Tsunami Scare

Friday morning started very early for all Kauai residents and guests.  In fact it actually started late Thursday night when the civil defense sirens went off around 10:30 PM and every resident on Kauai received a recorded message saying that Japan had been rocked by a 8.9 earthquake and a 6 foot tsunami was headed our way, arriving about 3:00 AM.  People that don’t understand how a tsunami works think that six feet isn’t so high, but they’d be wrong, very wrong.  A six foot wall of water arriving at about 500 miles per hour is total devastation on a grand scale.  You only have to look at the film clips coming out of Japan now to see just how a tsunami works.  The ocean just keeps coming and coming.  It takes out anything in it path.  We are so fortunate to have dodged this bullet. Here is a video clip on Lawai Loa Bay in Allerton Garden during our little tsunami.  The bridge in this clip is no longer operational and will have to be rebuilt. 

 Our economy can not have withstood this kind of attack.  As it is now, we are slowly recovering from the economic downturn that started with the meltdown on Wall Street in September 2008.  People are interested in purchasing investment and second homes and condominiums again.  The banks are still making getting a loan difficult though not as impossible as previously  but for the cash buyer there are opportunities galore. Our tourists numbers are way up over last year.  Oahu will be taking a hit on tourism numbers now that the Japanese won’t be traveling for awhile.  However, Kauai has never been that attractive to the Japanese so our occupancy rates should remain stable.

Two new listings in Kiahuna that deserve attention, #102 and #57.  Both are Garden View Deluxe units that have been upgraded and both are within walking distance to Kiahuna’s famous white sand crescent beach.  Also a new listing in Kukui’ula, Lot #74 with purchase price inclusive of working drawings for construction of a 3,400 square foot Plantation Style home complete with pool and fire pit, plus landscaping plan and model all approved by the design committee of Kukui’ula.  This  large lot is located on the 2nd fairway of the Kukui’ula Golf Course.  All you need is a builder and you could be enjoying island life here on Kauai within the year. 

Disasters like the earth quake and resulting tsunami in Japan makes me grateful for where I live and my thoughts, prayers and money are going to Japan to help with their healing and rebuilding.

Kukui’ula Club Cottages

Just went to a Broker’s Open yesterday afternoon at Kukui’ula.  The Clubhouse and the Golf Clubhouse plus the workout facilities and the Plantation House are completed and absolutely gorgeous.  Still working on the women’s treatment rooms and dressing room in the Spa.  The Island Activity Center is up and running, stocked with athletic wear, logo wear, kayaks, surf boards, stand up paddle boards and all the help you could possible use to get up and get going enjoying all Kauai has to offer.

Kukui’ula is offering quite a new product and I am very excited about it.  Kukui’ula is building 15 two master suite homes with the great room and kitchen having slide away doors that open up to a screened in Lanai.  As the purchaser you would have to option to add a guest house, covered garage or just keep a big yard.  Lots ranges are around 12,000 square feet. Living area 2,224 square feet with air-conditioned space of 1,696 square feet.

The best news is that, for the first 4 homes, the price includes over the top furnishings of the quality that  fill the Plantation House.  The first 3 of these homes are available for $2,170,000 including the furnishings, landscaping and privacy lava rock wall details. 

The best news about these new offerings is that the homes can be put in a high-end rental pool by  The Parrish Collection.  The VERY BEST NEWS about this program is the any guest renting your unit can use all the facilities of Kukui’ula including the Plantation House, Spa, Golf, Restaurants, Lagoon Pools and partake in all activities that Kukui’ula has to offer.  Frankly, it would be like checking into the best suite the Hyatt had to offer, then getting to use the facilities with just you and your best friends..  Pure elegance, peace and relaxation. The Parrish Collection plans to market these units at about $1,200 per night and I don’t see any reason they shouldn’t be in demand constantly. 

I have it from a very good source, my husband Frank, that the Golf Course is in excellent shape and that it is very likely the best course on Kauai. 

