Kailua Complete Streets Program - Get Involved!

​KAILUA COMPLETE STREETS PROGRAM

What are Complete Streets?

Complete Streets are part of a transportation and design approach that aims to create a comprehensive, integrated network of streets that are safe and convenient for all people. Kailua’s Complete Streets solutions are designed to accommodate people traveling by foot, bicycle, transit, or automobile, and of all ages and abilities.  Complete Streets principles move away from streets designed with a singular focus on automobiles toward a design approach that is context-sensitive, multimodal, and integrated with the community’s vision and sense of place. 

Complete streets in Kailua support healthy and sustainable communities through promoting physical activity, reducing vehicle emissions, increasing pedestrian and bicycle safety, and beautifying neighborhoods. The end result is a transportation network that provides safe travel, promotes public health, and creates stronger and more livable communities.

How Can You Get Involve in Complete Streets in Kailua?

Engineers and Planners will be available to discuss the

project with you.

Thursday, April 5 - Pop-up, Kailua Town Center, nearl Pier 1, 5:00 pm - 7:00 pm

Wednesday, April 11 - Walking Tour, Kailua District Park, 2:00 pm - 4:00 pm

Wednesday, April 11 - Community Meeting, Kailua District Park, 6:00 pm - 8:00 pm

If you have questions or require special accommodations to attend the Kailua community meeting, please contact Joanne Hiramatsu at jhiramatsu@gchdesign.com, or call (808) 846-3309 at least three (3) days prior to meeting.

Oahu Real Estate | Lanikai Beach Homes for Sale

Aloha ~ I realized that I haven’t written lately about what is going on in my own backyard.

Lanikai!

There are a lot of gorgeous Lanikai homes for sale right now, at various price ranges. There are grand Lanikai beach homes that could be called even mansions. There are also Lanikai Beach homes that are more like beach cottages. One of the great things about Lanikai homes for sale is that there is a lot of variety.

Lanikai recently had the most expensive sale on the island of Oahu.  This was not a Lanikai Beach home, but rather, was a hillside Lanikai home with the MOST extraordiary views. The home did have its own beach, but that was down a large hill. Lanikai real estate is still in high demand, as it is one of the most beautiful locations in all of Oahu. Whether you choose a beachfront home or waterfront home in Lanikai, of a Lanikai view home, you will be pleased, as all homes in Lankai are not too far from the white sandy beach and turquoise waters we all lovel

HERE ARE THE HOMES FOR SALE IN LANIKAI NOW - especially check out 142 Haokea Drive - “The Perfect Lanikai Beach Home”

Follow Your Path to Paradise ...

This one leads to Lanikai Beach in Kailua :)

Kailua real estate is hotter than ever. Contact Home Shoppe Hawaii to learn what’s available now in Lanikai, Kailua.

~ Aloha

Kailua Fireworks & 4th of July Parade Independence Day 2016

Aloha ~ Kailua Fireworks are on again and this year the festiviites include an Airshow!

The local Kailua Independence Day Parade will start the day. The Kailua 4th of July Parade route starts on Kainalu Road, at the North end, on Palapu Street, near Kainalu Elementary School.

Pull up your lawn chair early because it gets crowded. The Kailua Idependence Day Parade ends at Kailua Intermediate School. There will be floats, bands, and entertainment as only Kailua knows how. 

 The Independence Day Parade in Kailua Town will be followed by a 4th of July Fireworks Show at Kailua Beach. This year, the Kailua Fireworks show wil be preceded by an Airshow.

__________________________

HERE’S THE PARADE & FIREWORKS SCHEDULE FOR KAILUA 2016

10 am-12 noon - Kailua 4th of July Parade

6 pm - Acrobatic Air Show

6:30 pm - Marine Corps Forces Pacific Band

8pm - Kailua Fireworks Show 2016

Get to Kailua Beach early for the best fireworks viewing spots.

