Puako Home Sales / Kohala Coast Properties

People really seem to be requesting places to go Stand -Up paddle surfing here in Puako. Surf schools and retailers in our area have reported a growth in interest for the sport known as “sup” or “supping”

Many people in California are riding these boards and the sport seems to be accepted by surfers better than kayaks trying to share the waves. Both men and women enjoy this sport and when there are no waves, this is a great way to stay in shape until the next swell.

You can rent these boards through local companies and take off right from your back yard here in Puako or any of the great access points along Puako Beach Drive.  Contact www.AlohaLivingServices.com to get rates on a lesson or to rent. You usually have to take a lesson before renting.

14th from 4-9 pm. 20% of all proceeds from meals sold godirectly to the Three Ring Ranch, but wait, it gets better! 100%

critters.

yummy! ) and help feed the animals this special night.  Mark the

Three Ring Ranch mug will be given out, One per table.

1. No more Standby! Seventy Five percent of electricity used in the home is actually wasted. It’s the power electronics like TVs and computers in standby mode that really waste the energy. So turn them off when not in use. You could save a lot of money each year.

2. Turn off the lights in empty rooms. Also turn off fans, stereos, and A/C

3. Open the windows. Let the trade winds reduce A/C use. Save up to $100.00 a year on your electric bill.

4. Close the drapes and blinds before turning on the A/C. The sun’s heat makes your unit work harder, driving up the monthly energy bill.

5. This one just saves money. Sign up for Hawaiian Electric’s Energy Scout to allow the utility to turn off you hot water heater briefly during system emergencies. You will earn $3 tax credit on your monthly electic bill.

6. Take the energy pledge. Start saving energy by declaring your commitment. Download your pledge card at www.heco.com , sign it and place it on the fridge where everyone can see it.

It is always good this time of year to make sure you are up to code in your own home, vacation rental and even homes you may be trying to sell. Here are some quick pointers to help you get started in preventing fires.

 Smoke Detectors:

Test monthly and change the batteries annually. When it “Chirps”, that means the battery is low and needs replacement.

Install inside and outside of bedrooms, on every floor and also in the hallways.

Fire Extinguishers:

Check gauges once a year. Have the correct size and type. Know when to use them, on small fires only. Learn how to use them.

 Acronym : PASS Pull the pin , Aim the nozzle, Squeeze the trigger, Sweep side to side at the base of the fire as you approach.

Electrical hazards : Refrain from using extension cords as “permanent” wiring. Assure all electrical outlets and light switches have cover plates in good working order. Use only proper wiring techniques (no power strip extension cord to power strip connections. No quick fix Mc Gyver rig ups)

Fire Loading: Clear excess Brush, household waste and rubbish from around the home. Remove excess clutter from inside your home. Keep area around electrical equipment and appliances free from combustible materials.

Escape Plan : Have a primary and secondary plan. Practice both of those plans, stay low- Smoke tends to rise. Keep all doorways and hallways clear.

Other Safety Tips: Keep lighters and matches out of reach of children. Keep all dangerous and hazardous items secured. Stop drop and roll if clothing is on fire. Other effective methods are smothering the fire or to remove the clothing if flammable liquids are involved. Keep flammable liquids (gas, paints, cleaners, etc. ) in its approved containers and store away from ignition or heat sources.

It is always nice to get positive reviews year after year from our guests.  

Our philosophy is simple - We want to personally know the preference of accommodations for each guest.  Then we can provide the best home, services and setting for an ideal vacation.  We allow the dolphins, whales, turtles, sunsets and Hawaii to take care of the rest.  We want to personally know the preferences of each owner and strive to do the very best to accommodate their wishes while keeping our services and care of the properties up to very high standards.   Hawaii Vacation Rentals, Inc. is a licensed real estate company located in the charming beach community of Puako on the Kohala coast nestled very quietly between some of the most world renowned resorts such as the Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani and Fairmont Orchid as well as the Four Seasons at Hualalai. To contact us:  www.vacationbigisland.com or e-mail seaside@aloha.net and our toll free number at (800) 332-7081.  If you call after hours or on the week end, you will reach our wonderful answering service!  Please let us know that you found us through this newsletter and we will offer you one free night for a seven night reservation!8/17/2002  “What a great place” We have enjoyed our stay here and the sunsets were wonderful. We didn’t get a chance to do half the stuff we wanted so we will just have to come back. Snorkeling on the beach and seeing the turtles was great!” Tim and Cynthia B.,  Port Alberni , British Columbia

