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Welome to Home Shoppe Hawaii’s Blog on Oahu Real Estate. Besides featuring great Oahu Homes for Sale, Kailua Real Estate and homes in Honolulu, Kaneohe, Hawaii Kai and the North Shore, and Oahu Luxury Homes, Home Shoppe Hawaii’s Blog reflects our passion for Hawaii Architecture and Hawaii Interior Design.

We are fortunate here, on Oahu, to have many beautifully designed and Historically Significant Homes, for sale and otherwise. We hope to show you some of these fine Oahu homes, spotlight Hawaii Architects and Interior Designers, from time-to-time, and keep you abreast of what is happening in Oahu real estate, Kailua Real Estate, Honolulu Real EstateKaneohe Real Estate and Hawaii Kai Real Estate, and North Shore Real Estate, as well as showcasing the Hawaii Lifestyle and some of the fun Activities, Places and Events on Oahu.

~Aloha~

Oahu Real Estate Blog

Entries by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker (275)

Tuesday
Apr232013

Kailua Real Estate | Historic Kailua Properties on Hawaii Historical Register

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love old, historic homes. I thought I would list for you the historic Kailua real estate and other Windward historic homes that are dedicated to public interest and preservation. Except, as noted, these Kailua homes are on the State Register of Historic Places and are allowed a drastically reduced property tax, provided that the homes (exterior) are open to public viewing.  If the homes are not easily seen from the public right of way, they are subject to Alternate Visual Visitation (AVV) on the second Saturday of every month, where the owners must afford the public an opportunity for viewing the homes (i.e., open the gates, allow a drive up the private road, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE:
THESE KAILUA HISTORIC HOMES ARE NOT CURRENTLY FOR SALE
(See what IS for sale in Kailua)

1548 Mokulua Drive (AVV) (Lanikai, Kailua Real Estate)

1548 Mokulua Drive in Kailua, Home on the Historic Register

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Wednesday
Apr102013

Peter Vincent Architects Design Luxury Homes in Kailua Oahu

Peter Vincent Architects has designed so many beautiful Kailua luxury homes that I just had to blog again on him.  His firm is one of the most highly acclaimed and talented in the industry.  

PLEASE NOTE: These homes are NOT currently for sale.

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Monday
Apr082013

Honolulu Architects | Peter Vincent Architects

Peter Vincent is one of the preeminent architects in Hawaii.  His projects span from Texas to Japan, though many of his most beautiful luxury home projects are here on Oahu.  Recently, a Peter Vincent Oahu luxury home at 1600A Mokulua Drive, in Lanikai Kailua, sold for $8,000,000.  This Oahu luxury home was designed in 2007 and features classic details, while capturing spectacular ocean views and Mokulua Island views in Lanikai Kailua

peter vincent luxury homesPhoto Courtesy of HICentral MLS. 1600A Mokulua Drive in Lanikai

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Sunday
Apr072013

Honolulu Real Estate in Diamond Head | Ocean View Luxury Homes Oahu

Diamond Head Honolulu real estate is some of the most desired real estate in Honolulu. The Diamond Head neighborhood is one of the best luxury home neighborhoods and there are many Oahu luxury homes in this area.

I had the privilege of showing a beautiful Diamond Head luxury home to a buyer this weekend. This is a listing of Kahala Associates and this Honolulu real estate is located at 3721 Poka Place in Diamond Head. This home has 5 bedrooms and 4 bathrooms, a swimming pool and spa, two outdoor showers and a sauna, and spectacular ocean views from most every room.

diamond head real estatePhoto Courtesy of HICentral MLS. 3721 Poka Place Diamond Head Honolulu Real Estate

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Saturday
Apr062013

Hawaii Island Luxury Home Has Great Design Details

Another Hawaiian interior design guest post showcasing some great Hawaii real estate from Houzz. 

Friday
Apr052013

Kailua Beach Homes for Sale in Kailua | Beachfront Oahu Real Estate

Kailua Beach Homes are probably some of the best Oahu Kailua real estate you will ever see. Kailua beachfront homes on Oahu are in the Kailua real estate neighborhoods of Beachside, Kaimalino, Lanikai, and Kawailoa. Currently, there are nine sandy beachfront homes for sale in Kailua, 5 in Beachside and 4 in Lanikai.

