Outrigger Enterprises Group Announces New Luxury Hotel Brand

The Outrigger Enterprises Group, has announced its new luxury hotel brand called Outrigger Resort, which will only be given 15 of the beachfront properties in their portfolio. David Carey, the president and CEO for Outrigger, commented, "Our goal is to be known as the premier beachfront resort brand in the world. We know beachfront destinations and have the experience to do it better than anyone else. With our brand revitalization, we are creating a solid foundation that will help fuel our future growth and build upon Outrigger's position in the hospitality industry."

Below is a list of the Outrigger properties that will be reclassified as Outrigger Resorts:

1. Outrigger Waikiki Beach Resort, Hawaii 
2. Outrigger Reef Waikiki Beach Resort, Hawaii 
3. Outrigger on the Lagoon, Fiji 
4. Castaway Island, Fiji 
5. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Beach Resort, Thailand 
6. Outrigger Laguna Phuket Resort and Villas, Thailand 
7. Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort and Spa, Thailand 
8. Outrigger Mauritius Resort and Spa 
9. Outrigger Konotta Maldives Resort, opening July 
10. Outrigger Guam Resort
11. Little Hastings Street Resort and Spa, Noosa, Australia
12. Outrigger Surfers Paradise, Australia
13. Outrigger Twin Towns Resort, Australia
14. Hainan Island, China — Outrigger Clearwater Bay Resort, Sanya; announced project
15. Vietnam — Outrigger Vinh Hoi Resort and Spa; announced project

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-30-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Hawaii Visitor Arrivals Decline in August 2014

According to a report issued by the Hawaii Tourism Authority, there were a total of 730,707 visitors who arrived in Hawaii in August 2014, which represented a 1.3 percent decrease from the same month a year prior.  These visitors spent a total of $1.3 billion, or 0.5 percent less than August 2013.  Still, members of the tourism industry remain optimistic that 2014 as a whole will show better numbers than last year.  Mike McCartney, the President and CEO for the Hawaii Tourism Authority noted that he expects to see strong numbers for the month of September, especially thanks to a concert held on Ko Olina which attracted thousands of additional visitors from Japan.  McCartney stated, "We anticipate seeing a boost next month due to the two-day Ara­shi concert that took place on September 18th and 19th. The popular Japa­nese boy band attracted more than 15,000 Japa­nese visitors during the softer shoulder period, which is also expected to generate approximately $20 million in visitor expenditures."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-30-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Stanford Carr To Build Low Income Rental Mid-Rise in Kakaako

Developer Alexander & Baldwin has announced that they will gift a parcel of land located on the corner of Piikoi and Kona Street to developer Stanford Carr for free, in exchange for Carr creating a mid-rise building for low-income residents that would satisfy A&B's requirement for affordable units for their new Waihonua residential tower. Carr's plan would be to build an eleven story building that will tentatively feature 128 units in one-bedroom, two-bedroom and three-bedroom configurations. The project is currently being called Hale Kewalo and is designed for residents earning a maximum of 60 percent of the annual median income in Honolulu, which translates to less than $34,692 for a single person or less than $49,560 for a family of four.  Monthly rents are estimated at about $1,100 for a one-bedroom unit, $1,300 for a two-bedroom unit, and $1,500 for a three-bedroom unit.  The project will remain affordable for at least 30 years, per an agreement with the state.

The land is valued at $4.7 million by the city's property tax assessment office.  Standford Carr stated that the Hale Kewalo project will cost about $50 million to build and construction will start by the end of 2015 provided that his company can arrange for the necessary financing.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-29-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Urban Landowners Unhappy with HART Land Acquisition Team's Communication

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will need to purchase a total of 230 parcels of land along the route from Kapolei to Ala Moana Center to build the Honolulu Rail Project.  So far, HART has managed to purchase 68 properties, primarily in West Oahu, which represents 71 percent of the total area needed.  However, as the project moves closer toward urban Honolulu, a lot of the properties being looked at are owned by either private businesses or individuals, and these landowners are expressing their frustration at the lack of information as to how the Honolulu Rail Project would affect them specifically.

HART had previously stated that one of the main goals of the acquisition team would be to "continue to communicate and educate effectively" the landowners and communities where the rail project would pass through.  However, landowners state that they have been getting conflicting information every few months as to how much land HART will need to acquire, when HART would need it by, and what the compensation amount would be.