If you are thinking about retiring here  or purchasing here for the future, this just might be something you need to look into. 

I have all information and can email maps, plans, and option packages to anyone that is interested.  Please feel free to either email me at becky@beckysupon.com or give me a call, 808-651-9271.

Kauai residents watch humpback whale being born.

Kauai residents were surprised to witness a humpback whale giving birth at Whalers Cove in Poipu over the weekend.

mama and baby humpback

A Whalers Cove Resort pool technician on Saturday saw the whale give birth while an adult whale paced back and forth protecting the newborn. The mother whale gently pushed the newborn up as if to show the baby to the world.

Whalers Cove general manager Marianne Martin told The Garden Island newspaper the whale was so large that onlookers wondered how she could turn around inside the small cove.

The whales stayed inside the cove and surrounding area for a couple hours.

About 12,000 humpback whales migrate to Hawaii waters to breed and calve every winter after spending the summer feeding in northern waters.

Real estate continues to improve here on Kauai though it is still very much a Buyers market.  Interest rates remain low and tourism is up.  I think we are so crowded this year because of the extreme weather on the mainland and the  fact that Mexico is in such a mess.  Wouldn’t you rather come to Kauai and watch humpbacks being born than be robbed a gunpoint. ALOHAAAAAA

Hawaiian Airlines Mileage Program Expands

Hawaiian airlines has upgraded its long standing HawiianMiles frequent flyer program to include an expanded network of national merchants as partners that gives members more opportunity to earn miles. They are redesigning their website (www.hawaiianair.com) to add a host of features, including a downloadable toolbar that lets members earn miles just for searching for items they’d normally Google. The cap for those miles is 5000 per month. Still that is almost a one way ticket to Kauai or Honolulu. There is also a “gift card mall” where members can earn miles for buying gift cards from big name retailers or buy shopping online via Hawaiian’s eMarket. Since Hawaiian Airlines is one of the airlines with direct flights to Hawaii and especially Kauai, this is a good way to earn free tickets. Imagine earning a trip to Kauai just buy shopping.

The arrival of nearly 800 Chinese visitors on the first ever nonstop flight from Bejing was a complete success. China accounts for 5.2% of the world travel in 2009 with 47 million outbound tourists. Hawaii saw 67,000 of those visitors in 2010 but expects and 10% increase in those numbers yearly for the next 5 years. The Chinese have also proven to be big spenders while on vacation to the tune of $360 per day out spending the Japanese by $100.00 per day. There is a lot of potential in this new market

Update on Kauai: woman hits Kilohana sign at 3:30 am and totals it. That sign has stood in front of the Kilohana driveway for 25 years. It was a landmark. Guess it is just time to rebuild another one.

Kukui’ula opens it doors

Kukui’ula, the high-end development here, in Poipu has opened its door with a grand opening of the Clubhouse and Spa. It is spectacular. Kathy Merrill Kelly did the interiors of this expansive Clubhouse and every room is gracious and beautiful. The swimming pool with its white sand beach, waterfalls, tide pools and water slide takes over an hour just to explore. The game room features pool tables, pinball games,  plus a jukebox. The wrap around lanai have overstuffed and very comfortable furnishings to encourage a quiet moment with a good book or just inner reflection. The bar and restaurant have inside and outdoor seating, the drinks fresh, the food delicious. The pool bar with live music is really fun after 18 holes of golf. Kukui’ula is a private club, the first of its kind on Kauai. You must be an owner or owner guest to use the facilities. I can help you become an owner.  I have 6 resale lots listed for under the current market value. Give me a call for details. 808-651-9271.

Grand Opening

End of year update

New Year’s Eve Fireworks are going to be bright this year.  This years display will begin at 9:30 on Friday, December 31, 2010.  Many local businesses donated the  $25,000 to make it happen. A bright way to see out the old and bring in the new.

