown Chinese Soldiers, where the remains of seven Chinese soldiers who died during World War II were buried in the 1940s after being shipped to Hawaii by accident.
Accessibility: The cemetery sits on a slope in the back of Manoa Valley, Oahu, which is easily accessed from Manoa Road.

13. The Liljestrand House

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Michelle Broder Van Dyke 

Why It’s Awesome: This house built for Betty and Howard Liljestrand in 1952 on the side of Oahu’s Mount Tantalus was designed by Vladimir Ossipoff, who pioneered Hawaii’s mid-20th-century modern architecture. It is one of Ossipoff’s most spectacular homes, fitting in seamlessly with its unusual rainforest surroundings.
Accessibility: One of the Liljestrand’s children, Bob, hopes the residence will serve to inspire lovers of architecture and design and shows the house on request.

14. Kahumana Farm and Café

Why It’s Awesome: This farm, café, and temple is an organic gem that grows everything from papayas to daikon and is situated in the back of Oahu’s Waianae Valley. They also have an aquaponics garden, where fish poo is used to feed plants.
Accessibility: Visitors are welcome to check out the farm and eat at the café.

15. Kaahumanu Church

Kaahumanu Church

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Flickr: 47983324@N00

Why It’s Awesome: In Wailuku on Maui, this church is an important reminder of Hawaii’s missionary history. It was designed to resemble New England’s gothic architecture and was built with local materials on the grounds of a heiau in 1876. For many years, the clock on the steeple was central to Maui time and was even designated as the official town clock in 1964.
Accessibility: The building is deteriorating, but the church still serves a small congregation, who hope to restore it. Every Sunday, services are held and hymns are sung in Hawaiian.

16. Mu-Ryang-Sa Buddhist Temple

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Why It’s Awesome: The temple’s name, Mu-Ryang-Sa, means “Broken Ridge Temple.” The construction of the first temple began in the 1980s, but the neighbors complained that the roof of the main hall exceeded city and county height limitation. The roof was eventually topped and construction was finally completed after 13 years. The colorful Buddhist temple is built in traditional Korean style with a gate featuring the Four Heavenly Kings, a bell tower, and a peace pagoda.

Accessibility: The temple sits in the back of Oahu’s Palolo Valley and welcomes visitors.

17. Niihau

Niihau

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Flickr: equiliberate

Why It’s Awesome: The so-called Forbidden Isle is owned by the Robinson family and is home to about 300 native Hawaiians, who live mostly a subsistence lifestyle and speak Hawaiian as their first language. There’s a church, playground, and school, and bicycles are the primary form of transportation. After the attack on Pearl Harbor, a lost Japanese pilot crashed on the island and was captured by locals and eventually killed.
Accessibility: This island can be seen by helicopter tour, but you will not be allowed into the town Puuwai — at least without special permission from the Robinson family.

18. The Vintage Cave

The Vintage Cave

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vintagecave.com

Why It’s Awesome: Headed by 29-year-old chef Chris Kajioka, the restaurant is said to source the most unusual ingredients found on the island as well as have the most spectacular wine cellar. Artworks by Pablo Picasso, Anton Molnar, Zhou Ling, and others valued at more than $1 billion hang from the brick walls of the dimly lit restaurant.
Accessibility: At $295 for a meal and with membership fees starting at $5,000, this is the most expensive and exclusive restaurant on Oahu. If you can afford it, the entrance to the restaurant is in Ala Moana Center mall.

19. Zoe The Golden Zebra

Three Ring Ranch

Three Ring Ranch

Why It’s Awesome: Zoe is a rare golden zebra with gold stripes, blonde hair, and blues eyes. She is not an albino, but her golden color is caused from amelanosis, which is characterized by a lack of pigmentation. The golden zebras are not known to survive in the wild, because they are targeted by predators for looking different, and Zoe is the only known golden zebra in captivity.

