Honolulu Rail Project – Native Hawaiian Allowed To Have Say About Burials

To date, archaeologists working for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation (HART) have found the remains of five ancient Hawaiian bodies in four separate locations along the proposed line for the Honolulu Rail Project.  Hawaii state law prohibits the moving, destroying or altering of any burial sites except as permitted by the state and local burial councils.  Native Hawaiians believe that the bones are infused with the life force of their ancestors and that their journey in the afterlife is not completed until their bones have dissolved completely.  As a result, HART has asked Native Hawaiian families whose ancestors may have been buried along the proposed rail lines to file claims and register with the  State Historic Preservation Division.  This would allow the Native Hawaiian families to have a say as to what happens with any remains found.

Chief Executive Officer of HART, Dan Grabauskas, was optimistic about how soon the archaeological process would be completed and when rail construction could resume.  Grabauskas stated, “We had a plan and a schedule that had us completing all the trenching work around the end of February. But it now looks like with the acceleration, we’re going to be able to wrap this up, the trenching activity, by the end of the year.”  It is estimated that each month of delay would cost taxpayers between $7 to $10 million.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-11-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
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Redevelopment Plan for Waikiki Boat Harbor Approved

The State of Hawaii’s Department of Land and Natural Resources has given their approval to Honey Bee USA to redevelop a section of  the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor in Waikiki.  The project, which is tentatively named Waikiki Landing, will cost approximately $20 million and would add two wedding chapels, several restaurants, retail and office spaces, a boat repair facility and a fuel dock next to the Hawaii Prince Hotel. Honey Bee representatives hope that construction could begin as early as January 2013 and be completed by August of the same year.

Not all the harbor’s tenants are happy with this proposal.  Les Parsons, a current small boat tenant, commented, "To be blunt:  Wedding chapels are neither needed or wanted here.  A  truly competent and responsible state boating regulatory agency would never have approved such a nonsensical scheme as has been proffered by a foreign-owned developer.”  Honey Bee responded by stating that adding two wedding chapels and the commercial spaces were needed to subsidize the boat repair and fuel docks.  Honey Bee officials stated, ”A marine supply store does not have the sufficient ‘critical mass’ to be profitable, as demonstrated by the failure of Ala Wai Marine.”

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-10-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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Kaiser Permanente Hawaii to Renovate and Expand Koolau Clinic

Kaiser Permanente Hawaii has just broken ground on a $15 million expansion and renovation of their Koolau clinic in Kaneohe.  According to their press release, Kaiser will add a total of 6,000 sq ft of space to that facility, which would include two new examination rooms and a larger pharmacy.  President of Kaiser, Janet Liang, stated, ”This beautiful new facility will make it easier for our members to access quality health care all under one roof.  This expansion project positions us well for future growth and demonstrates our long-term commitment to our members and the communities we serve.”  Kaiser hope to finish this renovation and expansion by late 2013.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-9-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
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Honolulu Rail Project – Survey Finds More Human Remains in Chinatown

According to a press release made by the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, additional human remains were found through the archaeological survey, but this time they were in Chinatown.  This is the fifth different set of remains found at the fourth location in the Downtown/Kakaako neighborhood.  Executive director for HART, Daniel Grabauskas, commented, ”We continue to work closely with the State Historic Preservation Division, the Oahu Island Burial Council and other stakeholders to ensure that iwi kupuna are treated with sensitivity and great respect.  In addition, we have added cultural monitors who include descendants with ties to the area where the work is being done.”

All construction for the Honolulu Rail Project has been stopped until an archaeological survey of the entire rail project has been completed.  It is estimated that each month of delay will cost the city $7 to $10 million in delay claims and other expenses.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-8-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
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Statistical Sales Data for Oahu for October 2012

Source: Honolulu Board of Realtors

Single Family Home Sales on the Island of Oahu:
October 2012 – 282 Homes Sold – $625,000 Median Price
October 2011 – 223 Homes Sold – $579,000 Median Price

Condominium Sales on the Island of Oahu:
October 2012 – 425 Condos Sold – $325,000 Median Price
October 2011 – 321 Condos Sold – $305,000 Median Price

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-8-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
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Gas Prices Expected to Remain High

The Oil Price Information Service has predicted that gas prices will continue to remain high for Hawaii residents in the foreseeable future, even when drivers on the mainland United States have seen decreases.  Chief oil analyst for the OPIS, Tom Kloza, stated, ”Unfortunately, the rest of the country could see prices drop for gasoline, and Hawaii’s a little bit unplugged from the rest of country.  Hawaii’s probably going to have the highest prices in the country for the next eight years just based on geography.  It’s expensive to get crude oil there and expensive to refine it.  It’s more of an international market. You’re pretty much captive to more expensive international prices. Hawaii’s a little bit of a wild card.”

Kloza predicted that Hawaii’s gas prices will hover around $4 per gallon throughout the rest of the year, while the rest of the country will see an average price of approximately $3.25 per gallon.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-7-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
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Kirk Caldwell Wins Mayor Race

Kirk Caldwell is going to be the next Mayor of Honolulu after he beat former Governor Ben Cayetano with 53.9 percent of the popular vote.  This is being hailed as a great victory for the supporters of the Honolulu Rail Project as Caldwell has opened supported the $5.26 billion endeavor and Cayetano has aggressively opposed it.  Caldwell told his supporters, ”I want to let everyone know that we’re going to work together to move this city and this county forward.  You have my total commitment, total commitment, to work hard every single day, 24/7 on all the issues.”

Ben Cayetano believed his loss was due to negative campaigning caused by special interest groups like the Pacific Resource Partnership.  Cayetano stated, ”I thought if the issues were discussed fairly, openly in a debate, that we would win this election.  Never in my wildest dreams did I even contemplate that an organization like PRP (Pacific Resource Partnership), whose members are anonymous, would come out and spend $3 million to attack me.”. Cayetano has sued the PRP for character defamation and noted that their advertisements are false and defamatory.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 11-7-2012, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Broker-in-Charge, Realtor®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
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