About Honolulu's Ala Moana

Visit Ala Moana Mall, Honolulu, Hawaii, one of the prettiest and largest outdoor malls in Hawaii. Located in the Ala Moana neighborhood and across from the huge Ala Moana waterfront park, thousands of islanders and tourists visit this mall every day.

Frequently we love to go to the Ala Moana Mall near Honolulu. This is the largest outdoor mall in the United States, and although we go there almost every day, we still probably haven't seen it all. There are literally hundreds of shops and vendors to choose from, in addition to dozens of eateries, from fast food to gourmet dining. Also, it's a visually appealing mall, with numerous fountains, koi ponds and landscaping throughout.

Head straight up to the fourth floor where the restaurants are to go to Bubba Gump Shrimp. Yes, it's a national chain, but the view from the top of Ala Moana is pretty nice, and the open air seating arrangement allows for nice trade winds to blow through. After some tasty garlic shrimp, you can head across the way to the awesome Mai Tai Bar for a couple of drinks. This place really has a great atmosphere with its laid back couches, big screen TV's playing surfing videos, and the reggae/island music pumping in the background. Sometimes they have live music. They also have these cool mist blowing fans that really cool the place down. After spending time there, you might be ready to do some shopping.

So, you can head down to Long's Drugs for some everyday items. But they do have some unusual things in there that you won't see everyday in the mainland stores, such as canned abalone, known as "King Topshell." Pretty expensive stuff. We headed over to the dry cleaner's to pick something up. Then, to Sears to pick up an inflator pump for our kayak, and a cordless drill set. You can get pretty much anything at Ala Moana. Other shops which we didn't go to this time but have other times, include the Gamestop (for video games), the Radio Shack, the Barnes & Noble, the Starbucks, Hilo Hattie, the SBarro Pizza in the Food Court, the Food Pantry, the ukulele store up on the third floor, and the W Hair Salon. Also, it should be noted that although it's not part of the mall, there is a Wal Mart store within walking distance of the mall, so it is possible to combine your true discount shopping with the mall shopping in one trip.

So, the next time you need to buy anything, consider combining your shopping with a little food and drink-all in one place-the Ala Moana Mall!

Getting there from Waikiki:

-Take TheBus routes 8, 19, 20, 23, or 42, (or the F# that says TheBoat)
-Trolley service
-Taxi service: about $10-12
-If driving your own vehicle: mall parking is free

Is it real or is it virtual? More importantly does it really matter? Some naysayers say it's a disappointment when potential buyers arrive to find an empty space but if the potential buyer knows it's virtually staged what is important is that interested buyers make an appointment to view the property not whether it's actually staged or not.

Virtually Staged: The Kitchen in a one bedroom condo at 909 Kapiolani, Honolulu Hawaii 96813, virtually staged by JDS Consulting.

The benefits of virtual staging can easily be appreciated by sellers who wish to make their relatively new investment properties stand out from other identical properties for sale in their building or development. Virtual staging costs a fraction of what one would spend on actual staging. When there is little to differentiate one property from the next in a new development, virtually staged properties get buyers attention and define the property as unique allowing buyers to easily picture themselves living in your property for sale.

JDS Consulting- Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design. Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Diamond Head, Kahala, Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kailua, Makiki, Tantalus, Hawaii Kai, Manoa, Nu'uanu, Ala Moana, Waialua, Haleiwa, North Shore, Kapolei, Makaha, Honolulu.

www.Staged.Homestead.com tel.+1.808.344.1264

Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009

A Day of Feng Shui - without the furniture being rearranged!

Feng Shui, to many Westerners, is as unknown as the place of it's origin; China if you didn't know. More importantly it is an aspect of a philosophy on living a happy fulfilling existence regardless of circumstance. You may understand Feng Shui to be something akin to Home Staging or interior decorating but it is much much more than just that. In China, Feng Shui is a component of a major religion Taoism but you need not be religious to appreciate and or practice it's tenants but it is a spiritual path, none the less. In fact it's principles can be successfully incorporated into all religions that believe a universal energy or spirit is in and apart of all things. Taoism or the Tao means "The Path" and it's adherents recognize that how we think of the world creates our world, that the less resistance you have to change the happier you will be. For those of you who live on Oahu and are interested in finding out more about this uplifting and simplifying philosophy please join Alice Inoue in an in-depth introduction to Feng Shui-