Accessibility: Zoe lives at the Three Ring Ranch Exotic Sanctuary on the Big Island, which does educational tours by appointment for small groups of six or more.

20. East-West Center

East-West Center

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Flickr: eastwestcenter

Why It’s Awesome: Designed by Architect I.M. Pei, this building on the University of Hawaii Manoa’s campus was designated by the U.S. Congress in 1960 for education and research related to strengthening relations with the Asia-Pacific region. President Barack Obama’s mother Ann Dunham studied at the East-West Center beginning in 1973, and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton spoke here in 2010. It’s open design is stunning and features a tranquil zen garden in the back.
Accessibility:The East-West Center has an art gallery with changing exhibitions that welcomes visitors.

21. The Corsair Airplane Wreck

Flickr: maynard

 

Flickr: maynard

Why It’s Awesome: This plane has been underwater since 1946, when the pilot ditched it after engine problems during an exercise. The plane lies on the sandy floor about 100 feet deep, where it is guarded by eels and rays, and is still in good condition with the propeller standing tall and the cockpit seat still intact.

Accessibility: If you scuba dive, the wreck is accessible from Oahu’s Portlock.

22. Manoa Cliff Native Forest Restoration Project

Manoa Cliff Native Forest Restoration Project

View this image ›

Michelle Broder Van Dyke

Why It’s Awesome: A lot of plants that are common in Hawaii, like the plumeria and bird of paradise, are not native to the islands. The Manoa Cliff Restoration Project received a grant from the state in 2005 to promote native plant growth across a six-acre area that has been fenced off to keep wild pigs from destroying the land.
Accessibility: The conservation area can be accessed by a short hike. The group meets every Sunday to work on the area, and volunteers are welcomed.

Filed Under: Featured Blog, Oahu Communities

Condo Mania! – Jun 03, 2013 (The Honolulu Star-Advertiser – McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX

June 6, 2013 By idx guys Leave a Comment

makikiLanikea. Hokua. Ko’olani. Capitol Place. Keola La’i. Moana Pacific. The Watermark. Allure Waikiki. Pacifica Honolulu. Holomua.

These condominium towers in Honolulu were the product of the last real estate market boom, which prompted developers to build close to 4,000 new units in more than a dozen towers that also included The Pinnacle, 909 Kapiolani and 215 N. King.

So is it shocking that developers are now planning to push out an even bigger number of high-rise homes — almost 5,000, including 1,000 rental units — in Oahu’s urban core?

To some observers it’s hard to imagine demand meeting such a supply.

But developers, along with a local economist and a real estate market analyst, contend that all the projects planned to date won’t produce a glut.

“It’s not a question of will there be enough buyers,” said economist Paul Brewbaker of Honolulu-based TZ Economics. “The problem is, will there be enough condos?”

Local real estate market analyst Ricky Cassiday said there may be two or three more towers in addition to what’s already been announced that conceivably could succeed in the market.

“We’re at this amazing moment in the cycle where everything is perfect,” he said.

Brewbaker and Cassiday say factors supporting a new boom in Honolulu high-rise housing development include record tourism that translates to lots of visiting prospective second-home buyers, a dearth of home construction in recent years, a strengthening economy and low interest rates.

Cassiday said 5,000 units sounds like a lot, but in his view there is enough diversification among the projects in terms of timing, pricing and occupancy (owning versus renting) to satisfy demand.

Relatively little current home construction in Oahu’s suburbs and the promise of the city’s planned rail line running near several of the announced tower projects are other factors that lead Cassiday to conclude that this building wave of new high-rise housing in Honolulu will be bigger than the last one.

Developers cite the response from buyers to the first three tower projects to hit this upward market cycle: Waihonua at Kewalo, One Ala Moana and 801 South St.

The first was Waihonua, a tower on Queen Street at the base of Pensacola Street that local developer Alexander & Baldwin Inc. started selling and building toward the end of last year.

