Honolulu ADU Accessory Dwelling Units - Permits Now Available in Honolulu

Recently, several important changes were made to the housing and zoning laws in the City and County of Honolulu, Hawaii regarding Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs).  Bill 20 and Bill 21, amend Chapter 21 of the Revised Ordinances and now allow new permits for ADUs on many Oahu properties.

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The Bright Side to All of This Rain ...

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

Post by My Kailua.

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 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!

Ka Malanai in Kailua Condos Available Outside of Lottery

Ka Malanai has condos still available!  For buyers who have not signed up for the Ka Malanai in Kailua lottery, there are several units that are available without participating in the lottery. These are in Buildings 1 and 2.  Please contact me for more information on how to purchase these units.

PLEASE NOTE: Availability is first come, first served and subject to change at any time.

Ka Malanai in Kailua Availability

Floor Plan	INT SQ FT	BR	BA	LANAI(S)	LANAI SQ FT	TOTAL	PRICES
Aoloa A-1 #1205 #2205	1,285	2	2	Y (1)	116	1,401	$756,755 $778,755
Wana’ao A-4 #1204 #2204	1,287	2	2	Y (1)	116	1,403	$759,755 $781,755
Kakahiaka G-1 #1102 #2102	1,433	3	2	Y (2)	163	1,586	$847,700 $867,700
Auwina G-2 #1202 #1302 #2202	1,433	3	2	Y (1)	100	1,533	$852,700 $857,700 $876,700
Hekili B-2 #1107 #1207 #2207	1,529	3	2	Y (2)	106	1,635	$872,755 $878,735 $900,375
Kailua E #2101	1,811	3	2	Y (wrap)	241	2,052	$952,755

Update on Sun, March 30, 2014 by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker

READ MORE ABOUT KA MALANAI IN KAILUA

Ka Malanai Lottery - Tomorrow at MidPac Country Club 10:00 am

The deadline for submission of applications for the first Ka Malanai Lottery ended today at noon.  I was there just minutes before the end, but was told they did not know exactly how many applicants were entering the this Kailua condo lottery.

My guess is that there are about 100 excited prospective purchasers of this much anticipated new construction condominium development in Kailua. When I asked earlier this week, there were 60 applicants. Formerly the Ironwoods, Ka Malanai is Kailua’s first new condo development in about 20 years. Sales are to be conducted using a lottery system, to account for anticipated high demand.

The lottery will be held at 10:00 am at the Mid-Pacific Country Club in Lanikai, Kailua in the Grand Ballroom.

PLEASE NOTE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUYER REPRESENTATION:  This is FREE to you. I would be happy to help you and am not in any way affiliated with and do not represent the developer. However, I must accompany you on the first visit to represent you as a BUYER’S AGENT. Please contact me at 808-721-8088 and I can help you get an application in, arrange a notary, and can set up an appointment for us to visit the sales office at your convenience.

In total there will be over 150 one, two, and three bedroom units in the Ka Malanai Lottery in Kailua.  These spacious units will span over beautifully landscaped grounds, in 6 low-rise buildings, with parking underneath three floors of condominiums. The Prices for Ka Malanai Units in the first condo lottery range from about $477K to about $953K.

The first Ka Malanai Lottery consists of units in Buildings 1 and 2, which will be completed first. There are the Northern-most buildings in the development (closer to Kailua Town center, than Waimanalo).  Interestingly, there is only one 1-bedroom unit in this lottery. Apparently, the developer is holding back 5 of the 6 1-bedroom condos in Ka Malanai Buildings 1 and 2, for later release. Several of the other units in Buildings 1 and 2 are also being held back. Click here for a complete Price List and Itemization of the Ka Malanai Lottery 1 units.

I will let you know how the Ka Malanai lottery went when it is over, later tomorrow.

For more information, such as Ka Malanai Prices, and Ka Malanai Floor Plans, please click here, or call Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, Principal Broker of Home Shoppe Hawaii, at 808-721-8088.

~ Aloha

Update on Sun, March 30, 2014 by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker

READ MORE ABOUT KA MALANAI IN KAILUA

Lottery for Ka Malanai - Price List for New Kailua Condos

Ka Malanai in Kailua 2017 UPDATE -

New Kailua Condo Buildings 7 and 8

The Price List for Ka Malanai lottery has been released. These are the prices for the Ka Malanai condo units which will be sold in the first lottery, to be held January 25, 2014.