Kauai Marathon 2011 has started taking applications.  I have already signed up with a large group from OFF Kauai ( Organic Functional Fitness). The marathon will be held on Sunday, September 4th, 2011.  This is a spectacular event being held for the third time.  Using Kauai’s tropical paradise as its background, it gets elite runners from all over the world.

Poipu Bay Gold Course reopens this week along with the restaurant Yum Cha located in the updated Clubhouse.  All greens have been renovated using seashore paspalum grass. 

Kukuiula has finished the Plantation core which includes the clubhouse and spa.  Their 18 hole golf course is completed.  The screen fences are down and you can look in at the Clubhouse and see just how beautiful it is.  the golf course goes all the way down Lawai Road and to the edge of the Allerton Gardens.  It is a private course though prospective buyers will be allowed to play once with their broker.

Visitor stats are up 10% over last year and the forecast looks bright for continued visitor growth over the next year.

Hope this post finds you all happy and healthy and ready for the New Year.

Mele Kalikimaka and Haouli Makahiki Hou.

Penny Palfrey defeated by jellyfish

“I’m so sorry.  I felt so bad for being so determined to do it with everyone who has helped me.  But the Portuguese Man-o-War stings really hurt.   In the end, I didn’t know when there was a new one [that was going to sting me again],” recalled Penny Palfrey of her 72-mile attempt between Oahu and Kauai. 

jelly fish stings

 

It was constant punishment for 7 hours and 39 minutes, déjà vu from her earlier attempt in April when she was pulled out after 12 hours for the same type of encounters with the Portuguese Man-o-War.

“I got hit over and over again, but I was right on the same pace as before.  I thought I might have been going a little slower than before, but I was at 16 miles around the 7 hour mark.  The Man-o-War were hanging off of my arms on both sides.  .  I had them on my hands too as I was trying to get them off.  But I couldn’t get them off, their tentacles were wrapped around my arms.  They were all over the place.  Then I got hit right in the face and that really hurt.   But the one which stung me on my ear is what is really hurting now.”

She swam through 3-5 foot swells in the tropical paradise, the last major channel in the Hawaiian Islands to be uncrossed.  The ancient Hawaiians in outrigger canoes did it.  Stand-up paddlers have done it.  Paddlers have done it.  But it remains the last channel  standing in Hawaii – perhaps it is taboo and will never be crossed.  Jonathan Ezer, a Molokai Channel swimmer, attempted the channel in 1976 and then Penny being crossed in April and yesterday. 

“The Man-o-War are preventing me from finishing – or perhaps they are protecting me from the cookie-cutter sharks that want to take a bite out of me,” theorized Penny in retrospect.

Because big sharks and cookie-cutter sharks are always a real fear, Penny used two Shark Shields as protection.  However, it was the much smaller poisonous denizens of the Pacific Ocean that crossed her path, leading to convulsions and long cries of pain at the end.  “Oh, it hurts so bad,” as she repeatedly said onboard Captain Don Jones’s boat. 

Captain Don did everything possible to keep Penny on track.  He kept her on the optimal rhumb line, he jumped in the water and escorted her on a paddle board, he cheered and teased her along, always enthusiastically giving her something to think about.  Captain Don lined his boat with glow sticks, ready for a 12-hour night of swimming.

But her long night never came.

Dusk was her downfall in April and it was the same time in November’s 78°F (27°C) waters. 

It was a truly valiant effort – based on a dream to do all the major channels in Hawaii and succeed at the most difficult one.

“I can prepare for distance, tides and other things under my control,” said Penny.  “But there are things you cannot prepare for, like Man-o-War.  During the previous attempt when I got hit by one, I thought it was a one-off, especially since others have swum in the other channels and not been hit.  Even in my Maui-to-Lanai and Hawaii-to-Maui swims, I hit ocean swells and currents, but I didn’t hit Man-o-War.  I think I can do the distance, currents and swells, but they were still there.”

Unfortunately, yes.