Feng Shui with Alice Inoue This is an all-day workshop designed to give you the tools you need to bring multiple levels of your life into balance. Using the core principles of Feng Shui, Alice will share information on how to recreate your life by bringing the energies around you and within you into balance.With all that is going on in our lives and in the world today, it is more important than ever to center ourselves. In this workshop, we will take Feng Shui to new levels:

� BODY: You are never separate from your environment. No matter where you live or work, your environment has a great impact on how you feel and on your energy output. Learn easy-to-implement Feng Shui tools to create an environment that supports you rather than drains you.

� MIND: Our minds are constantly "on," with over 60,000 thoughts a day. Interestingly, 95 percent of our
thoughts are the same as those from the day before, and 80 percent of these habitual thoughts are negative. Learn how our surroundings impact our thoughts, and how we can shift ourselves toward greater control of our thoughts. Find out where our fears come from and how we can take charge and quiet the inner critic.

� HEART: Our hearts have an electromagnetic field 5,000 times more powerful than our brain, yet over
time we shut down our hearts, losing the most powerful energetic influencer of all. Learn heart-opening tips to implement in your environment, as well as how to gently reconnect to your inner voice, which holds the answers to your journey.

� SPIRIT: When life experiences are challenging, we feel separated from our Spirit, the all-knowing part of our Selves. If we live our lives solely from our mental and emotional bodies and fail to understand the spiritual perspective of our life's journey, life is more difficult to navigate. Open up to a new understanding of your Spirit and how it can guide you. Join Alice for a day of awakenings and magic, as she offers multiple keys to shift your life from deep within. The day will be a mixture of lectures, slides, discussion, meditations and exercises. Let's Feng Shui our lives on all levels together!

Sunday, Sep 27th
10 am to 5 pm
Macy 's Special Events Room
Ala Moana Center
$125 advance | $140 at the door

Visit http://www.AliceInoue.com

JDS Consulting- Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design. Providing Real Estate Merchandising services including: Home Staging, Interior Decor, Turn Key, Landscaping, Remodeling, & Open House Hosting. Diamond Head, Kahala, Waikiki, Kapahulu, Kailua, Makiki, Tantalus, Hawaii Kai, Manoa, Nu'uanu, Ala Moana, Waialua, Haleiwa, North Shore, Kapolei, Makaha, Honolulu.

www.Staged.Homestead.com tel.+1.808.344.1264 Kimo Stowell Copyright ©2009

One of the hottest properties in the Honolulu area is the Ala Moana Hotel Condominium. Recently I've been receiving alot of inquiries from buyers looking for "income" properties or condo units that can be rented out seasonally, to offset some ownership expenses, as well as leave some "vacant" time for personal use. There are many units that lend themselves well to seasonal rental, many are hotel managed, and some are required to be a part of a Hotel "pool" of rooms that rent out as any hotel room. These are sometimes referred to as Condo Hotels or Condotels.

The Ala Moana Hotel Condo is in a prime location because it is adjacent to the biggest shopping center in the State (Ala Moana Shopping Center), down the block from a beautiful sandy beach and only a half of block from the Hawaii Convention Center. The building was converted from a hotel to a condominium in 2005. The fully-furnished newly renovated units were offered for sale in July 2005. The price for studio units in November 2005 when the market peaked ranged between $220,000 - $395,000 and the one-bedroom units sold between $390,000 - $770,000.

Today it is a different story which may mean you can by at a bargain. The average price for studio units sold in 2009 is $139,000 and units are available for as low as $82,500. It is a great opportunity to get a piece of paradise at the biggest hotel-condo conversion project in the State of Hawaii!

To see current listings of condominium or apartment units, you may search the MLS on our website.