Map of Kailua Beach Homes for Sale in Beachside and Lanikai Kalilua Neighborhoods

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Thursday
Apr042013

The Diamond Head Estate of Doris Duke | Honolulu Real Estate

A few days ago, I visited the home of Doris Duke (1912-1993) who was, at one time, one of the wealthiest women in the world. Doris Duke first visited Hawaii (along with various Muslim countries) on her honeymoon in 1935 and like many others, fell in love with our wonderful islands and decided to stay, at least seasonally.

diamond head home of doris dukeDiamond Head Estate of Doris Duke - View

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Friday
Mar292013

Charming Mid-Century Design for Honolulu Real Estate

This home is not on Oahu, or even in Hawaii, but we have so many mid-century homes here that look very similar to this one, for example, in Enchanted Lake, Kailua. Gorgeous inspiration for those who do own an Oahu mid-century home. Enjoy!

Friday
Mar222013

Luxury Resort Living at Kukui'ula on Kauai

I recently had the pleasure of visiting the Kukui’ula Private Club Community and getting to know the newest luxury resort real estate development in the Poipu, Kauai area.  Kukui’ula means the glow of the kukui or candle nut, which were used by native Hawaiians for their bright and beautiful light, when burned, and the healing properties of its oil.  The name is appropriate, as Kukuiula is unlike anything Kauai has ever seen, both a beautiful and healing place in the sun, evoking a sense of nostalgia and relaxation, which is unparalled in luxury Hawaii real estate and Hawaii resort properties.

kukuiula on kauai

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Thursday
Mar212013

Your Ideal Hawaii Home | Book Review

I ordered the book, Your Ideal Hawaii Home, Avoiding Disaster When Buying or Building in Hawaii, by Tyler and Chris Mercer, from Amazon, and read the whole thing cover to cover in just over 1 hour, while sitting by the pool on Staycation.  It is 124 pages of unusually large text. Then I read it again.  It got decent reviews from its initial readers, but I was pretty disappointed.  I was looking for a book I could recommend to my clients moving to Oahu, with a balanced overview of buying in all of Hawaii, and this definitely is not it.


The first thing you should know about this book.  A lot of what is in this book is NOT APPLICABLE or NOT VERY ACCURATE if you are moving to Oahu, Hawaii.  Oahu is the most populated island of the Hawaiian island chain.  As a result, the vast majority of people moving to Hawaii, will be moving to Oahu.

What the authors of this book seem to know about is Hawaii Island (aka the “Big Island”); not ALL of the Hawaiian Islands, but mainly the Big Island. They’ve lived there and seem to have owned several properties there.  I have not lived on the Big Island, though I’ve visited many times, and I have no reason to doubt anything they have to say about the Big Island.  So if you are thinking of moving only to the Big Island of Hawaii, this might be a good, albeit short, read.  Otherwise, I’d skip it..

In fairness to the authors, they do disclose up front, in the description on Amazon, that they have only lived in two places on the Big Island and in one place, in Waikiki, on Oahu.  However, their liberal use of the word Hawaii throughout the book, without specifying whether they mean all of the State of Hawaii or just the Big Island of Hawaii is confusing and can be misleading.

Besides Oahu, I’ve also lived on Maui and have spent a lot of time on Kauai.  Kauai is barely even mentioned in this book, and Maui is a LOT different than the Big Island.  As is Oahu.  And Oahu should not be judged by a small pocket of Waikiki.  On Oahu, there are rural areas, and many other small and medium sized towns and unincorporated cities and suburbs, not just one big city. You can get anything you want, in terms of nature, environment, city living, suburbia, seclusion, and lifestyle, on Oahu.  As a real estate broker, I’ve sold property all over the island of Oahu and each area is very different and has different great features, and also, its own challenges. This book leaves readers with an unfairly bad impression of Oahu.

The authors spent some time in Waikiki (seems like a short time) and, putting it nicely, it sounds like that time was not a highlight of their lives.  As a real estate broker, I can tell you that there are some that would agree with the authors, but there are many more that would not.  A lot of what a resident will experience in Waikiki will depend upon the exact block where they own or rent.  It appears that the authors were in a very bad location … for them.  This should not color everyone’s view of living in Waikiki, but merely serve as a warning to be careful to check out your surroundings and the activity, day and night, before you move in to any place you are considering, city or country.  Many people, including clients and many friends, LOVE living in Waikiki and do not live in places where there are obnoxious, drunk tourists or college students keeping them up at all hours every night.  Likewise, in a more rural setting, depending where you are, you can be miserable with roosters crowing every morning.  In a suburb in Hawaii, you also can be in front of a noisy bus stop.  It is important to adequately check out wherever you plan to live.