2/10/2004 “What a great location” high up to catch the breeze, see the sunset and walk to the beach. We appreciate the extras, beach towels, a big coffee pot, ice packs, sand chairs, able to wash clothes, grill and toilet paper!! What a great place for our needs, to be together” The Ericsons

6/29/2005 “We had a beautiful family vacation” everyone - ages 5 to 60 , had a fantastic time.

5/28/2006  Whale’s Tail– Puako.  ” Whale’s Tail is a fabulous rental property. The furnishings and layout are wonderful , and the location may be the best  in Puako. Puako itself is an undiscovered gem. The beach outside of the house is perfect for small children to play in and practice their snorkeling. When the tide goes out., exploring the tidepools can last for hours and of course we viewed lots and lots of sea turtles in our little cove. This was a fabulous Hawaiian vacation we will never forget” Brett, Lorraine, Emily and Grace B.

08/24/2008

Dear Patty, Jonathan, Debi and the Hawaiian Vacation Rentals Team: This is just a short note to tell you how much we enjoyed our recent stay in Puako.  The Beach Banyan was terrific!  It was clean and fresh when we checked in and everything worked beautifully.  There was a lovely tropical flower arrangement waiting for us on the dining table.  The house was fully equipped and we also enjoyed great outdoor furniture.  With one phone call, Jonathan delivered to our door a couple of ocean kayaks which we enjoyed using at all times of day.  Please feel free to use me as a client reference or use any part of my comments in a testimonial.  You team delivered a professional and attentive approach to our vacation experience from the reservation process and accommodations to recommendations about where to eat and what to do during our Puako stay.  We are already looking forward to our return trip next August. Thank and warm regards,

Reed and Dayle Eisenhauer

PrinceDance presents:

Vis Viva!

An ecological dance and drama thriller!

PrinceDance will be premiering a new work entitled Vis Viva on May 2nd and
3rd at the Kahilu Theatre.
Vis Viva is latin for living force and this evening length work focuses on
the hot topic of renewable energy.
A multimedia dance and drama ecological thriller so full of energy it will
generate it’s own electricity!

May 2nd at 7pm and May 3rd at 2pm
Kahilu Theatre, Waimea Hawaii
Adutls $20, Youth $10, Kids under 5 $5

Box office: 808-885-6868

www.princedance.org

Often times people ask about the local hospital and what it has to offer, especially since many of our owners are retired or in the process of retirement. This is from the (NHCH) Hospital home page. Take a look. Patricia Freeman has helped raise funds to support this diverse hospital.

North Hawaii Community Hospital. http://www.fivemtn.org/images/topnav_02.jpg

Cradled in the foothills of the dormant volcano, Kohala, North Hawai’i Community Hospital (NHCH) is the first in the country to integrate the latest Western, technology-based medicine with ancient Hawaiian, Asian, and holistic healing arts. Its vision is to become the most healing hospital in the world. The 35-bed, acute care facility, located in Waimea, opened in 1996 and was ranked No. 1 nationally in 1997 for patient satisfaction by Dallas-based Solution Point, a survey company that rates hospitals from the patient’s perspective.

NHCH offers a full spectrum of acute care services with a commitment to patient-centered care that treats the whole person - mind, body, and spirit - in the context of family, culture, and community. Designed as a “healing instrument”, NHCH is fast becoming a prototype for the practice of blended medicine.

