Mokulele Airlines Assures Passengers that They are Fully Operational

go! Airlines may have closed their doors to the Hawaii market on March 31, 2014, but Mokulele Airlines wants to get the word out as quickly as possible that they are 100% operational.  There had been a confusion by some passengers that the two companies were one and the same, but Mokulele's Chief Executive Office, Ron Hansen, is quick to point out that this is not the case.  Hansen, stated "We're having a significant number of no-shows because people believe we went out of business.  We're still here. We're going to be here. It will be good when the ghost of go! goes away."

According to Hansen, go! and Mokulele were allowed to sell seats on each other flights, but the two companies are not affiliated in any other way.  Hansen added, "go! is supposed to contact those passengers who had reservations. If passengers booked on go!'s website, through a travel agent or other means, we don't have a contact for them, just reserved seats. All we know is they're booked on our flight but didn't show. We won't charge them a change fee if there's a seat available when they fly.  We just want to assure people that Mokulele is doing great and intends to be here at least another 16 years."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-5-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
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Update of Kakaako Makai and Office of Hawaiian Affairs

In 2012 the State of Hawaii gave the Office of Hawaiian Affairs 31 acres of ocean front land in Kakaako Makai to resolve disputed claims over unpaid ceded-land revenue.  At the time of transfer, the state valued the property at $200 million, but OHA contends that based upon it current zoning, the land is worth significantly less than that. Last month, the Office of Hawaiian Affairs requested the state to pass a bill that would allow them to develop residential condominium and apartment towers on Kakaako Makai.

So far, the state seems to be fairly amenable to this suggestion, but some Kakaako residents are furious about this idea and point to a 2006 decision made by state lawmakers that banned residential development of Kakaako Makai.  However, at that time, the land was owned by the state and not by the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, thus making the zoning petition possible.

The trustees of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs have announced that the have no intention of producing a luxury condominium community on Kakaako Makai and would instead attempt to balance commerce and culture in a way that will make Native Hawaiians and the general public proud.  In a written statement, OHA explained, ""We seek to find the highest point at which the culturally rich use of our Kakaako Makai lands intersects with revenue-generating use of the parcels.  We understand better than any other developer the impacts of irresponsible development. Native Hawaiians have been victims of, and suffered most from, the consequences of reckless development."

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-4-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Only 163 Bankruptcy Cases Filed in March 2014

According to the U.S. Bankruptcy Court, a total of 163 bankruptcy cases were filed in March 2014, a significant decrease from the 200 cases that were filed during the same month a year prior.  In Honolulu County, there were a total of 106 cases in March, a decrease of 12 percent from March 2013.  Hawaii County (Big Island of Hawaii) had 21 cases, a 25 percent decrease. Maui County had 32 cases, a 27 percent decrease.  Kauai County had a 50 percent decrease from 8 cases to just 4 in March 2014.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-3-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Target to Open Kailua Store in March 2015

According to a press release by Target Corp., they will be opening their Kailua store in March 2015.  Target had planned to open the store this October, but construction was delayed when an archaeological study discovered iwi kupuna, or Native Hawaiian skeletal remains, on the site.  When completed, the Kailua Target will have a total of 134,000 sq ft of interior space and will provide jobs to approximately 300 workers.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-3-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Halekauwila Place - Affordable Housing Rentals in Kakaako

Halekauwila Place is a brand new mid rise condominium building in Kakaako will feature a total of 204 affordable housing rental units.  In order to be eligible to live at Halekauwila Place, a household may not earn more than 60 percent of Honolulu's median family income, or $40,260 for a single person or $57,480 for a family of four. Monthly rents will range from $956 for a studio to $1,389 per month for a three-bedroom unit.  Amenities will include a computer lab and a community room.  Internet, Wi-Fi, TV, and phone service will come bundled for $60 per month.  There will also be some commercial space on the ground floor that will be occupied by a hair salon, a wine and sake store, and a retailer that will sell dog accessories.  Developer Stanford Carr noted that more than 1,000 rental applications had been received and are currently being reviewed.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-2-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Sales to Commence Soon for Rycroft Terrace, the Pagoda Hotel Condominium Conversion

Developer Peter Savio has announced that sometime towards the end of this month his company will be selling 162 units in the Rycroft Terrace, a condominium conversion of part of the Pagoda Hotel.  The units will be classified as affordable housing and will start at $123,480 for a fee-simple studio up to $274,950 for a two-bedroom unit.  Qualified buyers would have to put down as little as 5 percent down payment, provided that they make less than 100 percent of the median income.  Monthly maintenance fees will range from $231 to $559. The conversion will help to satisfy a requirement of Kamehameha Schools to create a certain number of moderate-income housing units for their 2,750 residence project in Kakaako. Officially, Rycroft Terrace is about a half-mile outside of Kakaako, but the Hawaii Community Development Authority gave their consent in 2012.  

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-2-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com

Island Air to Expand Interisland Service

Island Air has announced that they will be expanding their interisland service by the end of this year.  The airline stated that they have purchased two new 71-seat Bombardier Aerospace Q400 NextGen turboprop planes to increase service to Maui, Kauai and Lanai.   President and CEO for Island Air, Paul Casey, stated, "They will add to our existing fleet and allow us to explore new opportunities."  Casey added that the airline may add an additional four more Q400 planes in the near future, and commented that the new planes are more fuel-efficient, less costly to maintain and quicker.

Island Air currently operates more than 200 flights per week between Oahu, Maui, Lanai and Kauai, and uses five 64-seat ATR-42 turboprop planes.  The ATRs are all about 20 years old.

Source: Honolulu Star Advertiser, 4-1-2014, www.staradvertiser.com
Posted by Jeff Uyemura-Reyes, Principal Broker, REALTOR®
Global Executive Realty, LLC
www.myhawaiihomesearch.com
www.myhawaiicondo.com
www.myhawaiidreamhome.com