Here are a Few Examples of Units Priced Below Market (Lited by other Brokerage Firms):

Unit 657 - Smaller Studio @ $82,500 (Peak-a-boo ocean view, Kona Tower)

Unit 756 - Smaller Studio @ $85,000 (Peak-a-boo ocean view, Kona Tower)

Unit 2029 - Studio with lanai @ $100,000 (Mountain view, Waikiki Tower)

Unit 923 - Studio with lanai @ $110,000 (Ocean/Waikiki/Mountain view, Waikiki Tower)

Unit 1819 - Studio with lanai @ $130,000 (Ocean/Waikiki view, Waikiki Tower)

Unit 1926 - One-bedroom with kitchen @ $370,000 (Mountain view unit in Waikiki Tower)

Please note that some of the listings above are short sales.

Learn more about the Ala Moana neighborhood, adjacent to Waikiki, by visiting our Honolulu Condos website.

If you'd like to learn more about Condo Hotels, or CondoTels, stay tuned. We'll have an informative blog on the topic posted soon.

Mahalo for reading.

Celebrating Hawaii's Famous Chiefs from ancient times:

Hawaii has many myths and legends surrounding it's ancient rulers or Ali'i. One such famous Chief was Umi the peasant King of Hawai'i. Born to the unwed union of a commoner of exceptional beauty and the legendary King Liloa of the big island, Umi rose from obscurity to become one of the most renowned kings in Hawaiian history. Great of stature and skilled in the martial arts Umi was said to have introduced himself to his Royal father, Liloa by jumping over the palace walls, tossing aside the spears of the palace guards and landing in his fathers lap anouncing that he was his fathers long lost child. Such breach of protocol would have placed Umi in mortal danger had not the King recognized the Malo(loin cloth) and ivory and shell necklace he had left with Umi's mother many years prior; confirming his royal parentage. Umi would later raise a rebellion against his cruel and despotic half brother with the aid of the priesthood and secure his claim as Mo'i(King) ali'i nui o Hawai'i. Below is an article featuring Umi as the honoree for this years Aloha Na Ali'i Banquet at the Hawaii convention center.

Native Hawaiian Chief honored at annual Aloha Na Alii Banquet

HONOLULU, HI - The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) and Bishop Museum honored Umi a Liloa during the 8th Annual Native Hawaiian Convention's Aloha Na Alii Banquet held on August 26, 2009 at the Hawai'i Convention Center.

The elegant Banquet is an extraordinary opportunity to be inspired and reminded of the strength and vision of Hawaiian leaders. Past honorees at the Banquet include King David Kalakaua, Queen Kapiolani, King William Charles Lunalilo, Prince Jonah Kuhio Kalanianaole, and Princess Ruth "Luka" Keelikolani.

"The banquet evening held every year at the CNHA Convention creates an opportunity to connect and re-connect with our stories, our history, our ancestors, our ali`i," said Lilia Kapuniai, CNHA Community Development Manger. "We truly mahalo Bishop Museum and Nā Pualei o Likolehua for a partnership that continues to inspire every year. The talent at the museum, and in our halau and practitioner community is awesome."

Umi a Liloa, commonly known as Umi, ruled as the 14th Alii Aimoku of Hawaii. Umi is an icon to many with his accomplishment of uniting all districts of Hawaii through wars. An excellent warrior, Umi was of lowly birth on his maternal side, but rose to leadership through his victories in battle.

The Aloha Na Alii Banquet featured Umi through a special exhibit that included exquisite pieces he possessed, and was followed by a dinner program, that included a mookuauhau (genealogy chant) by Mehanaokala Hind, a direct descendant of Umi and member of Halau Nā Pualei o Likolehua. The banquet agenda also included a memorable ola na moolelo (living stories) presented by Bishop Musuem's Moses Goods and Loko Maika'i Lipscomb.

To learn more about the Aloha Na Alii Banquet and the Annual Native Hawaiian Convention, contact CNHA at (808) 596-8155 or e-mail info@hawaiiancouncil.org.

CNHA is a Hawaii-based nonprofit serving a network of more than 100 organizations statewide and nationally. CNHA's mission is to enhance the well-being of Hawaii through the cultural, economic, and community development of Native Hawaiians. For more information about CNHA please contact us at 808.596.8155, toll-free at 1.800.709.2642, by e-mail at info@hawaiiancouncil.org, or visit our website at www.hawaiiancouncil.org

JDS Consulting: Hawaii Home Staging and Decor Design. Servicing Honolulu and Honolulu County, Oahu Hawaii.