 

Andy Irons, top Kauai surfers dies at 32

This is just too awful to have actually happened.  Andy Irons, on his way back from a surfing competition in Puerto Rico died in his hotel room in Dallas, Texas.  Apparently, though there are really some questions about what really happened, Andy had Dengue Fever and was too sick to board the American Airline flight to get home to Kauai.  One report said the airline asked him to leave the flight and walked him off the plane, this, of course the airline denies.  Whatever happened at the airport, Andy made it to the airport Hyatt, checked in, asked for a wake up call and when he repeatedly failed to answer the call, the hotel sent someone up to wake him.  He didn’t answer the door and when they had security open the door, they found him not breathing in bed.  He was pronounced dead but the  actual cause 0f death has not been determined. His family and friends here on Kauai and all over the world are completely devastated.  He was only 32 years old and though he hadn’t won a contest in just a few years, he felt he was coming back.  There is a great video made by Andy Irons.  I will try to add it to my next post.  So sad, so very sad.

Largest Land Owners that make a difference

The Robinson Family were featured in an article on MSNBC Real Estate on the to 10 Land Owners in the US that have made a difference.
” The Robinson family (103,000 acres)

Ni’ihau is the smallest, inhabited Hawaiian island. It also is privately owned.

In 1864, a well-to-do Scottish woman, Elizabeth Sinclair, purchased Ni’ihau from the Kingdom of Hawaii, paying $10,000 in gold. The island was passed to her descendants, the Robinson family.

The Hawaiian language has been kept alive on Ni’ihau – the only Hawaiian island where the native tongue is still primarily used. Tourists can visit Ni’ihau only for a half-day, enjoying helicopter tours and hunting safaris. Brothers Bruce and Keith Robinson are the owners.

“It sounds like something right out of British nobility – that someone owns an island and limits access to it,” O’Keefe said.

“But these people (the Robinson’s and other mega-land owners) have their own kingdoms whether they’re surrounded by water or barbed wire or natural impediments. These people are able to leave their imprint on enormous swaths of our country. And I’m not so sure that that’s not an amazing part of our legacy.”
That’s right, I agree with this article. Plus, if you ever get the chance to take a tour of Niihau, either by boat or by helicopter, do it as it is amazing. I was lucky enough to go by helicopter and actually get to swim and lay on the beach. AWESOME. We found glass balls and sunrise shells. It was the most glorious day.

Hawaii 5-0

For all you poor folks that don’t live in Hawaii and are just dying to see some beautiful Hawaiian landscape, plus cop action, plus macho men, plus haoles trying to speak pidgin, you must watch Hawaii 5-0. Besides the fast moving plot, lots of gun play, many sexual innuendoes, terrorists and human smugglers, this show is filmed on some of the most beautiful places in Hawaii. Loved the intro with hula dancers, the Duke Kahanamoku statue, surfers at Waikiki and of course, outrigger canoe paddlers. I kept looking closely to see if I knew anyone but no…. However, I did feel right at home watching it and I am a “dyed in the wool” Old Hawaii 5-0 fan. Book ’em Danno, love it. If you get a chance to watch it, you will get just a little reminder of why people from all over the world consider Hawaii paradise. Lucky we live Hawaii, eh. If you go to this link, you can watch the whole first episode.  http://www.cbs.com/primetime/hawaii_five_0/?ttag=mktg;fall2010_hawaiifive0   Enjoy.

Here is a list of condominiums, vacant land and residential homes that have changed status since August 1 until today.  C is for contingent sale, U is under contract and S is sold.  You can also go to the underlined number to get information about the property, click on the camera for pictures, the moview reel or 360 for a virtual tour and the globe for a location map.  Let me know if you have any questions. 