__________________________

There is FREE Public Parking in Kailua 3pm-11pm at Macy’s parking lot (with Shuttle), Kailua Elementary, Kailua Intermediate, Lanikai Elementary, and Kainalu Elementary AND a SHUTTLE from Macy’s 3:30-10:30 to Kailua General Store on Kuulei Road.

SEE YOU THERE!!

Kailua Real Estate | Wordless Wednesday

KAILUA REAL ESTATE ON OAHU

The Bright Side to All of This Rain ...

We hope that everyone is staying safe and dry in the effects of Tropical Storm Ana.

Oahu Real Estate Broker Featured on HGTV House Hunters Kailua Real Estate Episode

Kailua REALTOR and Principal Broker of Oahu Real Estate Brokerage, Home Shoppe Hawaii, Yvonne Ahearn, and her clients, Alex and Eliza Olaru, are being featured on the September 1, 2014 episode of HGTV House Hunters, shown at both 7pm and 10pm HST.

The House Hunters clients looked at real estate in Kailua, Oahu (a beach community 14 miles from Honolulu) including a Lanikai beach home and a Kailua home on the Kawainui Canal, as well as a fabulous view home in Kaneohe’s Lulani Ocean area. The Olaru’s budget was about $1.75 million. The episode was produced by the Laura Patterson of Pie Town Productions. Camera, sound, and production assistance by Jeff Santos and Dominic Pipia III, and Christine Kaaloa.

Left to Right: Dominic Pipia III, Jeff Santos, Alex Olaru, Eliza Olaru, Laura Patterson, Yvonne Ahearn, and Christine Kaaloa. Photo by Diane Pizarro. The Kailua home they toured was in the Koolaupoku neighborhood of Kailua and was at 833 Kainui (Duck) Road, on the Kawainui Canal. It was a large, two-story, new construction home, with a gourmet kitchen full of high-end applicances, and had beautiful spacious rooms and bathrooms. Because the Olarus also live with Eliza’s parents, as well as their two sons, the attached apartment in this home was especially attractive, as was the huge interior square footage. It featured an outdoor kitchen and screened lanai, with beautiful Kailua hillside and canal views. This home was listed for $1.75 million. This home had many of the modern features that Alex was looking for and was nearest to Kailua Beach where Alex prefers to spend time body boarding, and where their sons paddle outrigger canoes.

Here are some photos of this beautiful Kailua home:

Photos courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Suzy Kruppa, listing realtor.

Photos courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Suzy Kruppa, listing realtor.

Photos courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Suzy Kruppa, listing realtor.

Photos courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Suzy Kruppa, listing realtor.

The Lanikai, Kailua home featured was, of course, in the Lanikai neighborhood of Kailua and was located in the interior of the Lanikai loop. Since it was on Haokea street, this home was immediately adjacent to one of the best beach accesses in Lanikai, making a quick morning stroll on the beach a breeze. This home was competitively underpriced at $1.5 milion and featured an older, but high-end kitchen, a huge 14,000+ square foot lot, and separate cottage. The downside to this single-level plantation style home is that 3 of the four bathrooms in the main house were in need of a remodel. This home was built originally in the 1930’s so had some of the beach house charm, like french doors, that Eliza was looking for. It also was closest to Eliza’s favorite swimming beach, Lanikai.

Here are some photos of this charming Lanikai beach home:

Lanikai Beach Cottage and Back of House as seen from huge yard. Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Broker, Myra Brandt, Kahala Assoc.

Lanikai Beach. Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Broker, Myra Brandt, Kahala Assoc.

Lanikai Beach House Kitchen. Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Broker, Myra Brandt, Kahala Assoc.

The last home shown on the House Hunters episode was something that Home Shoppe Hawaii’s broker thought might appeal to both buyers, Eliza and Alex. Located about 10 miles away, in the community of Kaneohe’s Lulani Ocean area, this home had stunning views of Kaneohe Bay from two levels. The home had many of the plantation cottage type details that Eliza liked, but was completely remodeled and featured the upgrades that Alex preferred. The home had deeded ocean access, just across the Kamehameha Highway, though the beach did not really compare to either Kailua Beach or Lanikai Beach. This home was listed at $1.75M.