Dan Grabauskas, the chief executive officer for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation stated, "If there's been a lack of communication for some folks, we'll step it up. We are doing our utmost to work cooperatively with property owners and to accommodate them whenever possible as we move forward to try to build the project. We realize it's a balancing act because we do need to make sure that we maintain schedule and keep within budget, and those two are sometimes competing interests and we attempt to do our best to walk that line."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-28-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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New Maui Public High School Construction Delayed Until 2020

South Maui has been waiting patiently for years for a new public high school to be built in Kihei, but now, they will be forced to wait even longer as funding issues mean that the school, which was expected to be done in 2016, will be ready for students by 2020.  This is extremely frustrating for residents who noted that currently, more than 700 high-school students living in South Maui are forced to attend schools outside of their community. Baldwin and Maui High Schools, which have taken in the overflow, are significantly overcrowded because of this.  When completed, Kihei High School is expected to eventually serve 1,650 students.

In 2013, the state Legislature approved $130 million to be spent for the project, out of which $30 million would come from state backed bonds and $100 million would come from the Department of Education's State Educational Facilities Improvement fund.  The bonds will became available in July 2014, which was the start of the fiscal year, but the DOE is not willing to release their $100 million to start building Kihei High School. The DOE is arguing that there are a lot of other maintenance and improvement projects across the state that need to be attended to first, before a new school could be built.  Some speculate that the Department of Education will request the state to find a different source for their $100 million, perhaps from general obligation bonds.

Andrew Beerer, who chairs the Kihei High School Action Team subcommittee, stated, "I think what's frustrating for the community is that for six years we were led down a path being told this would be a design-build project and we lobbied the Legislature for this huge amount of money because they said they would need it all upfront. Then, not to play the blame game, but someone changes the dynamic in the 13th hour. Now, there's no real timeline, the financing is uncertain. I'm just like, wow, we're really in no-man's land now. We just have to stay on top of them and make sure that they go out for that $30 million and get it bonded and make sure this remains a priority. They say they're committed to this, but not until they put bulldozers on the land and spend that $30 million will they be committed to finish. If not, we could see this completely fall off the radar."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-27-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Zip Line Proposed at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort

Waikiki Beach Activities Ltd., a beach activities operator, is requesting permission from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to build a zip line at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort.  Under the proposal, the zip line would sail guests over the oceanfront lagoon and would have an estimated ridership of about 250,000 people per year. In their proposal to the DLNR, Waikiki Beach Activities stated, "Due to the growing popularity and demonstrated safety of zip-line activities throughout the Hawaiian Islands, WBA (Hilton) proposes to operate a daytime zip-line experience that would provide the general public with a one-of-a-kind sightseeing experience."

Some Waikiki residents aren't too sure that zip-lining would be a good fit for an urban beachfront resort area.  In response to that, Waikiki Beach Activities admitted that they were in the early stages of exploring the feasibility of the plan and noted that they would like to conduct a test study to provide information about the visual impact, ideal position and resolve any engineering problems prior to designing and developing the actual zip line. Jerry Gibson, area vice president for Hilton Hotels & Resorts, stated, "We want to test to see if it's viable. It would be kind of fun if we can make it work. This is something that could be very exciting."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-26-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Mortgage Lender Starts Selling Units in Ilikai Apt Bldg

In 2009, iStar Financial Inc. acquired four entire floors in the Ilikai Apt Bldg in Waikiki through foreclosure.  With a total of about 178 units in its inventory, iStar Financial has just announced that they will be releasing a total of 59 renovated and furnished units for sale, with prices starting at about $399,000 for a 500 sq ft one bedroom unit and prices starting at about $1 million for a two bedroom unit with 1000 sq ft of interior.  The company's long term plan would be to liquidate their remaining unit inventory as well as finding buyers to purchase their retail, restaurant and commercial spaces that they own in the complex.  Ben Dookchitra, vice president of iStar, stated, "The demand was more than we expected. We've been positively surprised."

