Wailea, HI

Il Teatro - the theater - is exactly that. An outstanding production of food. Entertaining, elegant, simple and sumptuous. This restaurant, located below Capische in the Diamond Resort, represents the best in good dining. This Chef's Table with refined wine/food pairings is open Thursdays through Saturdays with advance booking. Or, with 6 or or more in your party, is open any day you choose!
Last night with a group of 16 friends and acquaintances we were treated to one of the best meals I have experienced in a long while - and for over thirty years I have traveled and eaten in dozens of coutries across five continents.
Chefs Brain Etheredge and Chris Kulis performed together in synchronised harmony to turn out course after mouth-watering course.
The evening began with a toast of Prosecco. A first course of Ono Gravlox, Proscuitto (di Parma of course..) and Asparagus paired with Roero Arnels from Vietti in the Piedmont region tickled the palate. A choice of Warm Duck Confit (with Barbera D'Alba) or Scallops (with A Terlano "Kreuth" Chardonnay) presented the first agonising choice for the second course. My wife and I sensibly took one each - and we shared our dishes. Perfect!
And so the evening progressed with dishes varying from Short Ribs and Saffron Risotto through Poached Lobster to Lamb Rack with Pumpkin Gnocchi and Polenta Onaga. Wines selected for each dish were matched to perfection.
A final dessert of Wam Chocolate Cake with Chambord Strawbewrry Sorbet sealed our fate - we'll be back in February to experience a new menu revelation as the monthly change of menu takes place!
Treat yourself, your spouse and your friends - you won't regret it.

The Kihei Charter School--A 21st Century School of Excellence

Kihei is home to an extraordinary public school where 80 percent of the students go directly to higher education after graduation, with
K-12 educational programs including the first middle school in Hawaii with a core Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) curriculum, a K-12 Hybrid Academy, a Performing Arts Academy in partnership with MAPA and Maui OnStage planned for August 2008, and a waiting list of parents who want their children to enroll.

The Kihei Charter School opened with a high school program of 60 students (grades 10-12) in August of 2001. The school now serves 326 students. It is the only school on Maui with a local school board.

Unfortunately, the State of Hawaii does not provide funding for Charter School facilities. They must budget their rental for facilities and take that amount out of the school's operating budget.

As a result of this unmet need, and to respond to continued community demand for the school's services, The school has established a Capital Campaign Goal of raising $4 Million for a permanent state-of- the-art educational facility at the Maui Research and Technology Park.

For more information on this unique opportunity to help with the Charter School program of educational excellence contact Gene Zarro, Chair of the South Maui Learning Ohana, at 385-1197, or 875-0700.

Mahalo,

Stephanie Perrault

I am proud to announce the event of the year - "Valentine Red & White Ball" at The Grand Wailea Resort on February 9, 2008 from 6pm-9pm. This event is to benefit the "Kihei Charter School". The school is seeking to raise $4M to make the dream of a state-of-the-art educational facility at the Maui Research & Technology Park a reality. You can make a significant impact by making a monetary donation and/or contributing an item that can be placed in our Silent Auction or Raffle.

As a token of our appreciation for your thoughtful donation your company name will be placed in our program and in the Maui News under the following categories:

Diamond=$2500 Gold=$1000 Silver= $500 Emerald=$100 Bronze: under $100

South Maui needs the benefits that a 21^st century education can bring to our children. Let's help accomplish this goal and ensure a promising future for Kihei's generations yet to come.

For more information please go to our website: www.RedandWhiteBallMaui.Com

Your contribution is greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,

Stephanie Perault

2007 proved to be a great year for condo sales in Wailea/Makena. Sales rose from 189 units in 2006 to 233 units in 2007 - a 23% increase! And this was accompanied by less than 5% decline in the median price. Indeed, total sales volume was over $400 million in 2007! This compares with less than $345 million in 2006.
This great strength in the face of challenges nationwide to the real estate industry attest to the popularity of Maui as a destination for home owners.

Sales in the Wailea/Makena area were aided by a number of new projects that came on stream over the last couple of years. These included Kanani Wailea, Wailea Beach Villas, Kai Malu, Ho'olei and Wailea Town Center.

In spite of the new projects coming on stream, the older established condo complexes still proved popular. These condos included Grand Champions, Makena Surf, Na Hale O Makena, Palms at Wailea, Wailea Palms, Polo Beach Club, Wailea Fairway Villas, and the evergreen Wailea Ekahi, Wailea Elua and Wailea Ekolu.
Unit sales in these complexes were down 13% from 87 (2006) to 76 units (2007) though the median price declined less than 3%.

In the new projects, sales rose from 102 units in 2006 to 157 units in 2007 - a gain of over 50%!

Perhaps we can look to continuing strength in Wailea/Makena during 2007 as resales in the new projects increase and new units continue to roll out from high end projects like Ho'olei.

Sales of Wailea/Makena single family homes were up from 29 in 2006 to 35 sales in 2007. And the median price on completed sales was up 2.5% from $2,060,000 to $2,112,000. Not bad given all the negative publicity and stats around national sales during 2007! It is also interesting to note that the gap between List and Sold price narrowed from an average of -8.5% in 2006 to -6.4% in 2007. Are owners pricing more realistically?!!

FYI here are selective stats. I will shortly be providing more insights into Wailea condo sales and the trend in withdrawals and cancellations.