The second thing you should know about this book is that it reads like a personal account of the authors’ life in Hawaii, versus a balanced review of the experiences of many. In my opinion, a more balanced review of many people’s experiences would be the most helpful information to the readers of a book like this who wish to build or buy a home in Hawaii.  I appreciate the anecdotes, which add a bit of interest to the reading, but I do not believe that everyone or even the majority of people moving to Hawaii will have the same experience as the authors.  My experience, having lived in both upcountry Maui … Makawao, in Haiku, and in Kailua, Oahu, is VERY different.  I could certainly tell you more about my personal experiences in these places, but my experiences will not apply to everyone.

Not only will your life in Hawaii vary based upon where you live in Hawaii, but it will vary based upon where YOU COME FROM and your own attitude.  I personally, do not find broad generalizations about how “haoles” are treated to be helpful or accurate.  A lot of an individual’s experience is based upon his or her own attitude, behavior, and culture.  Also, it is not entirely clear whether the authors came here as retirees or empty nesters, or as parents of young children. My guess is the former.  A lot of what one’s experience in Hawaii will be like relates to how integrated they become in the Hawaiian culture, and raising children here (or not) and what stage you are in, in your life, can affect that immensely, as well.

Lastly, where the authors seem to again trip themselves up a bit is in the area of legal intricacies of purchasing and owning property in Hawaii.  They give a broad overview of an issue or two you might face in purchasing property in Hawaii, but these personal accounts are by no means comprehensive or enough to “avoid disaster.”  There are many more “disasters” which could happen in purchasing property on Hawaii that are not even mentioned here. Only a very experienced REALTOR and/or real estate attorney, familiar with the area in which you are going to live, could truly prepare you in a book like this for the potential disasters you might face in buying or building in Hawaii.  Neither of these authors have those credentials or the broad experience to advise anyone on the vast array of pitfalls or things to look out for when purchasing real estate in Hawaii.

On a positive note, I DO like how the authors describe, in Chapter One, the various house types and how specific Hawaiian house styles are better adapted to the various microclimates we have in Hawaii.  I tend to agree with a lot of what they say in this Chapter (pages 5-15).  They also seem to have some good insights on building a new home, though from what is stated here, it would be much different to build on Oahu than it would be on the Big Island.

Buying a House in Hawaii is generally covered in pages 29-31, 4 pages … not much meat here. Though, a brief mention of some important issues on zoning and Hawaiian land ownership, applicable to buying a home in Hawaii, is in Chapter Nine (pages 101-113).  Some of these concerns are applicable mainly in rural areas on neighbor islands, but a problem here could result in a complete loss of your real estate investment. 

Most of the rest of the book (approx. 100 pages) very generally covers a few other things, which I will sum up here in a few paragraphs.

1. Hawaii can be wet, or it can be dry, or anything in between. Wet means that plants grow very well.  It also means that if you choose to have a lot of plants on your property, in a wetter area, you will have to either spend a lot of time maintaining your yard or hire a good gardener, so the plants and trees do not get out of control. This can be a big issue on big acreage.  Plants create a lot of debris, as well.  There is an overly large section on managing plants on your property in this book.

2. Besides healthy, huge plants, wetness causes things like mold, decay, and rust. You will have to maintain your house, taking into consideration the moisture and salt air, and it will be more maintenance and expense than in less wet areas of the mainland.

3. Hawaii has a warm tropical environment that feels great to us and also feels great to a variety of bugs and pests. Sometimes, we get LOTS of bugs, particularly in rural areas. This includes termites that eat wood, ants, roaches, mosquitoes, and centipedes. There are also geckos that poop in our houses, but they eat bugs and are considered to be good luck. There can also be rats. I had an infestation of carpenter ants in my house once and honey bees colonized in my shed. In our old house, mice took over the garage when I left a bag of bird seed there.  Annoyances to your self and damage to your home from insects and pests need to be prevented and also, treated, from time to time, no matter if you live in the city or the country. 

4. On the Big Island, there is a lot of VOG, which is volcanic gas that is in the air from volcanic activity, which can cause discomfort, allergies, and respiratory problems.  Sometimes the winds brings VOG into the other islands too, to a lesser degree.  We get this sometimes on Oahu and on bad days, my eyes and nose burn from it.  VOG is not good.  The VOG issue, as it relates to the Big Island, is not given enough time in this book.