The Ilikai was built 1964 and has just over 1,000 units in the building.  Dookchitra stated that approximately 90 percent of the units in the building are rented out as vacation rentals.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-25-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Lava Flow Stalls, But Threat Remains

The lava flow on the Big Island of Hawaii from the Kilauea Volcano has stalled, but scientists are quick to state that the threat is far from over.  Dr. Janet Babb, spokeswoman for the U.S. Geological Survey's Hawaii Volcano Observatory, stated, "What is happening now is just a pahoe­­hoe flow being a pahoe­hoe flow. They will advance and then sometimes slow down or stall. The flow is still active and lava is still being supplied, because we're seeing breakouts above and behind the flow front. That tells us that lava is still being supplied."  A pahoehoe flow is one of two primary types of lava flows on Hawaii and is generally associated with slow moving lava that has a smooth or ropey looking surface.

The lava flow has so far traveled 10.2 miles from its source at Puu Oo crater and is about 1.4 miles from the outskirts of Pahoa town.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-24-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Howard Hughes Applies for Permits to Build Sixth Residential Tower in Kakaako

The Howard Hughes Corp has applied to the Hawaii Community Development Authority to build a sixth residential tower in their Ward Village project in Kakaako.  This 466-unit tower would be located adjacent to the Whole Foods store on Kamakee Street, behind the Ward Entertainment Center theaters.  The Whole Foods is expected be break ground next year and will be completed in 2017.  The tower, if approved, would be completed in 2018.  Under the plan, Whole Foods will have six levels of parking built above it with a total of 1,301 parking stalls.  The residential tower would be 38 stories tall and would also have some retail stores on its ground floor.

There will be several public hearings on the project, with the first one being on November 5, 2014.  Public testimony will be accepted at all three hearings.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-23-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Attracting and Retaining Doctors Becomes Increasingly Difficult

According to the Hawaii Medical Association, the state of Hawaii is having an increasingly difficult time attracting and retain physicians.  While doctors in Hawaii get paid slightly more than the national average, the high cost of living has discouraged them from moving to the islands.  One of the biggest challenges is that Medicare payments do not reflect this cost of living differential. Christopher Flanders, the executive director of HMA, stated, "It shows when you make an adjustment for the cost of living, we're underpaid by about 30 percent. It's a substantial amount, and we've never been able to get a real clear idea as to why that is."

The state of Hawaii is facing a shortage of about 700 doctors and that number is expected to double by 2020. Hilton Raethel, the chief health officer for the Hawaii Medical Service Association, which controls about 65 percent of the state's health insurance market, stated, "Hawaii has excellent doctors and health care facilities. We know that it's important to pay these providers enough to give them incentive to continue providing high quality care to our members. But we also work very hard to keep health insurance affordable so we can make it available to everyone in Hawaii. It's a difficult balance to maintain."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-22-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Waikiki Homeless Move to Fort DeRussy Beach

With the recent ban on sitting and lying on Waikiki sidewalks enacted into law, some of Waikiki's homeless residents have decided to move themselves to Fort DeRussy Beach. which stretches from in front of the Hale Koa Hotel and the Outrigger Reef on the Beech. The Honolulu Police Department is unable to anything about the new homeless campers as Fort DeRussy Beach falls under the jurisdiction of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  The military police, who patrol the grounds of the Hale Koa Hotel, have stated that their jurisdiction ends at the sidewalk. Tom Brower, the state representative for Ala Moana, Waikiki and Kakaako, commented, "Now that the homeless won't be permitted on Wai­kiki sidewalks, it's no surprise that they'll want to be on the beaches,"  Waikiki resident Steve Caplan noted, "What has occurred in just the last few weeks is a massive influx of tents and individual sleepers from the 10 p.m.-to-6 a.m. range because they know they are in a safe zone exempt from HPD control. It's Little Switzerland."

Lisa Mann, the acting commander of the Waikiki police force stated, "It has recently been brought to our attention that the number of campers has grown. HPD has been advised recently that they can't move them because the area is under state jurisdiction and the district attorneys won't prosecute."  Mann added that they could enforce rules prohibiting camping at Fort DeRussy Beach, but the proper signs would have to be posted first. Deborah Ward, the spokeswoman for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, stated, "The department is currently reviewing jurisdiction issues and is not prepared to comment on these questions."

