Kauai Real Estate and Local News June 9
*****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