5. Check your attitude at the airport when you leave the mainland.  Most people in Hawaii are not interested in your ego, your resume, your rank, the chip on your shoulder, or keeping up with the Jones’.  Don’t look down on people that are different than you are or who have less money, live and let live, be a good neighbor, remember the Golden Rule, and you will do fine here.  There are people of all cultures and colors here in Hawaii.  In my experience, ALL PEOPLE, including Haoles (Caucasians), are welcomed.  The rude, bad apples are few and far-in-between and there are just as many, if not more, jerks and racists on the mainland.

6. Living in Hawaii is expensive.  Electricity is particularly expensive. But you may not need heat or air conditioning, depending upon where you live and how your home is built and situated.  Building materials are also expensive.  Everything is shipped in.  You might save a little on clothing costs or health care costs … maybe. Hawaii is a relatively healthy and happy place to live.

7. Purchasing real estate can be little different here than buying in a cookie-cutter subdivision on the mainland.  Parts of Hawaii have active volcanoes and there is a lot of ocean and beach frontage.  There are also a lot of hillsides.  Rocks can fall and mud can slide. Many homes are old and in ill repair.  We may occasionally have natural disasters, such as hurricanes and tsunamis, and more frequently, we have heavy rains and winds.  Heavy rain can cause flooding in some mountainous or hilly areas, not just near oceans and rivers.

Hawaii did not become a state until 1959 and some of the governmental records and systems, including those for building permitting, are a little bit archaic. Many improvements (buildings, additions, fences, etc.) were built without permits or are non-conforming to modern building codes.  The land here was originally owned by the Hawaiian monarchy and things were a little different back in the day.  Some Hawaiian properties remain that are leasehold and not fee simple ownership. Many real estate transactions in Hawaii are very straight-forward, but some are not.

BOTTOM LINE:

Get a GOOD REALTOR, you will need one. Hire a real estate attorney, if warranted by the nature or circumstances of the property. And make sure you get the appropriate inspections, a survey, and purchase title insurance.  YOU WILL BE FINE.

I also do highly recommend a book called The Hawaii Home Book. It covers in more detail a lot of important house-related issues regarding Hawaii Life.

Wednesday
Mar202013

Luxury Plantation Style Home on Kauai - New Construction

Even on vacation, I have a hard time staying away from real estate.  I love looking at beautiful Hawaii homes and when on Kauai, I will always keep my eyes out for great homes that might appeal to my clients on the mainland and Oahu.  This vacation, I also met with friends who are looking to buy on Kauai and am previewing some real estate for them, as well, so a had quite a few opportunities to see some great homes.

plantation style home frontPlantation Home in Hawaii - Wrap Around Porch and Ideal Poipu, Hawaii Location.

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Tuesday
Mar192013

Perks of Hawaii Life: The Hawaiian Staycation

One of the best things about living on Oahu is the opportunity to enjoy the vast beauty, recreational, and cultural activities of Hawaii, all within a very short distance from home.  While most people living on Oahu still have the day-to-day activites of work, school, kids activities, and other obligations, many are fortunate to take the time a few times a year, or even more frequently, for a Hawaii staycation.

Photo from Kauai Staycation

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Sunday
Mar172013

Hawaii Life | St. Patrick's Day Celebrations on Oahu

You’d think that Saint Patrick’s Day might not be a popular holiday in Hawaii, but that’s not the case.  There are several St. Patrick’s Day Celebrations in Honolulu today.  

 

In Waikiki, there is the 46th Annual St Patrick’s Day Parade, sponsored by The Friends of St. Patrick Hawaii. This starts at noon and goes until 3 pm and goes down Kalakaua Avenue, from Fort De Russey to Kapiolani Park. There is an after-party at Kelly O’Neill’s on Lewers Street in Waikiki, from 1:30 on.

And if you really want to party, there’s always Chinatown, near Downtown Honolulu.  This is the spot for the 2013 Annual St. Patrick’s Day Chinatown Block Party hosted by Murphy’s Bar and Grill. This is the event the brewers of Guinness have declared “the single biggest St. Patrick’s Day party any one bar throws in the United States”!

The restaurant will have great Irish food specials and it is also a fund-raiser for the Hawaii Children’s Cancer Foundation, as Murphy’s donates $2.00 to the cause for every pound of corned beef sold.  This year, Murphy’s will have a Guinness Oyster Bar, with fresh shucked oysters, steamed clams, sauteed shrimp, crab cakes and all the oyster shooters one could want.  The desserts sound scrumptious too!

