Kauai Home Sales

*****Kauai Real Estate Update*****
I just got back from my 3 week road trip on the mainland. While there I had been keeping up to date on Kauai Real Estate and getting a good look at what’s happening in Real Estate in Northern California, Oregon and Washington areas. It was interesting to compare what your dollar will get you depending on where you buy, I really appreciated getting a first hand look at some of their inventory and mentally comparing the asking price to what you could get on Kauai. Here is an excel spread sheet on Kauai’s last weeks new listings and closed transactions, if you have any questions give me a call. To download the sheet: CLICK HERE

*****Poipu Beach Block Party!*****

Koloa Plantation Days are in full swing here on the South Shore. Friday night was the annual block party at the Sheraton and the streets were blocked off and filled with food booths and live entertainment. People were literally dancing in the streets to our local live music! The evening was topped off with a fantastic performance by Willie K, a local favorite. Koloa started in the 1800’s as a plantation town and the county celebrates our heritage every year with parades and block parties. Plan your next trip around it if you can and join us!

*****Robbery At Kapa’a Middle School*****

Thousands of dollars of equipment was stolen from the Kapa’a Middle School
sometime over last weekend, the discovery was made last Monday morning.
Thieves broke into the school library and computer room causing $3,000 worth of damage to the building in doing so. They then stole $17,000 worth of equipment. Due to the large amount taken it is believed to be the work of several people. There have been letters everyday in our newspaper from residents asking the thieves to replace what they had taken showing clearly that locals are very upset that this was done to the students.

*****Bill “Kaipo” Asing Appointented Mayor”*****
A swearing in ceremony was held on Thursday for the newly appointed Mayor
Asing. Mayor Asing is filling in the seat of our former Mayor Bryan
Babtiste who died of a heart attack last month. The former councilman said
that everybody will keep their same jobs and that “Today is not about
turning the page”, Asing said. “That is not what is called for
now. Everything and everybody that is in place will remain in place and
together we will move forward.” Asing has 137 days from Thursday to be
Mayor. It is expected that Daryl Kaneshiro will return to fill Asings seat
as Councilman.

*****Kauai Unemployment Rate Up*****
Kauai unemployment rate is at 4.4% second to Honolulu’s 4.2% and behind the Big Island 6%. This is largely due to seasonal conditions said Darwin Ching, director of Labor and Industrial Relations. “It’s not a loss of jobs as much as an influx of people entering the labor force,” he said. “We’re still creating jobs, just not at the pace we were in the past.” Kauai’s fastest growing occupations include computer and mathematical professions, computer specialists, social and community managers and heavy equipment mechanics.

*****Fire in Anahola*****

40 acres of State land were burned on Saturday before being contained by Kauai firefighters. No structures were burned and nobody was hurt during the blaze. Dry conditions are the suspected cause and there has been no evidence of arson.

*****Kauai Real Estate*****

Did you know that we are heading into our slow season? It’s true.
Unlike most of the mainland our sales actually slow down during the
summertime as our visitor demographic changes. Kauai has high
occupancy rates pretty much all year but in the summer it changes to
families who are interested in our market but financially are years
away from buying and here’s why; Vacation rental condos and homes are
not cash flow vehicles and are usually the purchases people make who
want to use them as a part time home with the ability to offset some
of the costs with rental income when they are not using it. The
monthly rental income will cover some of your costs but if you have a
mortgage you’ll be running at a negative for sure. Our family
travelers tend to be years away from financially being able to do that.
If you feel this would be a good time for you to take advantage of this give me a call. What came on the market and what sold last week here on Kaua’i? For an excel spreadsheet of last week’s new listings and closed transactions: CLICK HERE

*****Tour Plane Disappears Over The Big Island*****

The last time the Cessna 172 tour plane was seen was flying over Kilauea volcano on Tuesday. The Island Hopper tour plane was carrying the pilot and 2 Japanese tourists. The Coast Guard has scoured over 2,500 square miles and at lease 12 aircraft have been scanning the island for the missing plane. The plane took off at 10:25 a.m. on Monday but failed to return on its scheduled time of 1:30 that afternoon. No distress signals or radio contact came from the plane before the disappearance. On Saturday the Coast Guard suspended it’s search indefinitely. Hawaii county crews will continued to search through Sunday but there were no new developments as of this writing.