Barry Wallace, the executive vice president of hospitality services for Outrigger Enterprises, commented, "The current level of homelessness is just awful. It's very frightening to our guests and employees. It's unsanitary, unattractive and totally not what people want to see when they come to Hawaii. We supported the sit-lie bill with the idea that it would give police a tool to move people off the streets and connect them with shelters and help. We're even working with a nonprofit to provide more services. I would hate to think that there was one area in Wai­kiki where the rules didn't apply."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-20-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Unemployment Dropped to 4.3 Percent in August 2014

According to a report released by the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate dropped to 4.3 percent in August 2014.  This represented the lowest level in the last six years, and a significant decrease since the same month a year prior when it was 4.8 percent.  As points of comparison, Hawaii reached its highest unemployment rate in July and August of 2009 when it hit 7.1 percent, and the all time lows were from October, November and December 2006 when it was 2.3 percent.

Honolulu County had the lowest unemployment rate at 3.8 percent.  Maui County had the second lowest at 4.2 percent, followed by Kauai County at 4.7 percent.  Hawaii County (Big Island of Hawaii) had the highest unemployment rate at 5.3 percent.  County data is not seasonally adjusted.  The national unemployment rate (seasonally adjusted) was 6.1 percent in August.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-20-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Lava Flow Continues to Advance on Pahoa Town on Big Island of Hawaii

Experts from the U.S. Geological Survey Department have stated that it is likely that part of Pahoa town on the Big Island of Hawaii could be overrun by lava in the next two weeks. While homes and businesses seem to be safe at this point, the greatest concern is what to do if lava overruns Highway 130, which is the main road in and out of the region. County officials are suggesting rebuilding two abandoned dirt roads at the cost of $2 million, but it is unclear when the work would begin and how long it would take for the roads to be ready for traffic. Brian Miya­moto, the spokes­man for the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, stated, "The idea is to make it an all-weather, resilient road. It'll be mostly gravel and other packed materials, not asphalt-type material."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-20-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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New Bill Would Ban Sitting and Lying Down on Sidewalks in 11 Additional Commercial Regions on Oahu

The Honolulu City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee has given their approval on Bill 48, which would ban sitting and lying down on sidewalks in 11 different commercial regions on Oahu.  Under the bill, it would be a misdemeanor or sit or lie down on public sidewalks from 5 a.m. to 11 p.m. every day in "areas zone for commercial and business activities." The bill will go before the entire City Council next month for a final vote, but city attorneys have already commented that the bill will probably be challenged in court.

City Councilwoman Ann Kobayashi has noted that the new Waikiki sit-lie bill is already pushing sidewalk dwellers into other communities like McCully, Moiliili, Ala Moana and Kakaako.  Kobayashi, who supported Bill 48, stated, "I don't like these bills either, but I have to protect the people that live in the district, the businesses that are there. I feel it's my duty as their Council member to include those areas."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-19-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Residents Near Laniakea Beach Build Fence to Block Tourists and Visitors

A total of eight residents living along Pohaku Loa Way near Laniakea Beach on the North Shore of Oahu spent $4,000 to build a 70-foot long wooden fence to block the private road from public use. Within days, vandals cut holes in three sections of the fence, causing the residents to state that they may build a steel rail or rock wall instead.  Dr. Carl Hodel, who organized the collection, stated, "How would you feel to have 1,200 people standing in your driveway every day, and you can't get out of your own driveway?"  Hodel noted that visitors illegally cross through Pohaku Loa Way as the closest and most convenient path to get to Laniakea Beach.

However, the city Department of Planning and Permitting has informed Hodel and the other residents that they have 30 days to remove the fence or face fines, as they did not obtain a building permit or a special management area permit.  Steve Cheung, a city planner, stated, "They have no permit at all. If they don't start to apply for a permit, they have to remove the fence by Oct. 16."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-18-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Honolulu Mayor Signs Sidewalk Bills

Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell has signed into law several bills that would affect the sidewalks of Waikiki and other parts of the island of Oahu.  Bill 42 made it illegal for people to sit or lie on Waikiki sidewalks 24 hours per day.  Bill 43 prohibited people from urinating and defecating in public places in Waikiki.  Bill 46 made it illegal for people to urinate or defecate in public areas in the rest of Oahu.  Offenders who violate these new laws could be fined up to $1,000 and/or up to one month in jail for the petty misdemeanor.

Caldwell noted that he also intends to sign Bill 48 which would ban sitting and lying from 5:00 AM to 11:00 PM in Chinatown, downtown, McCully-Moiliili, Waipahu, Kalihi, and Kailua. Bill 48 still needs to be heard by the City Council's Zoning and Planning Committee and will need a final vote by the full City Council before coming to the Mayor's desk for his signature.