PLEASE NOTE: NOT ALL THE UNITS IN BUILDINGS 1 and 2 will be part of the lottery. Only the following units will be part of this first Ka Malanai Lottery.

Model	Unit#s	BR/BA	IntSqFt	Floors	Prices
B2 - Hekili	1-107 1-207 2-207	3BR/2BA	1,529 SQ FT	1ST & 2ND	$872,755 $878,735 $900,375
B3 - Kuulei	2-307*	2BR/2BA	1,440 SQ FT	3D ONLY	$824,155*
A2 - Hahani	1-106 1-206 1-306 2-206	2BR/2BA	1,270 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$750,755 $756,755 $763,755 $778,755
A1 - Aoloa	1-205 1-305 2-105 2-205 2-305	2BR/2BA	1,285 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$756,755 $763,755 $771,755 $778,755 $785,755
A4 - Wana’ao	1-104 1-204 1-304 2-104 2-204	2BR/2BA	1,287 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$753,755 $759,755 $766,755 $774,755 $781,755
F - Akoakoa	1-103	1BR/1BA	719 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$477,755
G1-Kakahiaka	1-102 2102	3BR/2BA	1,433 SQ FT	1ST & 2ND	$847,700 $867,700
G2-Auwina	1-202 1-302 2-202 2-302	3BR/2BA	1,433 SQ FT	3D ONLY	$852,700 $857,700 $876,700 $883,700
E-Kailua	1-101 1-301* 2-101	3BR/2BA	1,811 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$931,755 $951,180* $952,755

*Includes upgraded cabinets. All other units have standard cabinets.

PLEASE NOTE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUYER REPRESENTATION:  This is FREE to you. I would be happy to help you and am not in any way affiliated with and do not represent the developer. However, I must accompany you on the first visit to represent you as a BUYER’S AGENT. Please contact me at 808-721-8088 and I can help you get an application in, arrange a notary, and can set up an appointment for us to visit the sales office at your convenience.

Lottery Announced for Ka Malanai Condos Kailua - Formerly the Ironwoods

KA MALANAI LOTTERY

UPDATE: March 24, 2014

Lottery for Ka Malanai Building 3 Announced Click Here for Details

_________________________________

It was just announced this morning that Ka Malanai’s first condominium homes in Kailua will be released for sale by lottery.

THE LAST DAY TO SUBMIT A KA MALANAI LOTTERY APPLICATION IS JANUARY 24TH at 12 NOON!

To obtain information on how to apply for the lottery, please read and download:

CLICK HERE: KA MALANAI LOTTERY INSTRUCTIONS & APPLICATION PACKAGE

The Ka Malanai Lottery Package Consists of:

1. Instruction Sheet (1 page)

2. Registration Form (1 page)

3. Notice of Lottery Number Reservation System & Receipt of Affadavit Form (2 pages)

4. Affadavit Form with Notary Page (4 pages)

5. Copy of Affadavit Form (3 pages)

IMPORTANT:

TO REGISTER FOR THE KA MALANAI LOTTERY, ONE MUST BE INTENDING TO OCCUPY THE RESIDENCE AS AN OWNER-OCCUPANT & MUST SIGN AN AFFADAVIT TO THAT EFFECT. ANY FINANCING USED MUST BE OWNER OCCUPANT FINANCING.

Ka Malanai in Kailua will have one, two and three bedroom condominium homes. 

1 Bedrooms  will  be starting from         $477,755 (FS)

2 Bedrooms will be starting from          $750,755 (FS)

3 Bedrooms will be starting from         $847,700 (FS)

PLEASE NOTE: NOT ALL THE UNITS IN BUILDINGS 1 and 2 will be part of the lottery. Only the following units will be part of this first Ka Malanai Lottery.

Model	Unit#s	BR/BA	IntSqFt	Floors	Prices
B2 - Hekili	1-107 1-207 2-207	3BR/2BA	1,529 SQ FT	1ST & 2ND	$872,755 $878,735 $900,375
B3 - Kuulei	2-307*	2BR/2BA	1,440 SQ FT	3D ONLY	$824,155*
A2 - Hahani	1-106 1-206 1-306 2-206	2BR/2BA	1,270 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$750,755 $756,755 $763,755 $778,755
A1 - Aoloa	1-205 1-305 2-105 2-205 2-305	2BR/2BA	1,285 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$756,755 $763,755 $771,755 $778,755 $785,755
A4 - Wana’ao	1-104 1-204 1-304 2-104 2-204	2BR/2BA	1,287 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$753,755 $759,755 $766,755 $774,755 $781,755
F - Akoakoa	1-103	1BR/1BA	719 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$477,755
G1-Kakahiaka	1-102 2-102	3BR/2BA	1,433 SQ FT	1ST & 2ND	$847,700 $867,700
G2-Auwina	1-202 1-302 2-202 2-302	3BR/2BA	1,433 SQ FT	3D ONLY	$852,700 $857,700 $876,700 $883,700
E-Kailua	1-101 1-301* 2-101	3BR/2BA	1,811 SQ FT	ALL FLOORS	$931,755 $951,180* $952,755

*Includes upgraded cabinets. All other units have standard cabinets.