After dark, the real festivities will begin when they close down Merchant and Nuuanu Street for the Block Party, featuring live Irish music by Doolin’ Rakes and music by local band, the Pirhanna Brothers. Don’t forget to wear your green and stay safe by making driving arrangements if you plan to partake in the green beer.

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day from Home Shoppe Hawaii! And may the luck of the Irish be with you today and every day!

Saturday
Mar162013

Hawaiian Interior Design | Fine Design Interiors Hawaii

At Home Shoppe Hawaii, we often provide staging for Oahu real estate and are also asked for referrals for Honolulu Interior Designers.  This corresponds with a strong interest in Hawaiian Interior Design, so we like to feature Hawaii interior designers, from time to time, in our blog.

Fine Design Interiors is an award-winning Hawaii design firm with projects both in Hawaii and on the West Coast mainland.

Hawaiian Cottage Style

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Friday
Mar152013

Ka Malanai Kailua Condominiums Photos

Aloha!

I know you’ve been looking for more on the Ka Malanai Kailua Condos (formerly the Ironwoods). The developers of Ka Malanai have not released any new information since the last Ka Malanai 3 Bedroom Floor Plan.  

Sales are scheduled to begin Summer 2013. Here are some recent photos of the new construction of the Ka Malanai condos in Kailua.

ka malanai kailua condos photosKa Malanai Condos Photos - Click for Larger Photo of Ka Malanai Construction

 

ka malanai kailua condominiums photosKa Malanai Condos in Kailua Photos and Floorplans

Please contact me to be put on the Home Shoppe Hawaii mailing list for more information on Ka Malanai Kailua condominiums. Yvonne Jaramilo Ahearn, Principal Broker, Home Shoppe Hawaii, 808-721-8088  

Thursday
Mar142013

Kailua Real Estate | Kuulei Tract Neighborhood - 2012 Sold Homes

Kuulei Tract neighborhood in Kailua, is a very desirable neighborhood to buy into. Kuulei Tract has large lots, usually 10,000 sq ft or more, and it is very close to Kailua Beach, across the street from the beach, mauka of S Kalaheo Ave opposite Kailua Beachside neighborhood. The average sale price in 2012 for Kuulei Tract was $1,488,500, making Kuulei Tract one of the most expensive neighborhoods in Kailua for 2012.  And even so, the list to sales price percentage was 99%, with a very low average of 32 days on market.

kuulei tract neighborhoodPhoto Courtesy of HICentral MLS

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Wednesday
Mar132013

Kailua Real Estate | Pohakupu Neighborhood - 2012 Sold Homes

Kailua’s Pohakapu neighborhood is located on the Kailua town side of Kalanianalole Highway. This is a very popular neighborhood for families who want to live in Kailua but also may have to commute to downtown Honolulu. Because of its location, it is a great neigborhood for both. Property in Pohakupu sold on average for $816,800 with an average of 54 days on market (DOM). Pohakupu has an average list to sales price percentage of 98%. kailua real estate pohakupuPhoto Courtesy of HICentral MLS.

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Wednesday
Mar132013

Kailua Real Estate | Mid-Century Lanikai Gem

Kailua Brokers’ Open House last Thursday featured several great homes and this was just one of them. In Lanikai, Kailua, up the hill from Lanikai Beach, on Lala Street, was this great Mid-Century retreat. The most fabulous part of this Lanikai home for sale was its open floor plan, which provided great access to a fabulous lanai and gorgeous yard.

lanikai midcentury kailua homeCharming Street Appeal.

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Tuesday
Mar122013

Plantation Cottages & Plantation Style in Hawaii

From time to time, I will feature a guest blog like this one from Houzz, a fabulous interior design site. Enjoy!

Monday
Mar112013

Kailua Real Estate | Luxury Lanikai Ocean View Home

Thursday at Broker’s Open was our first chance to preview this stunning ocean view Lanikai Kailua home for sale. This Kailua home has unique Balinese architecture and some of the best views you can find of the Mokulua islands and all the rest of Lanikai. This 10 acre Kailua luxury estate is gated and in a community of only a few homes up a private road, offering supreme seclusion.  

Check out our photos of this amazing home with even more amazing ocean views in Lanikai. (c) Home Shoppe Hawaii. 

lanikai kailua luxury real estate

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