Opponents of the bills argue that they are unconstitutional and immoral.  They believe that the government is criminalizing being homeless and feel that the money spent enforcing these laws would be better served by building more housing and providing more services for those who need it.  Several organizations have stated that they would challenge the constitutionality of these bills in court.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-17-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Electrical Rates Rise on Oahu for September 2014

Accord to a report released by the Hawaiian Electric Company (HECO), Oahu residents will once again be forced to pay more for their electricity in September 2014.  HECO announced that rates increased from 34.9 cents per kilowatt-hour to 35 cents per kilowatt hour.  This was the fourth month of consecutive increase, and many customers are worrying that HECO will continue to raise prices each month for the foreseeable future. Shelee Kimura, HECO's vice president of corporate planning and business development responded by stating, "Our energy environment is changing rapidly, and we must change with it to meet our customers' evolving needs. These plans are about delivering services that our customers value. That means lower costs, better protection of our environment and more options to lower their energy costs, including rooftop solar."

In comparison, customers of Maui paid an average of 37 cents per kilowatt hour.  Big Island of Hawaii customers paid 40.8 cents per kilowatt hour.  Kauai customers paid the most at 41.2 cents per kilowatt hour.  According to the U.S. Energy Information Administration, the national average for electricity for the month of June 2014 was 12.97 cents per kilowatt hour.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-17-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Hawaii One of Four Selected to Submit Formal Bid for Barack Obama Presidential Library

The state of Hawaii in conjunction with the University of Hawaii will be one of four places selected to submit a formal bid for the Barack Obama Presidential Library.  According to the Barack Obama Foundation, there were a total of 13 applications that were received, and the final four are the University of Hawaii, Columbia University in New York, the University of Chicago and the University of Illinois at Chicago.  Each university will submit a formal proposal by December 11, 2014.  In early 2015, the president and first lady will make their final decision with the help of their foundation.

Under the initial Hawaii proposal, the library would sit on an 8-acre parcel in Kakaako makai. The center would feature an interactive museum, visitor center, presidential archives, and a think tank.  Most of the funds to build the center would come from out of state through fundraising by the president's foundation.  Economists estimated that a Hawaii Obama presidential library would generate $556 million in economic activity and create 2,130 new jobs in the construction phase.  The visitor industry added that the center could attract 330,000 visitors annually.

Hawaii officials stated that they would be prepared to host the library in its entirety or would be willing to work with another university if the president decides to have two cites "co-host" the site.  Honolulu Mayor Kirk Caldwell stated, "It's fantastic. I'm so excited.  We have to be part of this, whether we get all of the center or just a part."  Lt. Gov. Shan Tsutsui added, "We understand the realities. We also know that President Clinton is in two states (Arkansas and New York)."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-16-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Rental Apartments Planned for Hawaii Kai

The condominium project previously known as Hale Ali'i and Hale Ka Lae in Hawaii Kai will now be developed as an apartment complex.  Christine Camp, the president and CEO of Avalon, who is representing the developer, stated that the project will now be called 1700 Hawaii Kai and will feature 269 luxury rental units in the midrise project.  Camp noted that 87 percent of all homes in Hawaii Kai are occupied by owners and stated, "We felt what was lacking in Hawaii Kai was rentals for families. That was a compelling market reason to build housing for rent." The two and three bedroom units will rent from between $2,200 to $3,700 per month.

There will also be 54 units in the development that will be reserved for households earning less than 80 percent of the median income in Honolulu or approximately $61,350 for a couple and $76,650 for a family of four.  Rents for these affordable units will be no more than $1,820 for a two-bedroom unit or $2,682 for a three bedroom unit. The project is expected to start by the end of this year and will be completed by the second quarter of 2016.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-16-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Turtle Bay Resort Adds Solar Panels to Roof

Turtle Bay Resort on the North Shore of Oahu has announced that they will be adding about 60,000 sq ft of solar panels to their roof to help bring about energy savings, but will be doing it in such a way that it is artistically pleasing to their guests.  The solar panels will create enough energy for about 8 percent of the resorts' consumption, saving Turtle Bay about $250,000 to $300,000 per year.  Scott McCormack, the vice president of real estate for Replay Resorts and Turtle Bay Resorts, stated, "We want to be leaders in the field in terms of showing other resorts how to become more green. We've been working on a number of energy conservation initiatives because, No. 1, we want to get our bills down and, No. 2, we feel like we have the responsibility to be good stewards of this land."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-15-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Earthquakes at Mauna Loa Have Experts Speculating Eruption Possible