Here are some photos of this stunning Kaneohe view home:

Photo courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Agent Diane C. Pizarro, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.

Photo courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Agent Diane C. Pizarro, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.Photo courtesy of Photo Courtesy of HICentral MLS and Listing Agent Diane C. Pizarro, Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.Which amazing house did this House Hunters Kailua couple pick??? Watch the episode tonight and find out!!

OTHER ARTICLES ON THIS TOPIC: 

Home Shoppe Hawaii broker, Oahu couple to be featured on HGTV’s ‘House Hunters’

Do You Want To Be a Star on HGTV’s House Hunters?

Lanikai Pillbox Hike: Will The City Maintain This Area or Close Access?

Have you hiked up to the Lanikai Pillboxes? This Lankai, Kailua hike is one of the favorites for locals and visitors alike. When in Lanikai, just look up to the ridge that is behind the homes in Lanikai. You will see some old cement bunkers on the hill just past the area of the Lanikai Neighborhood Park. The entrance to this hike is on Kaelepulu Street near the Mid-Pacific County Club. Parking is not ideal there. You may be towed, so be careful where you park and, of course, respectful of the neighbors, as the entrance to the trailhead is admist several Lanikai homes.

This hike offers breathtaking views of the ocean, Mokulua islands, mountain ranges and other areas of Windward Oahu. We hope the DNLR will confirm the safety of the bunkers and keep the hike open to enjoy! Read more on this Topic below:

http://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/story/26136560/lanikai-pillbox-deteriorating-making-hikers-nervous

Kailua Real Estate | Old Kailua Homes & Businesses Kailua Beach 1958

FOR THROWBACK TH - A look at Hawaii life in Kailua Oahu, circa 1958.  

For the VIDEO, SEE BELOW.

Continue Reading ...

Kailua 4th of July Fireworks and Parade | Kailua Oahu Activities

Happy 4th of July All! Today is the day for the Kailua 4th of July Parade and Fireworks Independence Day Celebration. Kailua has always been a great place to enjoy 4th of July activities on Oahu and is the location of the only Independence Day Parade on Oahu.

Continue Reading ...

Kailua Fireworks 2014 - Donations are Needed from the Kailua Community

Aloha ~ As many of you know, Kailua has traditionally had one of the best 4th of July Fireworks displays on the island of Oahu. Unfortunately, each year, the Kailua fireworks must be funded privately, by our community.  The outcome of the fireworks display, in the past, has often been uncertain until just shortly prior to the 4th, when enough funds have been contributed.  And, in 2012, there were no fireworks in Kailua at all.

4th of July in Kailua is very festive. It starts with the only 4th of July Parade on the island of Oahu. Floats, put together by schools, businesses, and other community organizations, can be found traveling down Kainalu Avenue beginning around 10:00 am. Kailua residents, tourists, and residents from all around Oahu line the street, to watch and participate in a relatively small, local, yet still very colorful, parade. Fourth of July afternoons in Kailua are usually spent at Kailua or Lanikai Beach, or in neighborhood backyards and house parties, where residents and visitors cook out and spend time with friends and family. The culmination of the Kailua Independence Day festivities is the Kailua Independence Day Fireworks Show. Usually, the fireworks are set off from the ocean, at Flat Island, off of Kailua Beach. The show can be seen from the beach and from many homes and rooftops. Some people also watch fireworks from the informally conducted boat parade on the Kaelepulu Stream. Thousands of people usually attend Kailua Fireworks.

The goal for Kailua Fireworks is to raise $80,000 this year.  The funds are being collected at local businesses, such as the Kalapawai Market. You can also donate at the Kailua Fireworks Website. 

The Kailua Chamber of Commerce recently had a really fun fundraiser, held at the Kaelepulu Streamfront home of Don and Jana Holden.   

It was a beautiful setting, with great food and drinks, a raffle, and a silent auction. There were also boat rides on the Kaelepulu Stream, to help raise additional funds.