Friends of the Future came into being in 1988 when an unusual collection of people (corporate CEO’s, taro farmers, professors, scientists, religious and cultural practitioners and others) met, at first having no connection other than their friendship with organization founder Kenneth Brown. However, over two years of meetings and coming to know one another, the group identified several common values centered on the Hawaiian culture and a common dream for healthy communities.

Friends of the Future’s guiding principles are:

• The spirit of giving; Invoking the spirit of giving and aloha is the essence of Friends of the Future.
• Honoring and learning from the native Hawaiian culture; Friends of the Future is rooted in the spirit and values of the Hawaiian culture.
• Face-to-face, heart-to-heart communications; When we talk face-to-face and heart-to-heart, stereo-types and prejudices fade and, gradually, “them” becomes part of “us”.
• Diversity and trust; We believe diversity is life-sustaining in both nature and society. Communication among diverse peoples, values, cultures and world views, brings the old and the new together to create a better way. And we also create a place where people are listened to and feel trusted.
• Bringing out the best in everyone; In this environment of diversity and trust, we facilitate opportunities where people are willing to share their values and wisdom, and to contribute their very best.
• Lokahi: Peace, Unity and Harmony; We seek to create and sustain a cooperative environment.
• Commitment to follow-up and action; It is through our actions that we demonstrate our commitment to our cause.

Visit the Friends of the Future web site: fofhawaii.org   A great local program to support and donate to.

I found this old book by Eliza D. Maguire called Kona Legends.  I like the older Hawaiian books because they seem to contain little facts I can’t find anywhere else.

“Wainana’lii (The water belonging to the Chiefs) was considered the largest and most celebrated fish-pond on the Big Island of Hawaii, in fact, it was said to contain over 600 acres of ponds. It was situated near Kiholo. One map dated May, 1925, Wiananarii (a) is written on the Western coast of Owyhee, as the island of Hawaii was then called. The map was published, according to the Paradise of the Pacific, London, November 7, 1843, by John Arrowsmith. So it shows, this pond must have been of some note before the great flow of 1859 destroyed it. 

A legend is told of two young girls who were stationed as guards over this great fish pond.  They were kupua, wizards, and had two forms, a human and a lizard one. They were often seen in their lizard form sunning themselves on the stone wall of the pond. One day these two girls were in their human form, and had just returned from a swim in the sea, and were drying their flowing tresses, when the Goddess Pele who had come down the slope of Mauna Loa, and had crossed over, and was racing down from Puuanahulu to destroy the Fish-Pond of Wainana’Lii ; she seems to have had a mania for destroying fish-ponds; spied these two beautiful girls, and before they could move, she covered them with her mantle of lava.

Kaniku (ku means standing) and Kanimoe (moe means lying down or sleeping) are now two lava slabs, side by side, and as their names indicate, one erect and the other flat, just as Pele had caught them. These two lava slabs are on the old trail across the lava flow of 1859, and twenty -five and thirty years ago, this rough trail was the only one traveled along the coast between Kona and South Kohala. The trail was marked with the bones of animals who had fallen on the way, and also with white coral stones. In sections of this trail, on ancient lava flows, are markings, (Petroglyphs) representing ancient Hawaiian myths and history. Pele seems to have respected these marks of history; they may have represented some eulogy in her favor, and spared them. No one will ever know, though, how many she may have ruthlessly covered.”

Petroglyphs line this coastline and should not be tampered with. Always respect the heritage of this Island and know we are guests in a true Paradise!

I am going for my first time buyer loan and I got confused on all of the options. Thank you Lynn for helping me understand the different options. Jonathan

 From Lynn Karlson of Point Financial, Inc.

Questions should be forwarded to her address.

 Lynn Karlson [lynn@ptfinancial.com]

 808-329-0900

 http://loanlookup.fanniemae.com/loanlookup/

First Off…..  These programs are two separate programs so please be careful when switching mindset between one and the other!!  EverBank will be offering the Fannie Mae product and the below information is in regards to the Fannie Mae DO Refi Plus!!  I have also attached the handout many have already received from me.

