Kauai Home Sales

*****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