Kauai Real Estate and Local News June 8
*****Deadline For Additional Dwelling Units Approaches*****
In 1989 ADU’s (additional dwelling units) was extended to include Agricultural land and Open zones amid a lot of public controversy and outcry. Since then there have been several extensions but on November 22, 2006 the final 3 year extension was passed (Ordinance No. 843) for those who had filed a certified ADU Facilities Clearance completed by June 15, 2007 to apply for building permits for their ADU’s. This ordinance established December 15, 2009 as the last day of the three year period that building permits can be issued.
Here’s an update on the new listings that came on the market last week and the closed transactions. You will see the number of transactions that closed is back up to the level that is has been at which is double to triple of what it had been running at last year. For a complete list CLICK HERE FOR A SPREADSHEET
*****Governor Orders Work Furloughs*****
In efforts to close a $729 million dollar budget shortfall Governor Linda Lingle ordered 3 days of unpaid furloughs each month for 14,500 state employees. This will amount to a 14% cut in pay for the state employees. The Governor has been forced by the council decision to cut $105 million from spending in the current year and another $624 million during 2010 and 2011. The furlough plan will eliminate $688 million over the next two years.
*****Kapa’a Man Botches Robbery*****
Wielding a machete and wearing rags over his face a Kapa’a man went into a yoga studio on Friday and snatched a purse of one of the students. Several others in the class jumped the man as he left and he dropped the purse and erratically drove away on Kaumuali’i highway with the police chasing after him. The man hit several cars and street signs and wound up in the middle of a street theatre performance for patrons of the Olympic Cafe in Kapa’a. Police caught up with him there and arrested him where one of the officers accidentally pulled the mans paints down while cuffing him. He is being held at the KPD.
*****Kauai Beef Now at Sheraton*****
You can now enjoy Kauai’s own grass feed cattle at the Shells restaurant located at the Sheraton in Poipu Beach (next to the Kiahuna Plantation). They will also feature a fish of the week which will be locally caught. In efforts to keep it local their corn is from Kekaha and the spring vegetables are from Layoen Farms. The beef is coming from A’akukui Ranch located on the south shore. The owner leased some 800 acres of former sugar cane land to raise the cattle who roam free and graze all year long on tropical grasses and legumes. It’s a win-win for everybody as these ranchers work a viable solution to former sugar cane lands.
*****Nice Percent of Kauai Stores Violate Tobacco Law*****
In a statewide sting it was found that 9 percent of the stores on Kauai were caught selling tobacco to minors. It was the lowest of the islands for violations and Oahu had the highest at 14 percent. Hawaii’s violation rate is higher than the national average. Fines for selling tobacco to minors are $500 for the first offense and up to $2,000 for subsequent offenses.
*****Hawaii Has Lowest Depression Rate*****
A report conducted by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration found that Hawaii had the lowest rate of depression. It was found that 5.0 of Hawaii’s citizens suffer from depression. So who was the highest? Tennessee came in at 9.8 percent and also ranked high on tobacco and illicit drug use.