There are a total of 28 Units available for this first lottery: 1 - 1BR, 16 - 2BR, & 11 - 3 BR units.

If you are selected but do not get the unit you want this time, you will have to enter the lottery again for the next phase of buildings.  You cannot save your place in line for the next lottery.

These same floor plans (but approximately 1/2 the number) with be available when Building 3 is opened up for lottery sales. Buildings 4, 5, and 6 are different Building Types and some of these floorplans (e.g., A2, A4, B2, & E) will not available in Type I & III buildings.

CLICK HERE: THE COMPLETE KA MALANAI KAILUA BROCHURE

More Information on Ka Malanai

Lottery applications will be accepted at the Ka Malanai Sales Center, starting TODAY! from 10:00am January 12th through 12:00 noon January 24th, 2014.  

PLEASE NOTE, IF YOU WOULD LIKE BUYER REPRESENTATION:  This is FREE to you. I would be happy to help you and am not in any way affiliated with and do not represent the developer. However, I must accompany you on the first visit to represent you as a BUYER’S AGENT. Please contact me and I can help you get an application in and can set up an appointment for us to visit the sales office at your convenience.

AFTER YOU REGISTER, YOU WILL WANT TO ATTEND THE PUBLIC LOTTERY FOR KA MALANAI, WHICH WILL BE HELD ON JANUARY 25, 2014 AT 10:00AM.

~ Aloha

Yvonne Ahearn, Principal Broker Home Shoppe Hawaii 808-721-8088

More Information on Ka Malanai 

Update on Sun, March 30, 2014 by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker

READ MORE ABOUT KA MALANAI IN KAILUA

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

Vote for the Best Real Estate Agents in Honolulu

Trouble viewing this? Open it online.

Dear HOME SHOPPE HAWAII BLOG reader,

Buying or selling a home is one of the biggest decisions you’ll make in your life. Every year, thousands of people wonder who they can depend on to guide them through the tricky and stressful process of searching for a home, a seller, a loan, a refinance or even the insurance required in Hawaii.  Hawaii property management also presents the possibility of endless complications.  

HONOLULU Magazine wants the answers. They need your help. Please take just five minutes with their Online Survey to tell us which real estate agent, insurance agent, and mortgage professional you would recommend to friends or family.

WE HOPE YOU WILL CONSIDER VOTING FOR THE BROKERS/AGENTS AT HOME SHOPPE HAWAII:

Yvonne Ahearn (B), Ana Kuna (S),
Travis Thurston (S), and/or Neil Ahearn (S).

Your opinion is very important to Honolulu Magazine! These votes will help shape the second Best of Real Estate issue of HONOLULU Magazine in April.  Thank you very much for your time, and thank you for reading HOME SHOPPE HAWAII BLOG.

If you have already completed the survey, thank you very much for your assistance. Otherwise, click here to take the survey now.

Sincerely,

Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn
Principal Broker
Home Shoppe Hawaii LLC 
2012 Best in Hawaii Real Estate: Top Agents
2011 & 2010 Aloha Aina “People’s Choice” Winner 

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

Hawaii Luxury Lifestyle May Now Include Trips to Outer Space?

Hawaii luxury real estate enthusiasts may be happy to learn that Hawaii luxury travel may now include rocket trips to outer space. Recently, the Pacific Business News reported that XCOR Aerospace, a Mojave, California-based company may be setting up shop on Oahu with its commercial space travel business.

In the XCOR spacecrafts, tourists and locals who have the means, can take flights of 30-40 minutes each, up into the earth’s atmosphere. These rocketships can fly up to 350,000 into outer space.

The good news for Oahu is that this could create up to 150 new jobs in Hawaii. The bad news for those Hawaii luxury lifestyle connoissuers and daredevils wanting to try their hand at being an astronaut, is the hefty pricetag: $95,000 per passenger! Still, just a drop in the bucket compared with the price of most Oahu Hawaii luxury real estate. (See Most Expensive Oahu Luxury Real Estate, here.) 