 

However, Kailua Fireworks still needs more help from the community to raise enough for the Kailua Fireworks in 2014.

Please help in any way you can and join us for a great time on the 4th of July!

President Obama Set to Leave Oahu After Holiday Vacation in Kailua

Living in Kailua is wonderful.  It’s also a great place to vacation. Our white sand beaches and turquoise waters are appealing to most everyone who loves a smallish beach town, with friendly people and beautiful scenery.  Even the President of the United States loves Kailua. He comes here on vacation almost every year.

President Barack Obama has spent the last few weeks in Kailua, enjoying all it has to offer. During part of this trip, he was entertaining foreign dignitaries, as well. Tonight, he is reportedly dining at Buzz’s Steak House, which has completely closed off an area which is close to Kailua Beach and Lankikai, with the motorcade and security. While the President has been in Kailua, he’s reportedly made visits to most of his usual places, like Island Snow, Lanikai General Store, and of course, the golf courses and Marine Corps Base, for a workout.

My family and several friends had the unique pleasure of shaking President Obama’s hand and chatting with him a bit on the Mid-Pacific Golf Course in Lanikai, on New Year’s Day. This was a very special experience, especially for my husband, because each time my son and I had the opportnity to encounter Mr. President in the past (2009) and (2010), my husband was working, or deployed to Iraq in the USMC. 

This is what it looks like when the President of the United States is about to shake your hand:

Our friend, Tom, got some great footage. Here is a photo of my husband (in the Scottish cap) and son (in the green) with the President. That’s my phone right in front of the President. A REALTOR can’t go anywhere, even to meet the President, without her phone! (LOL)

No matter your politics, it is a pretty cool thing to shake the hand of the President. He was very nice and friendly to us. We enjoy his visits to Kailua!

~ Aloha

Kailua Commercial Real Estate to be Sold by Kaneohe Ranch and Castle Foundation

Kailua commercial real estate may never again be the same, since the Harold K.L. Castle Foundation is now selling its commercial real estate portfolio which is managed by Kanoehe Ranch.  These Kailua real estate holdings were recently put on the market, according to the Pacific Business News, this morning.

They did not say what the offer price for the Kailua real estate is, but it is my estimation that Kaneohe Ranch’s Kailua real estate holdings include about 3/4 of all Kailua commercial real estate, so the price will be in the hundreds of millions, or even a billion dollars.  The Castle Foundation owns interests in the Kailua commercial real estate in downtown Kailua shopping centers where Whole Foods, Safeway, Foodland, Long’s Drugs, Macy’s and Times Market are located, among other areas and major tenants. The Kaneohe Ranch portfolio also includes interests in some Kaneohe, Honolulu and Mainland locations.

The effect on its Kailua tenants and the future development of Kailua Town, in general, remains to be seen. Kaneohe Ranch has been progressively tearing down and rebuilding, and refurbishing commercial buildings in Kailua with an overall goal of creating a walkable, pedestrian, and community friendly Kailua Downtown Plan.

Earlier this year, Kaneohe Ranch also closed on the sale of over 67 acres in the Hamakua Hillside and Marsh to the State of Hawaii, as part of its wetland and watershed protection, endangered species protection, open space preservation, and public education and recreation efforts.  In 2011 Target Corporation bought a large parcel of the Castle/Kaneohe Ranch property for development of a Kailua store for $22.5M.

Whole Foods Shopping Center Living Wall

President Obama Arrives on Oahu to Spend Christmas with His Family

Last night President Obama and his family arrived on Oahu for the start to their Christmas holiday. As is traditonal for them, they are staying in the beautiful and picturesque beach town of Kailua, Oahu, where I also live. The President’s sister, Maya Soetoro-Ng and other family members live on Oahu, and the President was born in Honolulu.

Lanikai, Kailua Beach and Mokulua Islands by Tomas del Amo Kailua Real Estate Photographer

Continue Reading ...

