About Honolulu's Waikiki

Condo sales in Honolulu neighborhoods, and particularly Waikiki have accelerated recently. However, some condos are selling more than others. Here are the top selling condos in the last six months:

• Ilikai Apartments (18 units sold)
• Island Colony (15 units sold)
• Liliuokalani Gardens (11 units sold)
• Discovery Bay (8 units sold)
• Four Paddle (8 units sold)

Why?

Ilikai Apartments (Hotel):
Ilikai Hotel's prices have come down dramatically due to the current litigation/foreclosure situation. The average price fell by 40% since the market peaked in 2007.

Island Colony:
The average price for studio units fell 22% and the price for one-bedroom units dropped 8%. This condominium is going through major repairs and collecting a special assessment for a long period of time. Since the amount for the assessment is specific, buyers can ask sellers to pay off the assessment. This way, buyers do not have to pay the special assessment each month.

Liliuokalani Gardens:
The average price for studio units dropped 12%, and fell 16% for one-bedroom units. This condominium used to be Leasehold property, but the fee was offered for sale and most of the owners purchased the fee.

Discovery Bay:
The average price went down by 11% for a studio, 25% for one-bedroom units, and 39% for two-bedroom units. This condominium is still Leasehold, and the association bought over 60% of the fee. However, the fee is still not available and it is not clear if it will become available in the future.

Four Paddle:
The average price fell 10% for studio units, and 9% for one-bedroom units. There is a vacant lot directly across from the condominium, and a time-share condominium was planned to be built there at one time. This plan was not approved by the City and County. If something is built in the future, it would be more likely a low-rise commercial building.

Judging from the dramatic price decreases, the Ilikai Hotel and Discovery Bay appear to offer the best values. If you would like more information, please feel free to contact us.

Hilton Hawaiian Aloha Friday King's Jubilee and Fireworks Show

Every Friday the Hilton Hawaiian Village puts on an "Aloha-Style" show, sort of like a luau show without the dinner. We recently checked it out, and I must say it was quite entertaining. The show started at 6:30 pm.The evening began with the King's Procession and then continued with the music, attire, performances and dance from Hawaii and other Polynesian Islands. The night ended with music to a spectacular fireworks display.

The performance was a reenactment of King David Kalakaua's royal court performances. The King entered wearing a navy blue suit adorned with medals on a red and yellow sash. Surrounded by the Village Guards who marched to the steady, slow beat of the drummers, the King took his place on the main stage and spoke to the crowd in Hawaiian. After he spoke, he claimed his throne and the Village Guards, with their golden horsehair plumed helmets and 1903 rifles, exited the stage and the show began.

The band played behind the King while the performance happened in front of him. The band used percussion instruments that included various gourds, rattlers, and pahus (drums). The stringed instruments included the slack key guitar, electric bass guitar, acoustic 6-string guitar, and a ukulele. They sang to some songs and others were completely instrumental. The band performed the vocals for the hulas with most songs sung in both Hawaiian and English. When they sang, it was in a low tone, not in falsetto. The songs were all medium to fast tempo for the hulas. I could recognized the twang sound of the slack key guitar when it played the melody of "He Aloha No O Honolulu." The songs played for the hulas all sounded like the traditional Hawaiian style music.

The dancers, both men and women, wore traditional attire according to the dance they performed. For some dances they used instruments or props. The men performed hula both by themselves and with the women. They wore sarongs or lavalavas with pants underneath. Like the women's costumes, their costumes were different colors and designs for each song. One energetic dance performed was called the "fa'ataupati" or "Samoan Slap Dance."

There was one part of the show when the men came into the audience from behind and scared some people but otherwise the audience just watched. An excellent show that demonstrated the types of music and dance practiced throughout the Polynesian islands. I would describe the experience as similar to what happens at a luau but without the food. You cannot tell from the pictures, but all of the seating arranged around the pool had good views. It was open seating and the cost was twenty dollars, which included one drink. If one drink is not enough, there is a poolside bar close by.

The hour-long show concluded with a short but energetic fireworks display which can be seen (and heard) throughout Waikiki Beach. Overall, it was an entertaining evening on the beach worth the price of admission.

Tips and info:

Official web site: http://www.hiltonhawaiianvillage.com/activities/entertainment.asp
Registered hotel guests can pre-purchase tickets for poolside seating at the Ali'i Tower desk near Tropics Bar & Beach Café. The desk is open 8:00 am - 9:00 pm daily except Fridays, and 8:00 am - 2:00 pm on Fridays. Tickets can also be purchased by hotel guests and the general public at the entrance to the Super Pool from 5:30 pm until show time on Fridays. Poolside seating includes one standard cocktail beverage.*

Show Schedule
Village Guards Precision Rifle Drill Team
6:15 p.m. (October to March)
6:45 p.m. (April to September)
Main Show at the Super Pool
6:30 p.m. (October to March)
7 p.m. (April to September
Fireworks Display
7:30 p.m. (October to March)8 p.m. (April to September)

Three Newly Listed condos in Waikiki Listed for Sale:

Here are three more interesting new listings of Waikiki Condos that came up for sale over the last few days.