A&B recently reported that 321 of the tower’s 341 units, which are priced between $375,000 and $1.9 million, were sold as of May 8, including 302 binding contracts that generated $33 million in nonrefundable deposits for A&B. Waihonua is slated to be completed by March 2015.

The second project was One Ala Moana, a 210-unit luxury tower atop the Nordstrom store parking garage at Ala Moana Center where units are priced from $583,000 to $9 million.

About 400 prospective buyers lined up in December for half those units made available publicly, while much of the other half was sold in Japan. All units sold, and construction began earlier this year on the project by local development firms MacNaughton Group and Kobayashi Group in partnership with Howard Hughes Corp.

At 801 South, buyers snapped up all 635 units priced between $253,200 and $501,300 in March, leaving about 300 lottery entrants empty-handed. Demolition began recently to prepare the site for construction of the project led by local affordable housing developer Marshall Hung.

Perhaps not surprisingly, A&B, MacNaughton/Kobayashi and Hung produced the initial towers during the last market upswing — Lanikea in Waikiki, Hokua in Kakaako and 215 N. King near Chinatown, respectively.

The next condo tower expected to launch sales is Symphony Honolulu, a 388-unit project on the mauka-Ewa corner of Ward Avenue and Kapiolani Boulevard, this summer.

After that, competition will become tighter with five more towers, all of which recently applied for permits from the state agency governing development in Kakaako, the Hawaii Community Development Authority.

Hughes Corp., the Texas-based owner of Ward Centers, plans three of the five with 900 units at its Ward property. Prices and names for the towers have yet to be specified, though one tower will be moderately priced to satisfy HCDA rules.

A&B plans one tower at the former site of a CompUSA store at the corner of South Street and Ala Moana Boulevard. This project with 466 units that include some townhomes is named The Collection. Unit prices range from the high $300,000s to the mid-$700,000s.

California-based Developer Franco Mola plans the fifth tower, just Diamond Head of Imperial Plaza on Waimanu Street near Cooke Street. This project, called 803 Waimanu, features 217 units priced from $249,000 to $586,000.

A sixth condo tower is planned on the outer edge of Waikiki on the Central YMCA property. This project, called Aloha Kai, is slated for 128 units and is seeking a zoning change from the city.

Also added to the whole condo mix are two rental towers. One, called Halekauwila Place, with 204 units, is under construction by local developer Stanford Carr. The other, called 690 Pohukaina, slated for 804 units, is planned by Ohio-based Forest City Enterprises Inc., which is negotiating with HCDA on a development agreement to build the project on state land.

“There’s a tremendous amount of demand for new housing,” said Ann Bouslog, longtime isle housing market analyst who recently joined Forest City as its development manager.

Cassiday predicts that the optimal window for delivering new residential high-rise projects in Honolulu is 2015 to 2017. Given that construction takes two years for a typical tower, that means starting within the next two years.

Brewbaker recently told a local business group that included a panel of developers that they will wish they had produced a new residential building before 2018.

As often happens, there may be more than one project that misses the upswing and either doesn’t get off the ground or gets caught in mid-development when demand disappears.

During the last boom there were at least seven towers with about 1,800 units announced that didn’t get developed. They included 1723 Kalakaua, which opened a sales office in 2008, another one nearby and a tower called Ko’olua next to Ko’olani in Kakaako.

Because lenders generally require developers to presell a substantial number of units before construction may start, a lack of demand can naturally limit how many planned projects break ground.

Permitting can also be a challenge. A&B pursued three towers in Kakaako Makai next to Kakaako Waterfront Park during the last boom, but that plan was derailed by public opposition and the Legislature.

Two projects that were under construction at the tail end of the last boom, Moana Vista and Allure Waikiki, failed and were taken over by lenders and then later revived by new developers. In Moana Vista’s case the tower became Pacifica Honolulu and was finished by San Diego-based Oliver McMillan, which is developing Symphony Honolulu with partner JN Automotive.