*****Stand off in Wainiha*****

Kauai resident Ka’iulani Huff has been camping out for the last three
months on a Wainiha property that she claims should be turned over the
her since the land was given to her family by the Hawaiian Monarchy
prior to the American takeover of the Hawaiian Islands. Current land owner
Joseph Brescia has been trying to build a home on the land since
2001. He’s considering a 2,350 square foot 3 bedroom home and he
considers himself a “regular guy” in a very uncomfortable situation.
It was discovered that 30 ancient Hawaiian burial sites are on the
property and the Kauai Island Burial Council determined in April that
they are to be left in place.

Ground breaking on Mr. Brescia’s home was to begin earlier this month
but construction crews walked off the job after 40 residents showed up
to protest. This Tuesday is the new date for construction to begin
and Kauai Police have notified Ka’iulani Huff that they will be there
on Tuesday to protect her right to protest and the land owners right
to build.

*****Koke’e Cabins Incite A Impassioned Crowd*****

Over 100 people showed up at the Mokihana building in Lihue on Monday to support a bill that had been introduced to address the State owned 140 cabins whose lease will be up soon. The House Bill 2872 will allow all existing tenants to bid on the cabins first and then second will be Kauai residents, third will be Hawaii State residents and lastly it will be open to the general public. 29 of the impassioned crowd testified to keep the park the same as it is now by making this bill law. Bill 2872 is before Governor Linda Lingle who has until Monday to notify Legislature of any bills that she’s planning to veto and until July 8th to veto or approve the bill. Any bill not addressed by the Governor will automatically become law. At the end of the meeting held in Lihue it was approved to send a letter to the Governor asking her to approve the bill which is thought of as “not perfect” but should become law as it will go a long way to preserve the way Kokee is as we know it.

*****Kauai Real Estate Update and Local News Items*****

Join me for highlights of our Garden Islands news and a full update on last weeks new listings and closed transactions. You’ll see quite a few land sales in Koloa and that’s the Kukui’ula development. Also that great buy of a house here in Poipu sold for $1,000 below asking price of $299,000! For a full excel spreadsheet CLICK HERE

*****Boulders Crash on the Road To Hanalei*****

Around 4 pm on Monday (6/9/08) boulders and rocks broke loose and the debris was substantial enough to shut one lane down until 7 pm. One boulder was 5 feet in diameter. Fortunately nobody was hurt and there were no damages reported to any cars. The DOT spokeswoman said they are not sure what caused the landslide.

*****Don’t Sell That Land Quite Yet*****

29 States have joined Hawaii in asking the US Supreme Court to overturn a ruling that the Hawaii Supreme Court made disallowing the State to sell or transfer 1.2 million acres of former monarchy lands until Native Hawaiian claims have been resolved. The ruling had been based on former President Clintons 1993 Apology Resolution in which Congress acknowledged the wrongful overthrow of the Hawaiian Monarchy in 1887 (King Kalakaua was forced to sign the Bayonet Constitution in 1887, sharply curtailing his powers and diminishing the Native Hawaiians’ voice in government. Source: Hawai`i Visitors Bureau) The ruling was intended to protect the lands from private interests from buying the land but the appeal states the President Clintons Apology Resolution was meant to be symbolic only and shouldn’t be used to infringe on the State of Hawaii’s rights to their land. The Supreme Court will likely review this in October when they return from summer break.

*****Kiahuna Land Company Asked To Not Build*****

BG Kauai Holdings attorney urged the Kauai Planning Commission to not consider the permit for Kiahuna Land Company to build an adjacent shopping center to the existing Poipu Shopping Village. Current shop owners showed up on Tuesday at the Mokihana Building in Lihue to protest the new shopping center which will be 81,932 square feet and will include restaurants, retail and office space and off-street parking. The new shopping center is broken into 7 buildings of which 2 portions will be 2 stories high. The manager of the current Poipu Shopping Village stated that the former plans created a synergy between the two shopping centers but the proposed plans fall short of that. The Koloa Community Association, shop owners and community member expressed concerns over drainage, parking and access routes. The seven member commission will hear final arguments on July 8 thh. Public impute will not be taken after Tuesday.

*****Marriott Employees and Guests Help To Build Homes*****

The Kauai Marriott recruited employees and visitors to come help build a home for Habitat For Humanity in ‘Ele’Ele. Earlier in the year Marriott contributed $60,000 towards the project of which 11 out of the planned 125 homes have been completed. Five more home sites are in the works at this time. All homes are going to Kauai Residents. Way to go Marriott!