Over the past month, Mauna Loa volcano on the Big Island of Hawaii has had a series of small earthquakes, leaving experts predicting an eruption is possible.  Volcanologists with the University of Hawaii noted that it could still be many more months before anything happens, but the quakes are usually associated with magma moving deep within the earth's crust.  Kevin Dayton, Hawaii County spokes­man, stated that the county is working with the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory to keep track of Mauna Loa.  Dayton stated, "There's no eruption at this time, and we certainly hope there won't be,"

According to the Hawaii Volcano Observatory, Mauna Loa has erupted 33 times since 1843, or about once every five years.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-15-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
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Lava Flow Continues to Slowly Get Closer to Kaohe Homesteads on Big Island of Hawaii

The lava flow on the Big Island has slowed significantly over the last few days, but it is still moving steadily towards the Kaohe Homestead subdivision on the Big Island of Hawaii. According to Hawaii County officials, it is now less than 200 yards away, though due to the nature of the flow it is unclear if and when the lava will reach the subdivision. Residents have not been ordered to evacuate at this time and the danger is not considered to be imminent.

Government officials are also concerned about what to do if the lava flow overruns Highway 130 which is the main access point for the area.  Different contingency plans are being drawn up, but Hawaiian groups are also reminding the state that it would be culturally wrong to attempt to divert of change the flow of lava.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-14-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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City Obtains Lease for Transitional Center at Sand Island

The City and County of Honolulu has obtained a conditional lease from the state Board of Land and Natural Resources to build a transitional center at Sand Island.  The center will provide shelter for up to 100 homeless people at a time and is designed as temporary housing until the homeless could secure more permanent housing.  The city will still have to obtain clearance from the state Department of Health as well obtain an environmental assessment of the location.  City officials restated that they would not proceed with the building of the transitional center if the site is deemed to be hazardous or unsafe.  However, once the site is deemed safe, they hope to be up and running within a few months.

Opponents of the transitional center argue that the city is building a "de facto internment camp", are not providing enough security, and are using an unsafe location.  The Sand Island site may be challenged in court.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-13-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Real Estate Sales Data for Maui for August 2014

Source: Realtors Association of Maui

Single Family Home Sales Data for the Island of Maui
August 2014 - 68 Houses Sold - $570,000 Median Price
August 2013 - 81 Houses Sold - $585,000 Median Price

Condominium Sales Data for the Island of Maui
August 2014 - 94 Condos Sold - $410,000 Median Price
August 2013 - 113 Condos Sold - $420,000 Median Price

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-12-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Waikiki Sidewalk Bills Approved by Honolulu City Council

There are many Waikiki business leaders, residents and tourists who have become increasingly frustrated with the growing homeless population in their community.  Andrew Kawano, the executive vice president of Food Pantry Ltd. stated, "They go through our trash cans; they pull out anything that looks edible, like uneaten fruit. They eat it and they toss it on the ground. They panhandle and eat whatever they can get nearby the entrance. They defecate and they wipe their feces on the side of our building. They harass customers and use foul language. They walk through our store, making our customers uneasy and afraid."

In response, members of the Honolulu City Council have approved the following bills, which will now move to the mayor's desk for his signature: Bill 42 will ban people from sitting or lying on sidewalks in Waikiki.  Bill 43 will ban people from urinating or defecating in public places in Waikiki.  Bill 46 will impose a ban on urinating and defecating in public throughout the island of Oahu.  Violating these bills would be considered to be petty misdemeanors that could be punishable by up to a year in prison and a $1,000 fine.

Opponents of these bills feel that they are unfairly targeting and criminalizing the homeless.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Community Members Criticize Homeless "Transition Center" at Sand Island

At a recent public meeting, several community members criticized the City and County of Honolulu's plan of building a homeless "transition center" at Sand Island, stating that government officials have not thought the idea through.  The primary concerns include having adequate security and what would happen if homeless decide to drop out of the transition center and become permanent residents of Sand Island.  Kalihi resident, Jon Kiko, stated, "Dumping somebody in somebody else's backyard is not the solution. You guys need to think about it a little bit more."  Others called the center a concentration camp for homeless.

