People who made a difference in Hawaii in 2007

18. Mike Dyer, a well-respected real estate agent on Kauai’s North Shore who in the early 1970s managed Ka Loko Reservoir for then owner C. Brewer, is a key witness in the investigation of the breach of Ka Loko Dam. he told Hawaii Reporter how he’d documented unsafe activity at the dam in the late 1990s and reported it to both the dam’s owner, automobile mogul James Pflueger, and to the state Department of Land and Natural Resources Kauai office. Dyer noted construction with heavy equipment along the edge of the Ka Loko Dam, which fronts the reservoir. Dyer became greatly troubled when he saw the dam’s main safety feature, a concrete spillway about 15 to 20 feet wide located 8 to 10 feet below the dam, was no longer visible, and instead was completely covered by dirt. With a background in engineering, experience in the Peace Corps with earthen dams, and the knowledge he had of Ka Loko as its previous caretaker, Dyer knew right away the serious implication the covering of the spillway had on the dam’s integrity. Too much water in the dam would flow over the top eroding the dam’s structure instead of being guided safely down the spillway. Substantial erosion would mean the dam would not hold. With Ka Loko filling up to as much as 500 million gallons of water, Dyer feared the worst could happen. His warnings were never heeded or even acknowledged. He has become a key witness in the criminal and civil cases against Pflueger. for more click here

What housing plunge?

What housing plunge? While many mainland real estate markets spent much of 2007 in free fall, prices in Hawaii proved quite capable of defying gravity. The number of transactions did drop, but most months saw median prices equaling or even exceeding 2006 levels. The only cloud on the horizon was an increase in rate resets for adjustable-rate mortgages, but any adverse effects of that seemed likely to slide into 2008.

Lowest Price Town House in Wailuku

Lowest Price Town House in Wailuku

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$427000

three bedroom, two bathroom

1100 Square Foot living

Open House 1 to 4 pm 01/06/08 & 01/07/08

This Kehalani Gardens townhouse has been built with many upgrades and freshly painted. A safe, comfortable, carefree, convenient 3 bedroom 2 full bath condo, shinny bamboo floors, Hunter Douglas wood blinds, custom closet organizers, tiled bathrooms, designer paint and a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The back yard is gated and fenced, a good place for kids and other growing things. This beautiful Plan A unit is located in a quiet secluded area with 2 parking spaces. A separate spacious locked storage unit is also included steps away from the townhouse.
easy to show just call me.

• Jeffery B. Griffin
  
• Realtor® ABR GRI e-Pro eCertified®
  
• Lucky We Live Hawaii
  
• 808-280-3442 cell
  
• 888-248-4015 toll free/information/message/fax
  
• Hawaii MLS
  
• LuckyComeHawaii@yahoo.com
  
• Century 21 all islands
  
• 7 E. Kaahumanu Ave.
  Kahului, HI 96732
  

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Kehalani Gardens

Kehalani Gardens
Originally uploaded by luckycomehawaii

$427,000 Fee Simple
This Kehalani Gardens townhouse has been built with many upgrades and freshly painted. A safe, comfortable, carefree, convenient 3 bedroom 2 full bath condo, shinny bamboo floors, Hunter Douglas wood blinds, custom closet organizers, tiled bathrooms, designer paint and a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The back yard is gated and fenced, a good place for kids and other growing things. This beautiful Plan A unit is located in a quiet secluded area with 2 parking spaces. A separate spacious locked storage unit is also included steps away from the townhouse.

Loan Marketing Trends

if 6 months or over is checked off on the loan application, which is often the case now,
the lenders are all moving towards a five percent reduction in loan to
value from the existing program e.g. if someone qualified at 5% down and
the appraisal comes in 6 month & over marketing trend, the underwriter
cuts the approving loan to value to 90% loan to value and the borrower then needs
to come up with 10% down.

Maui County gets upgraded credit rating

WAILUKU – Maui County’s credit rating has been raised to AA – an upgrade that will improve the county’s ability to borrow money.

Fitch Rating and Standard & Poor’s raised the county’s credit rating from AA- to AA. Moody’s upgraded its rating of the county’s bond debt from Aa3 to Aa2.

The grades are considered by lenders in setting interest rates on county-issued bonds. Higher ratings often mean lower interest rates, reducing the cost of debt for taxpayers.

The county will be issuing around $35 million in bonds in January, to fund infrastructure projects.

County Finance Director Kalbert Young said the upgrade was “significant,” especially in light of the slowing economic climate in the state and across the country.