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

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Ka Malanai Floor Plan A3 Released by D.R. Horton

D.R. Horton has released another floor plan for the new Ka Malanai condo development in Kailua.  See Ka Malanai Floor Plan A3 below. These new construction condominiums are being eagerly awaited by many.  For more information and commentary on Ka Malanai in Kailua click here.

Ka Malanai Floor Plans A1 and A2 - Ironwoods Kailua Condos

Two floor plans for 2 of D.R. Horton’s new construction condominiums in Kailua have been released this far. Both are 2 Bedroom/2 Bath units. The A1 and A2 Floor Plans for Ka Malanai are below. For more information and recent commentary on Ka Malanai in Kailua click here.

KA MALANAI FLOOR PLAN 1A - 2 BEDROOM/2 BATH - 1,287 INTERIOR SQ. FT

KA MALANAI FLOOR PLAN A2 - 2 BEDROOM/2BATH - 1,270 INTERIOR SQ. FT.

New Whole Foods in Kailua - Opening 4/18/2012!

 

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Kahala Avenue Homes with Statue Garden & Museum - Part 2 of Kawamoto's Mission

Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto, aged 79, is making headlines yet again, and causing quite a stir on Oahu, particularly in the prestigious luxury home neighborhood of Kahala on Oahu. Kawamoto is known to be a little eccentric, bizarre even, and is not favored by many Kahala residents. Kawamoto has been the subject of a lot of negative media coverage over the years with communities and neighborhood boards registering complaints and even individual lawsuits against the real estate tycoon.

Kawamoto first hit the Hawaii real estate scene in the late 80’s during what is known as the “Japanese bubble.” At this time, the US dollar was down and many foreign investors, especially the Japanese, were buying up high-end luxury Oahu real estate in a frenzy. Kawamoto aquired many properties in the period 2002-2006, and now owns more than 20 luxury homes on Kahala Avenue, most purchased for between $2 and $10 million. Kawamoto went on to purchase, in September 2010, an impressive acre and a half beachfront estate at 4653 Kahala Avenue with a price tag of $22 Million. He had already brought the property next door and also another just down the road. In 2010, he also put several of his Kahala homes for sale on the market. Currently, only one of his Kahala luxury homes is listed, 4767 Kahala Avenue, for $3,200,000. Kawamoto is said to own approximately 200 single family homes and condominiums in Hawaii.

You may recall, Kawamoto was frequently in the news in 2007 when Kawamoto announced that he would provide low income Hawaiian families with the opportunity to live in five of the luxury Kahala homes that he owns on Kahala Avenue. Ultimately, he moved three local families into these Kahala Avenue homes, for very low ($150/mo) or no rent, with a 10 year lease. He tore down fences on these homes to enhance the sense of community and filled in swimming pools to make the homes safer for children. All this was supposedly part of his plan called the “Kahala Avenue Mission.” Kawamoto has said that he wanted to bring more people to Kahala Avenue and that he wanted more native Hawaiian families to visit the area, to make Kahala “more fun.” The rest of his homes appear to have remained vacant and many have fallen into disrepair and were graffitti-ed, which has angered his neighbors in this multi-million dollar luxury neighborhood of Kahala.

Now, apparently, the next phase of Kawamoto’s “Kahala Avenue Mission” is to turn clusters of his properties into a statue garden, Japanese tea house and a museum to hold a European Art collection.  Again, his plans are causing great upset with the Kahala neighborhood board who oppose his plan and are again accusing Kawamoto of disrupting the community. In August 2010, Kawamoto was interviewed by Hawaii media and stated he would be making improvements to many of his properties and asked for the community to “wait a little longer, there will be more improvements.” I wonder what else is in store??

Kahala Beach. Picture Courtesy of HiCentral MLS.

One of Kawamoto’s luxury homes in Kahala. Picture Courtesy of HiCentral MLS.

Hawaii Legislature Overturns Special Requirements for Remodeling 50 Year Old Homes

Many Hawaii homeowners and realtors were dismayed last year when we heard about the new requirement for remodeling or tearing down properties 50 or more years old. Under this law, Act 228 of the 2008 Legislative Session, owners wishing to tear down or remodel such a structure, had to provide photographs of their property to the State Historic Preservation Division prior to being issued a building permit. There was no distinction made as to the condition or stuctural integrity of the building, or any other factor, other than age. On the East side of Oahu, this affected many, many people, as most homes here are at or rapidly approaching the age that would be covered under the law.