*****Matson Shipping Lines To Raise Their Rates*****

Citing rising fuel costs Matson Lines will raise their rates 38.25% the largest rate hike yet citing records oil prices. This impact will be felt by all companies island wide and business’s are needing to pass these rates on to customers and tighten their own belts says City Mill President Steven Ai. “With rising expenses, we just have to manage our business better and watch our expenses and be as lean as we can because we can’t pass everything on to our customers.”

*****Runaway Truck Slams Into Sueoka’s Grocery Store In Koloa Town!*****
On Wednesday early morning shoppers had the surprise of their life at Sueoka’s General Store in Old Koloa Town. Just after 7 a.m. a trash truck ran the stop sign and plowed through the three foot lava rock wall and into the mom and pop store which is right by Crazy Shirts and the historic banyan tree in old Koloa Town. The force of the impact moved the front window freezer some four feet and about a dozen people were taken to the hospital however no serious injuries have been reported. My husband and I were driving into Lihue and 7:40 and I took this photograph. The front part of the truck is totally imbedded in the store and I did notice that it had rained. Police are still investigating and at the time of this writing no updates were available.

******The Royal Hawaiian Hotel, Waikiki Beach, Oahu*****
It’s with special affection that I write about the renovation at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel. Living in Kauai it’s obvious that the big city is not for me and when I do need to go to Oahu we stay at the Royal Hawaiian (aka “Pink Palace”) where I feel transported to the 1920’s, the era that it was built. The last time this hotel was shut down was during WWll when the military had occupied the hotel and surrounded it with barbed wire. Before then it was the place to “see and be seen” and Hollywood celebrities, foreign dignitaries and heads of State all would stay at “The Royal”. The hotel will be a little less pink on the inside and the rooms, which now have furniture from the 1980’s and wallpaper that is less then appealing, will be completely updated but will still retain its 1920’s feel. Some shops will be eliminated in the lobby to open it up more and the line to check in will be eliminated. Guest will now sit in the garden area and sip guava juice while waiting to check in, afterwards they will be escorted to their rooms which will have soft Hawaiian music playing. This 110 million dollar renovation is currently being done and construction will last for 7 months. Will the room rate change? You bet. The current rate is $300 and it’s expected to go to $400.
Did you know: The Shirley Temple drink was invented at the Royal Hawaiian while the child star was visiting in the 1930’s? Also true: the hotel also popularized the Mai Tai and Dean Martin was once refused entry to the Monarch Room due to the hotels strict dress code. Dean went back to his room to change and showed back up in a coat and tie and-his briefs.

*****20 Acres of Beachfront Property To Be Preserved*****
The Kauai Public Land Trust received the remaining $700,000 it needed to purchase the 20 acre beachfront parcel in Kilauea that borders Kahili Beach. The LLCP (Legacy Land Conservation Program) is a new program within the state Department of Land and Natural Resources and it was this group that spearheaded the purchase. The Kilauea Coastal Preserve will now begin the process of finalizing the deal. This means that this gorgeous 20 acre pristine coastline will remain undeveloped for generations; open public access to the lands will remain the same. Improvements that are slated for the land are to reintroduce native Hawaiian plants and remove the invasive vegetation. Native birds will also be brought in. Its efforts like this that makes our Garden Island a truly special place.

*****Hawaiian Airlines To Add 4 Aircraft*****

In response to the ATA and Aloha Airlines shutdown Hawaiian Air is adding 4 aircraft to its interisland fleet. Two Boeing 717-200 jets will be added in September and 2 more later in the year. Mark Dunderley, who is Hawaiians CEO, says this purchase reaffirms the airlines commitment to servicing our islands.