“It acknowledges a number of significant financial strengths of the county, some of which were the result of very proactive measures,” Young said.

In recent years, the county administration and Maui County Council have taken steps, such as establishing an emergency cash fund, and reducing the amount of money left unspent by departments from year to year, with an eye toward strengthening the county’s financial position.

“The county has overcome many challenges over the past 10 years to now be in a fiscal position of having a concrete financial base,” said Council Chairman Riki Hokama.

Christmas on Oahu

Jeff Xmas
Originally uploaded by luckycomehawaii

I had my Christmas on Oahu with Friends. The mask behind me are Jeff Gere's the story teller. He had a party and all kinds of story tellers showed up. That was way fun, he is a great host and a wonderful story teller.

cancel the declaration of drought for Upcountry Maui

WAILUKU — The Maui Board of Water Supply unanimously agreed today to support and recommend that the Department of Water Supply cancel the declaration of drought for Upcountry Maui, and continue the request for a voluntary 10 percent reduction in water consumption for customers whose water is supplied by the Central Maui Water System.

click here for more of the story

1,000-home Hawaii subdivision planned

A California partnership is moving ahead with plans to develop a nearly 1,000-home subdivision in south-central Maui despite opposition from the County Department of Planning and some nearby residents.

Ma'alaea Properties LLC recently filed a draft environmental impact statement for its estimated $400 million project called Ma'alaea Mauka proposed for 257 acres of former sugar-cane fields south of Wailuku.

for more click here

Rescued Maui sailor now on his way to Japan

Rescued Maui sailor now on his way to Japan

Advertiser Staff

WAILUKU, Hawai'i — A maui man was rescued from his stricken trimaran Thursday night and is now in his way to Japan, the Coast Guard said.

About 5 p.m. Thursday, the solo sailor aboard a 30-foot trimaran reported he was taking on water 230 nautical miles east of Maui and the U.S. Coast Guard began coordinating rescue efforts for the 43-year-old Wailuku man.

The Coast Guard was alerted to a 406 MHz distress beacon, which was activated by the man aboard the trimaran. He also called the Coast Guard in Honolulu on a satellite phone.

The trimaran, a three-hulled sailing vessel, suffered damage to the center hull after the starboard (or right-most) hull had broken in heavy seas and winds of 20 knots.

The Coast Guard requested assistance from the merchant ship, CS Victory, which was 60 miles away from the sinking trimaran and transiting across the Pacific to Japan.

The U.S. Navy provided a P-3 search plane from Kaneohe to fly over the sinking trimaran and provide the merchant ship with the coordinates for the distressed vessel.

The man suffered no injuries and is safely aboard the CS Victory bound for Japan, Coast Guard officials said.

"Basically, what saved his life was that he had all the necessary safety gear," said Lt. Cmdr. Matt Salas, Fourteenth Coast Guard District Command Center Supervisor and a Coast Guard search and rescue coordinator.

"He helped us help him and he helped take the 'search' out of search and rescue."

The Coast Guard is committed to keeping mariners safe and preventing loss of life through preparation and proper boating safety, Salas said.

the old Kahului Shopping Center

Alexander & Baldwin's plan for redeveloping the old Kahului Shopping Center on Maui includes a novel plan for dividing the project into condominiums.

Its subsidiary, A&B Properties, has proposed using a nested condominium approach for the mixed-use Kahului Town Center.

Nested condominiums have been used on the Mainland in large, mixed-use urban projects, where residential units and commercial units are managed by separate associations, said Kahului attorney Rick Kiefer, who presented the A&B plan to the state Real Estate Commission in October.

No other projects in Hawaii, to date, have proposed using nested condominiums, said Cynthia Yee, the commission's condominium specialist.

County sets up Web site to report storm damage

WAILUKU – With more public parks open and services restored around Maui County, county officials are turning their attention to assessing the damages and losses from the powerful Kona storm that struck last week.

Click Here For Full Story

The Maui County Civil Defense Agency announced Tuesday reports on storm-related damages can be filed online at www.mauicounty.gov through a link to “report storm damage.” Reports also can be called in to 270-7620 or 270-7285.

12th Memorial Tree Trimming set Sunday

12th Memorial Tree Trimming set Sunday

WAILUKU – Organizers of the 12th annual Memorial Tree Trimming invite the public to hang an ornament Sunday at Wailuku Union Church in the memory of a loved one who has died.

Heaven Sent Support Group for Bereaved Parents is organizing the event “in loving memory of our infants, children, teenagers and adults,” a news release about the event says.