As you can imagine, many problems and criticisms arose from the law, including imposing an unfair burden on homeowners in getting and paying for these pictures and, of course, further delays in getting permits. This law was not meant to create a bottleneck, or even prevent destruction of historical properties, but rather just a way to preserve history through pictures. However, it made an already cumbersome permit process a bit more cumbersome.

Governor Lingle, has apparently agreed with the critics of Act 228, and effective April 14, 2009, repealed this law. She stated,” Act 228 further impeded the issuance of building permits at a time when we should be doing all we can to facilitate construction activity in order to stimulate the economy and create jobs.” Thank you, Governor Lingle, but I have to wonder — why do some of these laws get passed in the first place?

Conveyance Tax Increase for Sellers of Luxury Homes on Oahu

UPDATE: The Governor Did Sign This Into Law.
____________________________________________

Yesterday, the Hawaii Legislature passed House Bill 1741 which (among many other things) aims to increase the conveyance taxes on the seller for the sale of properties priced at $2 Million and more. If Governor Lingle signs this bill, conveyance taxes will go from the current tiered structure, for owner-occupied homes, ranging from 10 cents to 30 cents per 100 dollars in purchase price:

OLD
10 cents per $100 - Property Price $0-$599,999 (15 cents for non-owner occupied)
20 cents per $100 - Property Price $600,000 - $999,999 (25 cents for non-owner occupied)
30 cents per $100 - Property Price $1M and up (35 cents for non-owner occupied)

to a new structure, that raises taxes to 50 cents to a dollar per $100, for owner-occupied purchases fo homes priced at $2M or more, and 60 cents to $1.25 for purchasers of these homes living elsewhere.

NEW
10 cents per $100 - Property Price $0-$599,999 (15 cents for non-owner occupied)
20 cents per $100 - Property Price $600,000 - $999,999 (25 cents for non-owner occupied)
30 cents per $100 - Property Price $1M - $1,999,999 (40 cents for non-owner occupied)
50 cents per $100 - Property Price $2 M - $3,999,999(60 cents for non-owner occupied)
70 cents per $100 - Property Price $4 M - $5,999,999(85 cents for non-owner occupied)
90 cents per $100 - Property Price $6 M - $9,999,999($1.10 for non-owner occupied)
$1 per $100 - Property Price $10 M and up ($1.25 cents for non-owner occupied)

So, for a $2 Million owner-occupied home the conveyance tax would increase $6,000 to $10,000, or 67%. For a non-ower occupied home of $2M the tax would increase from $7,000 to $12,000, or 71%.

For a $10 Million owner-occupied home the tax would increase from $30,000 to $100,000, or 233%. For a non-ower occupied home of $10M the tax would increase from $35,000 to $125,000, or 257%.

http://www.capitol.hawaii.gov/session2009/Bills/HB1741_sd1_.pdf

You may ask, why is the SELLER responsible for more taxes when the BUYER is an investor? Good question - that is a factor that Sellers may wish to consider and possibly, negotiate with an investor/buyer in a transaction.

Stay tuned to hear what happens.

Top Leeward Oahu Schools - 2008 Best Public School Report

Out of the top 50 public schools in Hawaii, nine Leeward Oahu schools were listed in Honolulu Magazine’s recent rankings. In fact, the #1 Top-rated School in all of Hawaii was a Leeward Oahu school. This is the list:

#1 Momilani Elementary

#9 Palisades Elementary

#28 Manana Elementary

#29 Leihoku Elementary

#33 Holomua Elementary

#35 Iroquois Point Elementary

#49 Pearl City Highlands Elementary

Now that I mentioned Leeward Oahu, I should probably list the Central Oahu schools, as well. Ten (10) central Oahu schools were named in the Top 50 for all of Hawaii in the Honolulu Magazine Report.

#2 Mililani Mauka Elementary

#8 Mililani Ike Elementary

#14 Pearl Ridge Elementary

#24 Nimitz Elementary

#25 Webling Elementary

#30 Moanalua Elementary

#37 Waialua Elementary

#39 Moanalua Middle School (this is the second best rated Middle School on Oahu, Kaimuki Middle School, in the Honolulu Area is the only one rated higher)

#47 Moanalua High School (this is the top rated High School on Oahu)

See previous 2 posts for more Hawaii public school information and for the Honolulu and Windward Oahu lists.

Mahalo!