*****Kauai Real Estate*****

The Honolulu Board of Realtors reported a 29.4 drop in home sales and a 29.7 drop in condominium sales but the median price from a year ago has stayed the same within a very small margin. The homes sales are within .01% of last year and the condo median sales price is up 3.8%. For an excel spreadsheet on this week’s new listings and closed transactions CLICK HERE FOR SPREADSHEET

Aloha From the Kiahuna Plantation in Poipu Beach! My husband and I have owned a vacation rental condo at the lovely Kiahuna for the last ten years and have not taken the time to stay in it since we moved here four years ago. We checked into our unit on Friday and will be leaving Tuesday. We have not taken time off our jobs and are doing some fun projects to improve our unit in between our work shifts. People have often asked me what it’s like to move here and the fact is there are still responsibilities that we both have and it’s easy to get caught up in the daily grind (yes even here in Kauai!) and miss all the reasons why we moved here. Staying at our beautiful vacation condo brings back memories of the times when we vacationed here and dreamed of the day when we could move here and how sad we used to be that we had to go back to our home in Orange County, CA. Even though we only live right down the street at the Poipu Kai Resort its different staying where none of your “stuff’ is! I took this photo on my barefoot walk to the Kiahuna beach on Sunday morning at 8:30 a.m., enjoy.

*****Kauai Real Esate News*****
Whether you’re looking to buy, sell or are in the information-gathering stage, I would like to be your Kauai Real Estate Connection. Accomplishing a successful real estate experience starts with building a positive working relationship with someone who knows Kauai real estate. I strive to provide the latest and most efficient ways of keeping you abreast of new laws, trends and events that will influence any transaction.

My “Monday Morning Coffee With Lynda” blog page has been a great way for people to stay connected no matter where they are in their buying or selling process. Every Monday morning be informed of Kauai’s latest news events, new real estate listings and closed sales. Even if buying or selling is years away, it’s not too early to start building our relationship. Please contact me for information on how to stay Kauai connected with “Monday Morning Coffee with Lynda”.

Here is an excel spread sheet on last weeks new listings and closed transactions: CLICK HERE

*****New Flights Between China and Honolulu*****
The Hawaii Tourism Authority has been aggressively pursuing the Chinese tourism marketplace for some time and their efforts have paid off. Three flights will start on July 28th of this year and three more in October. These flights will also go on to Las Vegas.

With the loss of two airlines travel to Hawaii has been off by 15.2%. Hawaii is not the only market to show a decline. The US to Japan travel is off 15.3% and the East Coast travelers were down 5%. Canada however is showing a 48.2% increase in vacation travelers.

Good news is Hawaiian Airlines is adding an Oakland flight this month and Alaska and Delta have announced plans to post new flights also. Marsha Wienert from the Hawaii Tourism Authority said that “This increased seat capacity will help offset the loss of Aloha and ATA seats”. Go! Airlines has increased their flights from 58 to 88 per day and they have seen a 50% increase in their number of seats sold. The Superferry is also reporting higher sales for their Maui the Oahu runs.

The HTA has been focusing on the local market and offering incentives to locals to take vacations interisland. This has been very well received and has helped to alleviate the loss from the mainland visitors.

As a side note: Aloha Airlines is going ahead with a lawsuit they had filed against Go! Airlines for trying to drive the now bankrupt airlines out of business by using market data that the airlines provided in a possible purchase situation when the airlines was facing financial trouble in 2006. The rights to the lawsuit will become one more asset to be sold off to pay off Alohas many legal claims.

*****First Hawaiian Bank Robber Nabbed*****

A Hanalei man is in custody after turning himself in to police on Tuesday night. The suspect hitch hiked a ride to the county jail from a local resident who remained nameless. The driver said the man told him that he had heroin and alcohol problem and had robbed a bank and wanted to turn himself in. The driver told him he was dong the right thing and dropped him off at the county jail where the officers treated the suspect in a very respectful manner as they cuffed him and took him into custody. The police had been using the bank surveillance cameras to look for clues for the robber and recently had been questioning bus drivers because it was believed, after seeing a bus in the film taken from the surveillance cameras, that the robber had taken the Kauai Bus to the bank. The suspect has had several robberies in his past record.

*****1.2 million dollars for Na Pali and Koke’e State Parks*****

Governor Linda Lingle released 1.2 million dollars for improvements on the Na Pali trail and Koke’e State Parks. The first two miles of the Napali coast trail are the most heavily used due to the fact that they do not require a permit to hike. One of the reasons this popular trail has not been touched is it’s an archaeologically rich area and studies needed to be done before trail maintenance could be addressed. The wilderness concept will be maintained says Diane Zachary who is the president and CEO of KPAA (Kauai’ Planning and Action Alliance). “We want the trail to look as
natural-looking as possible, but safe”.
The rest of the grant money will go to the CCC Camp in Koke’e State Park in Waimea Canyon. Renovations of camp are expected to be return of all electrical and plumbing services and completion of finish work in Barracks A and B, Mokihana Cabin, Wash House and the storage shed and fireplace. The CCC Camp was added to the National Register of Historical Places in
1996.