___ (c)2013 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at
www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by MCT Information Services

Filed Under: Featured Blog, Honolulu, New Condos for sale, New Homes, Oahu Communities, Oahu condos for sale Tagged With: new condo construction, new construction

Honolulu Oahu July Listing Update – Newsletter

July 28, 2012 By idx guys Leave a Comment

HAR Banner w Logo

Issue #07
July 2012
Aloha Mark Howard, 

Hawaiian Americana Realty, Inc is continuing to offer our ‘Buyers First 30% Commission Rebate’ – or 30% of our commission is paid back to you, at closing.  

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High-Rise Highlight – ISLAND COLONY
From the moment you enter the soothing rock wall lobby of this Waikiki Condo / hotel, you’ll feel your worries melt away.
Island Colony 445 Seadside Ave 96815 Front

    Key features of this Honolulu Condo/ hotel include island inspired décor, access to spas, and vacation conveniences such as kitchenette rooms, 24-hour guest service agents and an activity desk to plan your Oahu vacation activities.
Current ISLAND COLONY Inventory
   All that combined with the central location steps from Waikiki Beach and top notch island shopping, dining and entertainment, make Island Colony Waikiki one of the best deals on Oahu and in Waikiki.

As of 7/19/2012 available units are priced between

$145,000 and $340,000
– 17 Units have Sold in the past six month
–

Waikiki Properties Under $200k – Fee Simple & LH 
2425 Kuhio Ave #708 – BAMBOO WAIKIKI

Price: $189,000 FS   |   1 Bathroom, 340 Sq.Ft.

Bamboo Waikiki CURRENTLY IN HOTEL POOL WITH RENTAL OF $1300 PER MONTH. A CLASSY BOUTIQUE HOTEL IN THE HEART OF WAIKIKI, A FAVORITE AMONG LOCALS AND VISITORS. CONSISTENTLY VOTED THE TOP TEN BEST BUSINESS HOTEL IN TRIP ADVISOR. TASTEFULLY RENOVATED WITH HIGH-END APPLIANCES AND FURNISHINGS. EXCELLENT MANAGEMENT, FRIENDLY 24-HOUR STAFF, CONCIERGE. CENTRALLY LOCATED NEAR ATTRACTIONS. 

 Click here for Full Details
If you are interested in those active listings, our company may represent you as the buyer’s agent. If the active listing you are interested in is our company’s active listing, you may speak to one of our agents regarding your options for representation. Listing courtesy of Primary Properties, Inc 
More Waikiki Area Condos Under $200,000

June 2012 Residential Resale Statistics
 

‘The median price paid for island properties in June was $620,000 for single-family homes, an increase of 10.2 percent’

 

During June, sales of 279 single-family homes and 342 condominiums were reported through the Board’s MLS; single-family home sales experienced a 12.5 percent increase while condominium sales decreased by 3.4 percent from June 2011. The median price paid for island properties in June was $620,000 for single-family homes and $297,000 for condominiums, an increase of 10.2 percent and a decrease of 1.3 percent respectively, compared to the same month last year. …»

JUST LISTED – Aqua Palms at Waikiki

1850 Ala Moana Blvd 1201

TOP FLOOR PENTHOUSE LEVEL & 2ND LARGEST UNIT IN THE POPULAR AQUA PALMS. GREAT INVESTMENT OR OWN VACATION USE. DIAMOND HEAD & OCEAN VIEWS – WALK TO BEACH, ALA MOANA SHOPPING CENTER, RESTAURANTS.
Penthouse at Aqua Palms Waikiki - TOP FLOOR
One Bedroom, One Bathroom – 751 Sq.Ft
$380,000 (fs) ShortSale
More 1850 Ala Moana Blvd – #1201 Property Details Here

 Featured Blog Articles 
State offering new buyers help with down payments

For a family of three or more, the annual gross income limit is $114,240 on Oahu, $106,400 on Maui, …»

10 Best Places for Second Homes

One of the first master-planned resort communities in the nation, it’s a balanced blend of understated .…»