City officials hope to build what they are calling the Temporary Mobile Access to Services and Housing.  The site would be on a 5-acre plot land near the Sand Island Access Road bridge. Under the proposal, the transition center would be able to house about 100 people who meet the definition of "chronically homeless" and who agree to work toward moving into permanent shelter under the city's Housing First program.  Ember Shinn, the City Managing Director, stated that the city opes to open the center in two to three months and that it could help get 40 people off the streets of Waikiki.  The plan is to have the center stay open no longer than two years.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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Hawaiian Airlines Continues to Hold Number One Spot as On-Time Leader

Hawaiian Airlines was once again the most on-time airline in the country during the month of July 2014. According to the report issued by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hawaiian Airline had 93.3 percent of its flights arriving on schedule.  Under the DoT guidelines, a plane is on time if it arrives within 15 minutes of its scheduled arrival time. Hawaiian Airlines also had the fewest flight cancellations at 0.1 percent, or five canceled flights out of 6,808 total flights in July.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-11-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Honolulu Rail Project to Solicit New Bids to Build Rail Stations

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) has stated that they will not be accepting any of the three bids that they had received last months to build the first nine rail stations, because all of them were more than $110 million more than what they had expected.  Instead, HART has decided to break up the building of the first nine rail stations into three small bids of three stations each.  This change may delay the opening of the initial 10-mile stretch between East Kapolei and Aloha Stadium, but Daniel Grabauskas, the Chief Executive Officer for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation felt that they could save $20 to $30 million by postponing the opening by a year, residents would be happy. Grabauskas believes that by breaking up the nine rail stations into three bids of three rail stations each, the total of the projects will come in at less than $294 million, which was the lowest bid previously submitted for the first nine rail stations.  The agency had initially budgeted in $184 million for the first nine stations.

Daniel Grabauskas added, "We have decided that it is in the public's best interest to cancel this solicitation and redesign the bid in order to reduce risk to the contractors and thereby reduce costs. I would hope that they would see this as an opportunity to do the right thing and let us go forward with some changes that are going to drive down costs." The Honolulu Rail Project has a contingency fund of $550 million remaining, but this is expected to cover all unexpected costs.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-10-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Affordable Housing Project in Kalaeloa Approved

The Hawaii Community Development Authority has approved a proposal by developer Hunt Cos to convert a former military barrack at the old Barbers Point Naval Air Station in Kalaeloa into affordable rental apartments.  Hunt Cos stated that they plan to start construction on October 1, 2014 and will turn the 204 vacant studios into 100 one-bedroom units that will rent for approximately $1,300 per month.  The developer expects to spend about $10 million in the renovation project and will reserve the units for those residents who earn no more than 140 percent of Honolulu's median income.  That equates to $57,820 for a single person and $74,340 for a family of three. Planned amenities will include a fitness and recreation room, a barbecue area and a lounge.  There will also be 157 car parking spots provided.

Hunt Cos stated that this will be the initial piece of a complete redevelopment of the former Navy base.  The larger plan, if approved, would be to add 4,000 homes, 3.5 million sq ft of commercial buildings and 60 acres of open spaces including parks to the former Barbers Point Naval Air Station.  The project is being called Ho'ala Kalaeloa, which translates to Renew Kalaeloa, and is expected to take several decades to complete.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-10-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
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Developer Hopes to Build Assisted-Living Tower in Waikiki

Developer PRW Hawaii LLC hopes to build an assisted-living tower at 1700 Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki, provided that they can acquire the land and gain the necessary permissions and permits from the state and city. Under their proposal, PRW would like to build a 250 foot tall tower with as many as 250 residential units for seniors.  Residents would pay a one-time entry fee of between $750,000 to $1,000,000 for units with 1,000 sq ft of living space on average, and would pay additional monthly services fees.  However, residents will not actually own their unit.  Residents who decide to move out or die would get between 75 percent to 90 percent of their entry fee refunded to them or to their estates.  This model is similar to the one currently used by Kahala Nui.

The project will still have to obtain agreements to buy the land from multiple owners as well as work with the city Department of Planning and Permitting to rezone the parcel to allow for height increases and affordable-housing requirement issues.  Principals at PRW Hawaii LLC expects that it would take about a year to complete development arrangements and another 18 to 22 months to build the tower after that.  The developer is currently welcoming feedback from the public.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 9-9-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
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