*****Kauai In The National Spotlight!*****

Outrigger Waipouli Beach Resort & Spa made Expedia’s top 25 resorts and is the only property in Hawaii to make it into the top 100!!! The resort was ranked #21 by Expedia Insiders for quality and overall value. I have two listings at this wonderful resort and you are welcome to contact me for more information.

Also Hanalei Beach came in second in the annual “Dr. Beach” survey who every year compiles a list of the best beaches. Caladesi Island in Florida beat out Hanalei for the number one position.

And finally Trip Advisor top 10 free attractions named Waimea Canyon as #3 on their list. The Bellagio Fountains in Vegas and Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia beat out Waimea respectively.

*****Good Times If You’re a Humpback Whale!*****

In 1966 there was an estimated 1,500 humpback whales and at that time the international hunting of humpbacks was banned. Now, some 42 years later, the humpback population has grown to 18,000 according to a study done by SPLASH which is an international organization of more than 400 whale watchers. Since humpbacks only give birth to one whale at a time the time it takes to build up the population can take a while, however these new numbers are very encouraging to the Hawaiian Islands Humpback Whale National Martine Sanctuary. The whales that migrate from Hawaii to Alaska are showing the healthiest growth but the isolated group that migrates from Japan and the Philippines to Russia are taking longer to recover. Discussions are up on if they are to remain on the endangered species list.

*****Robber Escapes With Cash at First Hawaiian Bank*****

On Saturday the First Hawaiian Bank at the Kukui Grove Shopping Center was the scene of a bank robbery. This branch is one of the few to offer weekend service. A man wearing a tan shirt, dark shorts and a University Hawaii baseball cap entered the bank and got an undisclosed amount from a teller and left without incident, mall security showed up within 15 minutes of the incident. Police remain on the lookout and anybody with any information on the incident is encouraged to call Kauai Police Department.

*****Mauna Loa Macadamia Nut Company Fined $75,000*****

Citing cesspool violations the US Environmental Protection Agency placed a hefty fine against the Mauna Loa Company. Three large cesspools at the plant were not shut down until 2007 which was 2 years after the 2005 deadline; the company had been warned in the summer of 2004 of the 2005 deadline to comply with the EPA’s regulations. The facility now is connected to the state approved sewer system and there has been no evidence of any raw sewage leakage but the Hersey Company, which is the parent company to Mauna Loa, has accepted the fine without any complaint.

*****Kauai Real Estate News*****

What got listed last week and what was sold? For a complete list CLICK HERE . Would you like an update on when this list is posted? If so then you are welcome to join my Blog Update List by signing up on this form

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Welcome to my Monday Morning Coffee posting which includes Kauai news highlights and a complete list of our new listings and closed transactions this past week.

*****Kauai Real Estate; New Listings and Closed Transactions*****
For an excel spread sheet on Kauais new listings and closed transactions CLICK HERE If you have any questions please contact me!

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*****Crash Landing At Polihale Beach*****

On a routine Kalalau Beach trash hauling mission on Wednesday morning an Inter-Island helicopter went down and fortunately the pilot was able to walk away from the wreckage.

Inter-Island Helicopters helps the state out with trash removal as funding becomes available. On this particular day the rubbish that was removed from the valley filled two dump trucks and everything that could be found at WalMart was in that valley having been left behind by people who don’t want to “pack it in, pack it out”.

Eyewitness’s to the crash were two visitors who were on Polihale beach at the time said they saw the nose of the chopper pitch forward and then the tale jerked backward in an attempt to correct itself. The visiting couple said the chopper was flying fast and sounded maxed out as it was carrying a load of trash some 30 feet off the ground when it lost control. The pilot spoke with newspapers on Saturday and said that he was 100 feet from the ground and controlled the landing and knew exactly where he was going to put the helicopter down. The pilot spoke with the press on Saturday and said: “I knew where everyone was and where I wanted to go. I put the aircraft down in a controlled area that was the safest spot to land.” The Federal Aviation Administration has launched an investigation.