1) Ilikai Apartment Building #2137 - 1bd/1ba, ocean & yacht harbor views - $355,000

2) Waikiki Landmark #1803- 2bd/2ba, pool deck, Ala Wai canal and mountain views - $645,000

3) The Watermark #405 - 2bd/2ba, new building, upscale amenities - $950,000

(Please note that the listing links above will not work once the unit is sold.)

These condos are listed by other real estate brokerages, however I can represent you as a buyer. Please feel free to email me at Douglas@HNLCondos.com, or call me at 808-497-3810 and we can schedule some time to look at any of these great condos.

For further information: Ilikai Apartment Building, Waikiki Landmark, The Watermark, or search the Honolulu and Oahu MLS.

Oahu Waikiki Scenic Tour

Waikiki in Honolulu, Oahu is a strip of high-rise hotels set along one of the most famous beaches in the world. It is a unique experience -- an urban playground for people from all over the world. You can find dozens of activities, attractions, shopping, restaurants, and night life all within walking distance of your hotel room. The area caters to upscale visitors with some of the most luxurious and elegant accommodations on the island, yet it also offers choices for budget conscious travelers.

Historically, Waikiki was the playground of Hawaiian ali'i (the nobility). In ancient times, Waikiki was a wetlands area of fish and duck ponds, taro patches and rice fields. It was bordered by groves of coconut trees and a glistening beach on beautiful Mamala Bay.

By the 1920's, the golden age of luxury liners established Waikiki as a premier destination. This first wave of development gave Waikiki a distinctively Art Deco style. Adventurous travelers from all over the globe began experiencing the Aloha spirit for the first time.

In the 1960's, jumbo jets began landing at Honolulu International Airport, ushering in a new era of tourism. Waikiki became the most famous strip of beach in the world, ringed with high-rise hotels and accessible to middle class travelers.

The Beach: Waikiki Beach is actually a string of beaches stretching two and half miles along the ocean, from the Hilton Hawaiian Village to Diamond Head. Here you will find sparkling sand gently sloping into turquoise waters, elements that make it a world-class beach. The soft sand bottom and safe waters make it an attractive spot for swimmers, surfers, and other water enthusiasts. It's also a great place for people-watching.

On the beach you can rent equipment for watersports of any kind. If you are not staying at one of the hotels, a good area for parking is around Kapiolani Park (toward Diamond Head). The beach areas at this end are quieter. There are showers, restroom facilities and picnic pavilions nearby.

The Waikiki District stretches inland from the beach to the Ala Wai Canal. There are a multitude of hotels, stores, restaurants and sightseeing attractions accessible by foot. The Waikiki Trolleys offer a two-hour tour for $15 for adults and $5 for children. (You can get on and off whenever you want to.) For specific information on dining, shopping, and watersports , see those sections on the Vacation Planner. The following are the other attractions you'll find exploring Waikiki:

Hilton Hawaiian Village: a 20-acre complex featuring a lagoon, gardens, waterfalls, penguin pond, and the Rainbow Bazaar for souvenir shopping.

Tea House of the Urusenke Foundation: a tranquil oasis where you can take part in a Japanese tea ceremony served by kimono-clad ladies.

The Royal Hawaiian Hotel: an elegant reminder of old Waikiki, with a gracious lobby and gorgeous gardens.


Damien Museum: an exhibit which pays tribute to Father Damien for his work at the 19th century leper colony at Kalaupapa, Moloka'i. He was later canonized as a saint.

Waikiki Aquarium: a recently renovated attraction featuring exhibits on reef life, Hawaiian monk seals, sharks, and a mahimahi hatchery.

Honolulu Zoo: a charming environment featuring Indian elephant shows, an African savannah habitat, and animals from around the world. Includes a petting zoo for kids.

Kapiolani Park: a great place for picnicking, swimming, and just about any kind of sport from tennis to soccer to archery. The Royal Hawaiian Band plays on Sundays, and other musical events take place at the Waikiki Shell.

Once you've done Waikiki, you may be ready for exploring other neighborhoods in Honolulu, Hawaii.

Although every single condo building located in Waikiki, Honolulu is a short walk to the beach, and many offer amazing Pacific Ocean views, some condominium buyers want to be right on the beach!

So, here is a short list of condominium properties located in the Waikiki Beach area, that are waterfront, or located on the beach:

Waikiki Shore

Ilikai Apartments (on marina)

Ilikai Marina (on marina)

Foster Tower

Waikiki Beach Tower

Next time, we'll take a look at the beach area, just east of Waikiki, known as Diamond Head, or the Gold Coast area, where nearly everything is waterfront.