JUST LISTED – 16th floor – 1 bedroom, 1 bath – $244,000 (fs)

High floor one bedroom, one bath with assigned parking. Cool side of the building with mountain & city views.…»

JUST SOLD – Buyer moved in with $1,000 down payment

JUST SOLD – Makalae at Sea County – Buyer moved in with $1,000 down payment…»

 

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HAWAIIAN AMERICANA REALTY, INC.
RB20384 / RB20383 

1888 Kalakaua Ave. C312
Honolulu, HI  96815
www.HawaiiAmericana.com
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Filed Under: Featured Blog, Oahu Communities, Oahu real estate for sale Tagged With: newsletter

Community Highlight – MILILANI

April 20, 2012 By idx guys Leave a Comment

Mil_002Mililani sits on former plantation fields owned by Castle & Cooke, which began planning for its development in the early 1960s under its Oceanic Properties subsidiary. Castle & Cooke’s plan was to make Mililani Town a satellite city by using a prestigious group of planners and architects to satisfy Oahu’s great pent-up demand for housing with a sensitively designed, affordable new community of a type unique in Hawaii. Architect and developer Al Boeke, who would later create the planned community of Sea Ranch, California, was the development director of Mililani.[3] The first homes in Mililani went on sale on June 3, 1968.

In 1976, the Interstate H-2 opened, cutting travel time from Mililani to Honolulu in half.

In 1986, Mililani was named an All-America City. It is the only community in Hawaii ever to receive this distinction.

Mililani is the third wealthiest zip code (96789) in the state of Hawaii, according to the 2006 ranking by Pacific Business News.

Mililani_Condos $100k – $250k
Mililani_Condos $251k – $500k
Mililani_Mauka_Family_Homes
Mililani_Mauka_Condo_Townhome
Mililani_Single Family Residential_$400k – $600k
Mililani_Single Family Residential_$600k – $800k

Although it is largely a bedroom community for Honolulu, Mililani has its own commercial shopping centers, schools (such as Mililani High School), parks, community centers, and a golf course, and resembles a modern American suburban town. Mililani homeowners must pay dues to the Mililani Town Association, which enforces covenants and design standards, and provides recreational facilities including several pools.

Condo and Single Family Properties

Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $0 – $100,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $100,000 – $200,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $200,000 – $300,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $300,000 – $400,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $400,000 – $500,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $500,000 – $750,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $750,000 – $1,000,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $1,000,000 – $1,250,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $1,250,000 – $1,500,000
Condo and Single Family Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $1,500,000 – $1,750,000

Lots and Land Properties

Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $0 – $100,000
Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $100,000 – $200,000
Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $200,000 – $300,000
Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $300,000 – $400,000
Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $400,000 – $500,000
Lots and Land Properties for Sale in Mililani Between $500,000 – $750,000

“Don’t forget about our special Buyer Rebate Program that we offer – which is 30% of our commission is paid back to you the Buyer, as a rebate – in other words if you purchase a property for $500,000 you would receive $4,500.00 back to use for your closing costs, new carpet or paint, furniture or anything you like even cash if your lender approves”

HawaiiAmericana.com | HawaiiAmericanaBlog.com | ShopMauiRealEstate.com

Hawaiian Americana Realty, Inc | Mark Howard – Owner/ Broker/Founder – RB 20384
1888 Kalakaua Ave., C312
Honolulu, HI 96815
Phone 808-791-2923

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© 2014 - Hawaii Americana Realty. All Rights Reserved. Hawaii Americana Realty fully supports the principles of the Fair Housing Act and the Equal Opportunity Act. Each office is independently owned and operated. Subject to change without notice. While the information on this site is deemed to be accurate, Hawaii Americana Realty. does not guarantee its accuracy, and provides this information without warranties of any kind, either expressed or implied. Hawaiian Americana Realty, Inc. 134 Kapahulu Ave., CUB, Honolulu, HI 96815 * by appointment only * RB20383 / RB20384