Copyright 9/23/2010 by Hawaii Information Service

MLS DATA

MLS #

Tp

Sub

Own

St

Taxkey

Tnr

Price

Location

Land area

Details

224971

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-16-7-26

LH

$134,950

Kiahuna Ph Iii-a & Iv-a #226

640 #226 1/1.00

237088

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-19-3-15

LH

$229,000

Sunset Kahili #305

766 #305 1/1.00

235556

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-15-76-10

FS

$445,950

Waikomo Stream Villas #131

1,400 #131 2/2.00

228446

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-27-17-58

FS

$499,000

Manualoha Ph I & Ii #1006

1,412 #1006 2/2.00

236110

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-19-4-13

FS

$875,000

Poipu Shores #A206

912 #A206 2/2.00

235577

CND

AT

CPR

U

4-2-8-27-19-26

FS

$319,000

Kahala At Poipu Kai I #413

858 #413 1/1.00

225747

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-16-7-45

LH

$125,900

Kiahuna Ph Iii-a & Iv-a #311

640 #311 1/1.00

SOLD 9/23/2010 for $110,000 (CASH) DOM 364

217928

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-17-10-27

LH

$160,000

Kiahuna Plantation #427

640 #427 1/1.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $150,000 (CNV) DOM 582

235952

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-20-3-8

FS

$349,900

Makahuena #I203

1,145 #I203 2/2.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $325,000 (CNV) DOM 211

233231

CND

CPR

S

4-2-8-15-3-19

FS

$595,000

Poipu Kapili #19

1,134 #19 1/2.00

SOLD 9/23/2010 for $525,000 (CASH) DOM 167

224195

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-19-22-50

FS

$595,000

Nihi Kai Villas #802

1,255 #802 2/2.00

SOLD 8/6/2010 for $540,000 (CASH) DOM 429

220852

CND

CPR

S

4-2-8-20-3-46

FS

$865,000

Makahuena #IIB102

1,473 #3-102 2/2.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $769,000 (CASH, CNV) DOM 309

140977

LND

VC

CPR

U

4-2-8-11-6-1

FS

$135,000

3355 Puni Rd

9,173 sqft

231389

LND

VC

FL

U

4-2-8-31-105

FS

$350,000

Poipu Beach Estates Lot #:105

13,003 sqft

232385

LND

VC

FL

S

4-2-8-31-183

FS

$425,000

Poipu Beach Estates Lot #:183

1.09 ac

0/

SOLD 8/5/2010 for $350,000 (CNV) DOM 99

234709

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-5-16-2

FS

$405,000

Koloa Zap Ohana #B

11,238 sqft

1,300 #B 2/2.00

223219

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-23-20

FS

$500,000

2362 Kipuka St

9,920 sqft

1,970 3/2.02

229584

RES

DT

CPR

C

4-2-8-9-1-17

FS

$589,000

Koloa Town Lot #:

8,566 sqft

1,480 3/2.00

223252

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-23-14

FS

$699,000

2396 Kipuka St

9,600 sqft

1,616 3/1.01

230004

RES

DT

CPR

C

4-2-8-20-69-1

FS

$1,790,000

1615 Makanui Rd #A

10,028 sqft

3,515 4/4.01

230628

RES

FL

S

4-2-8-26-7

FS

$359,000

3868 Mamaki St

7,315 sqft

1,292 4/1.00

SOLD 9/16/2010 for $339,000 (CNV) DOM 58

234759

RES

DT

FL

S

4-2-8-25-46

FS

$590,000

5737 Tapa St

8,914 sqft

2,030 #0 3/3.00

SOLD 8/25/2010 for $549,000 (Veteran’s Administration (VA)) DOM 45

236024

RES

DT

FL

S

4-2-8-29-65

FS

$825,000

5349 Pau A Laka St

10,526 sqft

1,864 #0 2/2.00

SOLD 8/18/2010 for $785,000 (CASH, CNV) DOM 1

This information has been supplied by third parties and has not been independently verified by Hawaii Information Service and is, therefore, not guaranteed.

