For a second month in a row, Hawai'i was in the bottom half of states with the worst April foreclosure rates, as growth in local foreclosure filings continued to outpace the national average. There were 684 foreclosure filings in Hawai'i last month, more than triple the 216 in the same month last
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05/14/2009
The legislature, in their final days, overrode Gov. Lingle's vetoes and passed four measures that will increase taxes to balance the state budget. Democratic legislators increased state income taxes on the wealthy, the hotel-room tax, the conveyance tax on the sale of luxury and second homes, and
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05/10/2009
There's been a lot of controversy the last couple of weeks over a dive operator's proposal to begin shark-feeding tours in the waters of Maunalua Bay. Happily, the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board voted this week to adopt a resolution calling for a total statewide ban on shark tours (read my blog a
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05/02/2009
The House and Senate have passed a bill to raise income taxes on roughly the top 2.6% of the state's taxpayers. It would create three new income tax brackets in filing categories and gradually adjust the state's highest tax rate from the existing 8.25 percent to 11 percent depending on income. S
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04/24/2009
32 single family homes sold in Hawaii Kai during the first quarter, ranging in price from $500,000 - for a 3 BR/2 BA home in Kalama Valley - to $8,250,000 - for a 4 BR/6 BA (2 half baths) home in Koko Kai. This compares to 45 sales in the 1st quarter of 2008, with a price range of $551,000 to $6,
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04/18/2009
For more than 30 years, Hawaii Kai residents have fought to protect the Ka Iwi shoreline. 3 years ago, developer QRM Partners proposed to build 180 cabins on a portion of the coast, which was vehemently opposed (anyone who has driven/walked/surfed/golfed in this pristine area knows what 180 cabin
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04/09/2009
19 condos sold in March in Hawaii Kai, from $350,000 for a 1 bedroom in the Mauna Luan, 833 sq ft, 14th floor, to a high price of $600,000 for a 3 bedroom in Gateway Peninsula of 1632 sq ft. Longest days on market of the sales was 262 and shortest was 6. Buildings represented in sales were Colon
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04/05/2009
In March, 72 single family homes sold compared to 63 in February. The highest sale was a spectacular residence in Koko Kai, for a price of $8,250,000. List price was $9,500,000, interior sq ft 4,800, 4 bedrooms, 4 full baths/2 half baths, land area 0.406 acres. The lowest priced sale was an a
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04/05/2009
In May, 2004, the Polynesian Voyaging Canoe Hokule'a completed a month-long voyage of the Northwest Hawaiian Islands (NWHI). The voyage was part of a multi-year educational effort called "Navigating Change," designed to encourage the people of Hawaii to be better stewards of our island home. The
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03/24/2009
The Hawaii DLNR (Dept. of Land & Natural Resources) has published the Recreational Renaissance Plan, which proposes new and improved facilities at area harbors and beaches. The Plan is proposed as House Bill 980 House Draft 1, and defined as "a rebirth in the way we care for our land and ocean r
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03/17/2009