FAQs:  Q: Does the loan have to be refinanced through the same company that currently is servicing the loan?A: No, The Fannie Mae product allows their loans to be refinanced by any wholesale lender offering the program

 Q: Is there a $2,500 restriction of fees on the Fannie Mae Program?A: No, that only applies to the Freddie Mac Program, please approach a DO Refi Plus the same way you would a regular rate/term refinance.  The borrower’s cash back can be equal to the lesser of 2% or $2,000. 

Q: Is there a max DTI requirement for EverBank?A: No, there is no max that we add to the product.  We will take as high of a DTI that DO allows regardless of the change in payment.  In fact, we have no overlays on this product!! 

Q: Do you have a maximum amount of financed properties?A: No, unlike our other Conforming Products, there is no maximum amount of financed properties on this product.

 Q: Is there a minimum FICO score?A: In April there is a minimum FICO required for LTVs over 80% of 580.  Starting in May there will be no minimum FICO required for all LTVs!! 

Q: Can the LTV exceed 105%?A: No, in April it is maxed to 95% for owner occupied and 80% for second home and investment.  Starting in May the max will be 105% for all occupancies. 

Q: Are appraisals never required?A: No, you need to make sure the findings allow for an appraisal waiver if you want to avoid an appraisal.

 Q: Have the Jumbo Conforming Limits reverted to last years limits on this product?A: Not yet, while we do anticipate these limits increasing, there is not an exact date of the change. 

Q: Is Mortgage Insurance required? A: Depends on the current position the borrower is in.  If they do not have MI now, then they should not need MI regardless of the LTV.  Make sure that the findings are not requiring the MI and if the borrower currently has MI they will e able to refinance in May while maintaining their current MI coverage.

   We are planning our annual earthday beach cleanup for Saturday April 25th. We plan to go to the newly reopened surf park in Kawaihae harbor and cleanup both the long stretch of beach and in the water. Email us at godiving@kohaladivers.com to sign up to join our event. As always we will provide refreshments, and free tanks for any certified volunteers. You don’t have to be a diver to sign up though, we need lots of cleanup on the beach too!!Read on for the facts on why keeping our beaches and oceans clean is a must do for our community!  Marine Debit facts About 230 million tons of trash is generated per year in the United States alone. Less than a quarter of that is recycled. Humans generate waste faster than it can be broken down and use up resources faster than they can be replaced. Two million plastic beverage bottles are used in the US every five minutes. 60,000 plastic bags are used in the US every five seconds. 106,000 aluminium cans are used in the US every thirty seconds. Six million tonnes of debris enters the world’s oceans every year. Approximately 80 percent of trash in our oceans and waterways comes from land - via wind and runoff from city streets and highways. About 20 percent of aquatic debris is generated from ships including floats and fishing gear. Nearly 90 percent of all marine debris is plastic. To date, plastic outweighs zooplankton 6:1. An estimated 46,000 pieces of plastic litter alone are floating on every square mile of ocean - 70 percent of which will eventually sink. The average person uses about 200 pounds of plastic in a year. Plastic industry experts expect that number to increase to 300 by the end of the decade. Each year, 15 billion pounds of plastics are produced in the US alone. Only 1 billion pounds are recycled. Plastics do not biodegrade. When plastic debris meets water it remains for centuries - breaking down slowly into smaller fragments and finally into plastic dust. Aluminum cans take up to 100 years to degrade and 6-pack holder rings 450 years. It takes glass bottles one million years to biodegrade in the natural environments. Entanglement and ingestion of fishing line, nets, rope and other debris has been reported in more than 260 animal species worldwide. An estimated 100,000 marine mammals including dolphins, whales, seals and sea turtles choke or get tangled in debris every year. Nearly 8 million items of debris weighing 7 million pounds were collected by about 35,000 volunteers worldwide during International Cleanup Day 2006. Nearly 300 species of defenceless wildlife suffers unnecessarily due to dangerous debris. More than 1 million seabirds are killed by aquatic litter each year. 86 percent of all sea turtles are affected by marine debris.