Copyright 9/23/2010 by Hawaii Information Service

MLS DATA

MLS #

Tp

Sub

Own

St

Taxkey

Tnr

Price

Location

Land area

Details

224971

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-16-7-26

LH

$134,950

Kiahuna Ph Iii-a & Iv-a #226

640 #226 1/1.00

237088

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-19-3-15

LH

$229,000

Sunset Kahili #305

766 #305 1/1.00

235556

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-15-76-10

FS

$445,950

Waikomo Stream Villas #131

1,400 #131 2/2.00

228446

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-27-17-58

FS

$499,000

Manualoha Ph I & Ii #1006

1,412 #1006 2/2.00

236110

CND

AT

CPR

C

4-2-8-19-4-13

FS

$875,000

Poipu Shores #A206

912 #A206 2/2.00

235577

CND

AT

CPR

U

4-2-8-27-19-26

FS

$319,000

Kahala At Poipu Kai I #413

858 #413 1/1.00

225747

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-16-7-45

LH

$125,900

Kiahuna Ph Iii-a & Iv-a #311

640 #311 1/1.00

SOLD 9/23/2010 for $110,000 (CASH) DOM 364

217928

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-17-10-27

LH

$160,000

Kiahuna Plantation #427

640 #427 1/1.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $150,000 (CNV) DOM 582

235952

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-20-3-8

FS

$349,900

Makahuena #I203

1,145 #I203 2/2.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $325,000 (CNV) DOM 211

233231

CND

CPR

S

4-2-8-15-3-19

FS

$595,000

Poipu Kapili #19

1,134 #19 1/2.00

SOLD 9/23/2010 for $525,000 (CASH) DOM 167

224195

CND

AT

CPR

S

4-2-8-19-22-50

FS

$595,000

Nihi Kai Villas #802

1,255 #802 2/2.00

SOLD 8/6/2010 for $540,000 (CASH) DOM 429

220852

CND

CPR

S

4-2-8-20-3-46

FS

$865,000

Makahuena #IIB102

1,473 #3-102 2/2.00

SOLD 8/13/2010 for $769,000 (CASH, CNV) DOM 309

140977

LND

VC

CPR

U

4-2-8-11-6-1

FS

$135,000

3355 Puni Rd

9,173 sqft

231389

LND

VC

FL

U

4-2-8-31-105

FS

$350,000

Poipu Beach Estates Lot #:105

13,003 sqft

232385

LND

VC

FL

S

4-2-8-31-183

FS

$425,000

Poipu Beach Estates Lot #:183

1.09 ac

0/

SOLD 8/5/2010 for $350,000 (CNV) DOM 99

234709

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-5-16-2

FS

$405,000

Koloa Zap Ohana #B

11,238 sqft

1,300 #B 2/2.00

223219

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-23-20

FS

$500,000

2362 Kipuka St

9,920 sqft

1,970 3/2.02

229584

RES

DT

CPR

C

4-2-8-9-1-17

FS

$589,000

Koloa Town Lot #:

8,566 sqft

1,480 3/2.00

223252

RES

DT

FL

C

4-2-8-23-14

FS

$699,000

2396 Kipuka St

9,600 sqft

1,616 3/1.01

230004

RES

DT

CPR

C

4-2-8-20-69-1

FS

$1,790,000

1615 Makanui Rd #A

10,028 sqft

3,515 4/4.01

230628

RES

FL

S

4-2-8-26-7

FS

$359,000

3868 Mamaki St

7,315 sqft

1,292 4/1.00

SOLD 9/16/2010 for $339,000 (CNV) DOM 58

234759

RES

DT

FL

S

4-2-8-25-46

FS

$590,000

5737 Tapa St

8,914 sqft

2,030 #0 3/3.00

SOLD 8/25/2010 for $549,000 (Veteran’s Administration (VA)) DOM 45

236024

RES

DT

FL

S

4-2-8-29-65

FS

$825,000

5349 Pau A Laka St

10,526 sqft

1,864 #0 2/2.00

SOLD 8/18/2010 for $785,000 (CASH, CNV) DOM 1

This information has been supplied by third parties and has not been independently verified by Hawaii Information Service and is, therefore, not guaranteed.