*****Vog, Vog and more Vog*****

The trade winds have been non-existent and the vog conditions have been prevalent. What looks to be fog across the island has obliterated mountain and ocean views and this is a very minor condition to us here on Kauai. The Big Island is suffering mightily. To read in more detail about vog vist my April 14 posting: http://blogs.alohaliving.com/kauai-home-sales/2008/04/14/kauai-real-estate-and-local-news-4/

The National Weather Service has announced that Sunday will be the first marketable day that the vog conditions, which have made Oahu look like Los Angeles, will lift. Given that Kauai is the furthest island away from Hawaii we have not had anywhere near the conditions that the other island have had. As of yesterday our trade winds are back and conditions are returning to normal.

*****Hawaiian Airlines To Codeshare With United Airlines*****

With the demise of Aloha and ATA airlines Hawaiian Airlines had an increase in flight bookings by 25.5% this last month. Year to date Hawaiian Airlines is up 9.1%. This week Hawaiian Airlines announced a codeshare agreement with United Airlines who is a historical heavy hitter with mainland to Hawaii flights. Partnering up with United will strengthen Hawaiian Airlines franchise as being a dominant choice for mainland to Hawaii travel. United announced it will offer codeshare flights this summer.

*****Dog Walkers Battle with City Council*****

Tensions were high on Wednesday when 20 residents showed up for a rally in support of a bill that would allow dogs on the proposed 16 mile path from Nawiliwili to Anahola which will include the current 2.3 Kapa’a to Kealia beach path and the 2.5 route at Lydgate Park. Currently dogs are not allowed on the path which is managed by the county Parks and Recreation Department. Liability is cited as the main issue and some elderly residents and parents with small children have expressed fear of using the path if dogs are on it. A phone survey was taken of 350 Kauai residents and 71% of the respondents supported dogs being allowed on the path. 63% of these respondents had pets of which half of those were dog owners themselves. As a side note it was discovered during this survey that pet ownership is up 6% from 2001. Of the 20 residents that were at the County building on Wednesday to rally for the proposed change, Becky Rhoades, Director of the Kauai Humane Society, was among them. The bill was to be discussed that day but due to an over packed agenda it has been put off to June 12 at 1:30 pm.

Welcome to my Monday Morning edition of Kauai local news and real estate updates! I hope you all had a nice Mothers Day. It was busy over here with mothers being celebrated with beautiful flower leis and eating out at their favorite restaurants. Our weather has been breezy and very sunny with the temperature kept at a very comfortable level and this weekend was no exception.

*****Kauai Real Estate Update*****

You will notice a number of properties listed in the new listings section for the Poipu area. This is a developers project that is just being released on the MLS. For more information on this project give me a call or email. For the latest in Kauai Real Estate CLICK HERE

*****Monk Seal Pup Airlifted To Oahu*****
On a remote beach on the North Shore of Oahu and baby monk seal was found having been abandoned by his mother. The NOAA team (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration) tried to reintroduce the pup to its mother but she exhibited aggressive behavior towards the pup and seemed more interested in the male monk seal that was nearby. The NOAA has never nursed a pup this small but remain optimistic t that it can be saved and released to the Midway Atoll. The Hawaiian Monk Seals are on the endangered list, many are dying of starvation because they can’t find enough to eat or are killed by sharks. As of Friday the seal pup is showing continued signs of improvement and caretakers of the seal remain “guardedly optimistic”

*****3 Kauai Police Officers Convicted*****
Three Kauai police officers were convicted on Monday for second degree theft and tampering with government records. All three officers have received probation and are ordered to pay restitution and fines. In 2005 the three officers did not attend a Maui marijuana eradication meeting. Instead they used the time on Maui as a vacation and spent $300 dollars of state and county money. The officers altered attendance records form the event. The sentencing was tough to do Judge Watanabe said because all officers had exceptional records before this. The decision, Watanabe said, was more about the subsequent actions when they returned by exhibiting “continuous deception”.

*****Did You Lose Your Iguana? *****
A three foot iguana was captured at Makaha Elementary School on Oahu. The school was on lockdown while police captured the iguana with fishing net. It remains a mystery where this iguana comes from; they are illegal here in the state of Hawaii because they feed on bird eggs.

*****Superferry Return Dependent on Kauai Leaders*****
The new CEO of the troubled superferry retired Navy Adm. Thomas Fargo said it is up the Kauai leaders to invite the superferry to come back. Senator Gary Hooser said he can’t direct the superferry to return because legally it still can. But he says that the public sentiment is still negative and that he is not inclined to put this to the Kauai Council. So what does Kauai think? It all depends on what poll you read! Given the current shake up in Aloha Airlines Cargo division there has been some positive thought towards having an alternate transportation mode. Senator Hooser said he’d like to see the reliability proved on Maui before the question is posed to invite the company back to Kauai.

