Karen Willliamson's (mauikaren) Blog

The resort real estate market in Hawaii has been on the rise since 2004.  The average price of a single family home in Master planned communities like Wailea on Maui, and Mauna Lani on the Big Island, have more than doubled since 2004.  Average price for single family homes in these master planne...

Are big box stores hurting Maui's local economy and island style living?  Are the big box stores putting the Mom and Pop stores out of business and then sending their profits to the mainland (or in some cases forign countries)? This is a big debate on Maui right now.  Recently Maui County Council...

There has been huge interest in this unusual Maui real estate offering.  Kai Ani Village is a new development in Kihei that offers both residential and commercial space.  With 20 live/work residences and 79 home style condos located on the corner of Lipoa St South Kihei Rd, a short walk to the be...

Hurricane Flossie passed by Maui early Wednesday morning with no major harm done.  This hurricane which was a category four on Sunday, veered slightly west as it passed by the islands and diminished in size and stregnth. The Big Island closed their schools and many businesses and opened shelters....

New planning director Jeffrey Hunt responds to illegal transient vacation rentals in Maui County. He feels his job is to enforce the law and that the previous administration has "muddied an already complex situation" by allowing these vacation rentals to remain open.  Advocates of Hunts new polic...

Soon the Hawaii Superferry will be arriving on the Hawaiian islands, it has been a major controversy here.  A portion of the public has requested an Environmental Impact Study to be done, the request has been denied and it has been fast tracked forward.  This "Superferry" will allow travelers and...

In Maui Hawaii, our jobless rate dropped to 1.5%.  That rate is 1/3 the national average.  The economy is much hotter in Hawaii on average then across the country.  (along with the temperature!) Just about the only people not working these days are those between jobs or who don't want to work. Wh...