About Lahaina's Kapalua

It was a gorgeous day today, so I thought I'd take a little time to stop by the Ritz-Carlton Residences, Kapalua Bay. Strolling through the lobby, the view overlooks beautifully landscaped grounds, framing the channel between Molokai and Lanai. The sound of waterfalls surround, as you make your way to a lagoon like pool setting. This time, I had my camera handy.

I stopped by one of my favorite locations, 2503, which has stunning coastal and sunset views overlooking the pool area (pictured left). But what's special about this location is actually the views from the back bedrooms, which look out toward the Plantation Course and Honolua Bay.

Koliana Designs, the talented team that has renovated many of the Kapalua Villas to new Gold Standards has just finished decorating the first Residence. The three bedroom plus den features custom designed furnishings and artwork from local Maui artists.

The Kapalua Spa is absolutely stunning. I had the opportunity to preview it with the Kapalua Club, and am thrilled with the newest amenity in our resort.

Entering the building, you are greeted with a view overlooking the Coconut Grove and Kapalua Bay. Waterfall features and fire bowls frame the view. To the left is the juice bar and gift shop (already stocked with jewelry, skincare and spa products!) and the flex room (for those looking forward to yoga classes). To the right are the treatment rooms. Downstairs you'll find the fitness center (complete with a kenesis circuit system), the saline lap pool, and the men's and women's locker rooms. You'll note the theme of the ocean woven throughout the decor and reflected in the treatments.

At this time, Kapalua Club Gold level members will have access to the spa and fitness facilities through their membership program. Members of the public will also be able to book treatments. For information, please contact the Kapalua Spa at 866-941-5772. For those visiting from the mainland, the Kapalua Villas has put together some amazing spa packages for a limited time.

At the beginning of each year, the Kapalua Resort hosts a tournament champions in the first PGA event of the season. In years past, this invitation only tournament was the Mercedes-Benz Championship. This year, the new sponsor is SBS.

Played at the Plantation Course, it is a fantastic spectator tournament--as long as you can walk the hills and valleys, you can follow your favorite PGA professional closely. While walking the par 73, Crenshaw and Coore designed course is challenging, the backdrop is spectacular.

A friend sent this ESPN profile to me because it mentions Kapalua. I wanted to share it with you. Whether you are a golfer or not, it's an inspirational story, about having the determination to pick yourself up even after you fall.

http://vodpod.com/watch/1165857-walk-on-espn-video

So, I invite you to follow in DJ's footsteps, and join us in Kapalua from January 4th-10th, 2010 to walk the Plantation Course in the first SBS Championship.

The roots of the Kapalua Resort are in agriculture--even the Kapalua Logo pays homage to the history of the resort, with a pineapple in the center of the butterfly. In the past, diverse crops such as pineapple and coffee were grown here. DT Flemming started Maunalei Arboretum to see what imported species would do well in Hawaii's environment.

These days, the focus of Kapalua Farms is growing fresh, organic fare that is used in the resort's many restaurants and is available at the Honolua Store, as well as other locations island wide. In that effort, Kapalua Farms is pleased to announce recent organic certification of its vegetable and herb operation by the Hawai‘i Organic Farmers Association (HOFA).

Kapalua Farms is located on approximately 188 acres near the resort (a portion of it runs along Pineapple Hill Estates), and produces Kapalua Gold and Emerald organic pineapple, organic produce and herbs, tropical fruits, as well as yummy, pasture-raised eggs.

The Realtor's Association of Maui has posted the April 2009 sales statistics for the island.

It is noted that inventory is shrinking overall, but there is an increase in short sales and REO (bank owned) properties. New categories have been added to the MLS system to help consumers more readily identify a distressed sale (a potential short sale) or an REO. All new listings must contain information (Y/N) for these two new fields.

I'm often asked how the current economy has affected our market. With a general slowing in sales, and resulting lack of comparables, it can be hard to assess declines in valuation. It is noteworthy that in the Kapalua Resort, there has been one REO to close this year, 406 Monarch in Pineapple Hill at $1.7 million. In addition, there is one potential short sale noted in MLS, Bay Villa 29G5 at $799,000.

Compare that with Maui's other resort, Wailea, where the short sale market more active. The are currently 7 listings actively marked as Short Sales, with asking prices ranging from $499,000 to $2,199,000 at properties such as the Wailea Fairway Villas, Wailea Ekolu, Kanani Wailea, Kai Malu, and Ho'olei. There are currently no pending sales or sales since January of properties marked in MLS as short sales in Wailea. While there are no properties actively marked as REO's, there is one pending sale and one recorded sale of a Grand Champions Villa at $310,000

Please note: as the fields are new, only new listings are required to stipulate whether the property is a potential short sale or REO. As such, there could be distressed properties that are not categorized actively listed in MLS. When those properties close escrow, or if any changes are made to the listing, the agent will be required to enter whether or not the property is a short sale or REO.