Kauai Real Estate News for the past week!

It has been so busy here with our annual Kiahuna Plantation owner meetings and Poipu Kai owners meetings I have not had time to do my local news report. It’s been one meeting after another and LOTS of fun social events!! What I do have for you is a Kauai Real Estate update!

You will see that there are a huge amount of listings in Princeville, this is a developer that has put his remaining inventory on the MLS and is offering incentives. If you are interested in fee simple condo ownership on the north shore then contact me for more information!

I have included an excel spreadsheet for all the new listings and closings for last week. Call if you have any questions. For this spread sheet CLICK HERE

Poipu Beach was beautiful at 8 a.m. yesterday morning as you can see by this photo. The water was so warm you didn’t even need a wet suit. We are having some really wonderful weather island wide in between the vog that continues to drift over from the Big Island. This Monday Morning I have another posting for you with some interesting island news including:
Go! Airlines Pilots Sacked
Hawaiian Airlines Adds a New Flight
Aloha Airlines Cargo Division Sold
and more but first we’ll cover Real Estate here on Kauai.

*****Kauai Real Estate News*****
Year to date the number of sales are down but the median sales price on Kauai is up. Here are the numbers island wide:

Housing +3.46%
Vacant Land +47.07%
Condominium +18.01%

Our sales continue to hold the same line as they have been the last couple of months. For a complete list of what has been listed and what has sold this last week CLICK HERE

*****Go! Pilots Sacked*****
The two Go! Airlines pilots that overshot the Hilo airport by 15 miles have been fired. Mesa Air Group has not released the pilot’s names and the Air Lines Pilots Association says it has filed a grievance for the two pilots. Investigations have focused on the possibility of the pilots falling asleep. The plane, which was carrying 40 passengers, had to circle back and landed safely at the Hilo airport on February 13, 2008.

*****Did You Lose Your Sailboat? *****

An unmanned 30 foot sailboat drifted into Hanalei Bay and remained stuck for several hours. Good Samaritans worked together and freed the boat by 7 pm. The “Felicia” escaped fuel leaks and had minimal damage to it.

*****Uncle Sam and the State of Hawaii*****
In the state of Hawaii Uncle Sam is a true benefactor. On a federal level the government collects and average of $5,500 per person at tax time but spends an average of $10,500 for every resident. Hawaii ranks #2 per capita for national spending on the federal payroll. Where do the dollars go to? By far a good share of it is for military spending with 3.7 billion going towards salaries for military, federal and civilian workers.

*****Hawaiian Airlines to Add Oakland Flight*****
Hawaiian Airlines is adding a Oakland to Honolulu flight this Thursday. This new route will have a kick off celebration in Oakland with live music and hula dancing along with a Hawaiian blessing ceremony.

*****Lawmakers Endorse Turtle Bay Plans*****
State lawmakers have agreed on a bill to allow the purchase of the Turtle Bay Hilton on the North Shore of Oahu. The preliminary plan is to sell the resort itself and keep the multitude of acreage as State land and keep undeveloped. The State is also going ahead with plans to buy 2,100 acres owned by the Galbraith Estate in Central Oahu. These lands would also be left undeveloped.

*****Aloha Air Cargo Winner Is…..*****
Los Angeles Pacific Air Cargo LLC was approved by the US Bankruptcy courts to be the winning bidder for Aloha Air Cargo division. Aloha Airlines filed bankruptcy and shut down service on March 31 leaving its passengers to a mad scramble for tickets to and from Hawaii. The air cargo division is profitable and it services 85% of the states air cargo including all the mail to and from Maui and the Big Island. Pacific Air Cargo already provides similar ground services in Honolulu for Qantus Airlines for their Honlulu and Los Angeles route. Seattle based Saltchuk Resources pulled out after their 13 million offer was outbid at 13.65 million.

Meanwhile Aloha Airlines former pilots union ALPA (Air Line Pilots Association) is seeking the courts assistance to make the sale contingent on the new owner abiding by the terms of the pilots contract that they had with Aloha. Pilots that flew the passenger planes are getting retrained for the cargo division and they would like their pilots to be hired on a seniority basis