Kailua Christmas Lights 2012: Wordless Wednesday

Caste Hospital Christmas Tree Lights Up the Entrace to Kailua Town

______________

Please contact Home Shoppe Hawaii for all your Oahu real estate needs: Honolulu Real Estate, Kailua Real Estate, Kaneohe Real Estate, Hawaii Kai Real Estate. Yvonne Ahearn, B08-721-8088.

Light Up Kailua - December 5, Tree-Lighting Ceremony

Holiday season is here and it is almost time for the upcoming Light it up Kailua holiday tree lighting ceremony in Kailua. The giant tree at Castle Medical Center, at Kalanianaole Hwy and Kailua Road, will be strung with thousands of lights for the event.  Last year’s event featured a trolley ride, a live nativity scene, and many other festivities.

This year, the festivities will start at 5:00pm on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, with celebrity M.C.s, Gregg Hammer (Island 98.5) and Dawn O’Brien (The FISH FM 95.5). There will be performances by the Marine Forces Pacific Band (6:15 p.m.) Vaihi (7:30 p.m.) and a special perfomrance by Barrett and Tara Awai.

Event Parking will be available at the Kailua Town Center, Christ’s Church Uniting Disciples and Presyterians (1300 Kailua Road) and Faith Baptist Church (1230 Kailua Road). A shuttle to Castle Medical Center from Kailua Town Center and Pier One will run regularly, beginning at 5:00 pm. No parking on Manu Aloha street adjacent the the Castle E.R.

Come early, listen to Christmas music and enjoy a picnic in the lawn. Hot nacho bar available for purchase in the Bistro tent. See the lighting of the tree, visit with Santa and Mrs. Claus, enter a drawing for great prizes, participate in keiki activities and partake in holiday munchies.

See you there!

Kailua Tree Lighting Ceremony at Castle Hospital

__________________

Please contact Home Shoppe Hawaii for all your Oahu real estate needs: Honolulu Real Estate, Kailua Real Estate, Kaneohe Real Estate, Hawaii Kai Real Estate. Yvonne Ahearn, B08-721-8088.

Kailua Sunsets No Ka 'Oi

Kailua Sunset viewed from Enchanted Lake Home on the Kaelepulu CanalWhat a beautiful sunset this evening! The colors are just gorgeous. Another “lucky we live Hawaii” day!

~Aloha~

______________

Please contact Home Shoppe Hawaii for all your Oahu real estate needs: Honolulu Real Estate, Kailua Real Estate, Kaneohe Real Estate, Hawaii Kai Real Estate. Yvonne Ahearn, B08-721-8088.

Lanikai Surf Festival in Lanikai, Kailua - 2012

This Friday, October 19, 2012 through Saturday, October 20, 2012, don’t miss the Second Annual Lanikai Surf Festival. The Lanikai Surf Festival will be held in Lanikai Community Park in Kailua (corner of Aalapapa and Kaiolena) and benefits the Wounded Warrior Project (an organization to benefit injured service members), AccesSurf (an organization helping those with disabilities have access to ocean recreation and water sports), and the Lanikai Neighborhood Association.

The Lanikai Surf Festival is free of charge and open to the public. The Lanikai Surf Festival features surf gear and craft booths, surf films, food, and a Stand Up Paddle “SUP” race. On Friday evening, starting at 7:30 two surf films will be shown. The SUP race (entry fee $45) will start Saturday morning at 7:00 am for registration.

Vendors of surf-related products, gear and clothing, and crafts will show their wares at the craft and vendor exhibition from 10:00am-3:00pm on Saturday.

The 2012 Lanikai Surf Festival finishes up with two more films on Saturday evening, starting at 7:30pm

FILM SCHEDULE:

Friday, October 19, 2012: Morning of the Earth and Blue Horizon

Saturday, October 20, 2012: Come Hell or High Water and Free Ride

The Event Manager is Mark Librie of Kailua. Don’t miss this fun-filled Kailua Event in Lanikai Kailua!

Lanikai Kailua Moonrise by Tomas del Amo