Registration begins at 2 p.m., with the program at 2:30 p.m.

People may bring an ornament to place on the special Christmas tree and are welcome to personalize the ornament, such as adding a name and dates of birth and death. Paper ornaments are available for those unable to bring an ornament.

During the program, the name of the deceased loved one will be called, and family members and friends will be able to come up to place their ornament on the special tree.

The church is located at 327 S. High St. For more information, call Frances Nelson at 244-0125 or Robbie Pestana at 572-6516.

Comes with running water $395000

Comes with running water $399000
Originally uploaded by luckycomehawaii

Current Price Reduction today $380,000
96 days on the market.
No Money Down!
Great Terror Down!
Aloha ha ha

Kehalani Gardens

$463,000
fee simple

Is quality important to you? A State-of-the-Art unit is ready to be loved and lived in. This Kehalani Gardens townhouse has been built with many upgrades and freshly painted. A safe, comfortable, carefree, convenient 3 bedroom 2 full bath condo, shinny bamboo floors, Hunter Douglas wood blinds, custom closet organizers, tiled bathrooms, designer paint and a reverse osmosis water filtration system. The back yard is gated and fenced, a good place for kids and other growing things. This beautiful Plan A unit is located in a quiet secluded area with 2 parking spaces. A separate spacious locked storage unit is also included steps away from the townhouse.

Lucky Come Hawaii

Lucky come Hawaii
Originally uploaded by luckycomehawaii

A Book by Jon Shirota

Maui mayor asks for storm help

Mayor Charmaine Tavares said Maui needs help from state and federal officials because of heavy damage from wind and heavy rains.

Tavares said yesterday she did not have any estimates but has directed her department heads to gather information to prepare a request to the state and Federal Emergency Management Agency.

"This is not just a passing little rain shower," Tavares said. "This is a storm. I can tell you, I've lived here for 50-plus years ... and I've never seen a storm hit so many places at once."

Click Here for full story.

Foreign buyers keep Hawaii market bouyant

"Hawaii is the Monaco of the West Coast for the affluent," Eovino said. "Hawaii's international real estate market, this year, has the potential to be bigger than any year before."

The Canadians discovered Hawaiian real estate in the 1960s, the Saudis arrived in the 1970s and the Japanese came in the middle to late 1980s. Then left after heavy speculation created a housing bubble that caused the market to turn. Now, the Japanese and Canadian buyers are back, real estate experts here say, adding that there was greater demand for Hawaii from Oceania, Europe, China, South Korea and other parts of Asia.

For the whole story click here

The weakening of the U.S. dollar is drawing even more foreign interest. "There's been a noticeable increase in international buyers within the last 60 to 90 days," said Chason Ishii, president of Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties in Honolulu.

Similarly, more Canadian buyers are choosing to purchase Hawaiian real estate and capitalize on the best U.S. exchange rates they have seen in 30 years, Loughery said. "Five years ago, a $1 million property in the U.S. would have cost a Canadian buyer $1.6 million to purchase. Now it will cost them just under $1 million," she said. "We've seen a big change in the exchange rates in the last six to eight weeks, and everyone wants to go shopping."

When the dollar exchange rate fell to ¥114 from ¥122 several months ago, Hawaii saw a wave of Japanese buyers, said Sachi Braden, owner of Sachi Hawaii, a company here that specializes in selling to the high-end Asian market. "Right off the top, they are looking at about a 5 percent savings," she said.

Bush announces mortgage rate freeze plan

President Bush announced on Thursday a plan to freeze interest rates for five years for hundreds of thousands of strapped homeowners whose mortgages are scheduled to rise in the coming months.

"There is no perfect solution," he said. "The homeowners deserve our help. The steps I've outlined today are a sensible response to a serious challenge."

Seeking to counter criticism he is violating his free-market principles, Bush said the private-sector plan does not represent the imposition of a government solution to the mortgage crisis.

"We should not bail out lenders, real estate speculators or those who made the reckless decision to buy a home they knew they could not afford," he said.

Bush said that 1.2 million people could be eligible for help under the plan, developed in negotiations with the mortgage industry led by Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. But only a small fraction of that number will be subject to the rate freeze. Others would get assistance in refinancing with their lenders and moving into loans secured by the Federal Housing Administration, Bush said.

And the help only comes to those who ask for it, he said. Thousands of borrowers who are falling behind on their payments have been sent letters about the options, and Bush also urged people to call a new hot line: 1-888-995-HOPE.