Barbara Abe

Most states are facing big problems as they draft their budgets for the next fiscal year, and Hawaii is no exception. The state has had to impose employee furloughs, pay adjustments, and given state agencies much smaller budgets to work with. This has certainly meant readjustments in state services, but also - not surprisingly - an outpouring of help and Aloha from our residents.

For instance, several libraries have had to reduce hours and even faced closure. But 2 fundraising drives, aimed at helping to keep them open, have collected more than $130,000 in the last month, and already have lifted the "closed" sign off one Big Island library.

The state Public Library System's "Keep Your Library Open!" campaign had taken in $59,884 as of Friday. A companion drive, "Keep the Doors Open!," administered by the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i, has collected $71,776. Donations have come from a variety of sources, from anonymous individuals who dip into their own wallets to preschool classes and cafeteria workers who have organized their own fund drives. The money will be used for basic necessities, from buying books to paying utility bills.

Friends of the Library of Hawai'i Executive Director Byrde Cestare said her organization undertook the fund drive as a separate initiative from its ongoing efforts to raise money for library programs not otherwise included in the operating budget. "In normal times, we would not be supplanting state funds," said Cestare. "But these are extraordinary times."

Other examples of folks working together to find solutions to our budget shortfall have been seen in our schools. Teachers have been given furlough days, but the YMCA has promised child programs all day for those days, parents have offered to pay teachers separately to teach on those days - and there have been many more ideas considered.

Hawaii Kai does have public schools, and a very cohesive community. It is heartwarming to see the spirit of Aloha truly at work throughout the state, as we work together to support our community services. Contact me for real estate opportunities on our island, and to learn more about our Hawaii Kai lifestyle.

Most runners on Oahu know the Honolulu Marathon (in December) out and back course turns around in Hawaii Kai, and our weather favors all outdoor activities. Running is one of the major ones in our islands. But the sport also brings financial results, as well as physical ones.

The 10th Anniversary of the Nike 5K Run for Kids in Waikiki this week raised $150,000 for Oahu schools. 100% of the entry fees for the run and 1 Mile walk will be donated to schools to support their play, physical education and athletic programs and to purchase play equipment. More than half of the entrants were younger than 18.

The top five fundraising schools were:

• Ma'ema'e Elementary School's 560 runners raised $8,400 for their school.

• Maryknoll School's 543 runners raised $8,145.

• Mid-Pacific Institute's 330 runners raised $4,950.

• Kapolei High School's 325 runners raised $4,875.

• St. Andrew's Priory had 263 runners, raising $3,945.

These results are pretty amazing. In a year of teachers facing pay cuts and furloughs, and libraries open fewer hours, and more state budget restrictions, residents getting together to help our schools and get exercise at the same time is a great example of our island Aloha. Contact me to learn more about our Oahu lifestyle and ask for your free Relocate to Hawaii Kai Package.

(resource: Honolulu Advertiser)

For those of you buyers who want to use your tax credit before it expires Nov. 30, now is the time to start looking! After 2 months of gains in numbers sold, single family home sales on Oahu decreased in August, by just a small percentage. The median home price, which is the point at which half the sales were for more and half for less, fell 10.9 percent to $566,000 in August from $635,000 a year earlier. As of August this year, the median single-family home price is down 9.4 percent, to $570,000.

In the Oahu condominium market, sales were up 1.7 percent, to 351 last month from 345 a year earlier. The last time condo sales rose year-over-year was in March 2006. However, the median condo sale price in August fell 11.6 percent, to $290,000 from $328,000 a year ago. The last time the median was as low was in October 2005. For the first eight months of this year, the condo median price was $305,000, down 7.6 percent from the same period last year.

Many Realtors and market followers believe the Hawaii real estate market has just about bottomed, in terms of volumes. Sellers are now reviewing multiple offers and inventory has started to decrease.

Last month on O'ahu, there were 1,624 single-family homes for sale. That was the lowest level for any August since 2005, near the peak of the market, when inventory was at 1,060. Inventory in August 2008 was 2,119 homes, and has ranged between 1,653 and 1,928 during the first seven months of this year. If no new homes were added to the market, it would take 6.1 months to sell the current inventory, which is down from 8.4 months a year earlier, 6.5 months in July and - a high for any month this year - 15.8 months in February.

Condo inventory last month was 2,140 units, which was the lowest for any August since 2005, when there were 1,097 condos for sale. Inventory in August 2008 was 2,743, and has ranged between 2,279 and 2,582 earlier this year.

While there are many variations in real estate sales by area on Oahu, these trends generally hold true in Hawaii Kai. We have a more stable market than some areas, and a limited supply, unlike Ewa, where there are still new developments.

There are many factors in our Oahu and Hawaii economies which will adversely affect our real estate market, such as possible wage cuts and furloughs for state workers, rise in unemployment, and flat personal income. But prices are low, rates are low, and buyers - you can get government help to purchase. Don't lose this opportunity. Contact me for details on our Hawaii Kai real estate market.

(resources: Honolulu Board of Realtors, Honolulu Advertiser)

Finn, a yellow Labrador retriever, is now stationed at the Wounded Warrior Battalion at the Kane'ohe Marine Base. His assignment is to bring joy and boost the morale of the soldiers, a job that took two years of rigorous training.

A highly trained service dog, Finn spends his days in a comfortable air conditioned lounge filled with brown leather sofas, computers, a television and game table. The wounded warriors there are recuperating. Finn brings a touch of home and a feeling of belonging to something outside yourself. He is beautiful, smart, and caring, and has made a big difference in the lives of the soldiers.

As reported by the Honolulu Advertiser, "Cpl. Masato Takaki, 21, said the atmosphere in the barracks has changed since Finn arrived. The dog means more responsibilities for the soldiers but they all love it. "'Everybody is more relaxed with him around," he said. "Everybody plays with him. He loves the attention.'"

The Wounded Warrior barracks was designed to aid in the recovery of war or other injuries or illnesses. It's a place for rehabilitation, recuperation and transition back into the force or civilian life, said Sgt. Karlo Salgado, who is in charge of the barracks and takes Finn home at night and on weekends.

Finn is the first service dog to be placed in a barracks in Hawai'i, said Susan Luehrs, executive director for Hawaii Fi-Do, a nonprofit group that obtained, trained and donated Finn for this particular duty. Hawaii Fi-Do works mostly with labradoodles, a cross between a Labrador and a poodle, but the Marines wanted a manly dog, she said. Finn was one of two Labs being trained for Marine use. His brother, Frank, went to a Kane'ohe Marine, Luehrs said, and a third young yellow Lab donated by veterinarian Mark Caspers and his wife is also being trained for barracks duty.

The organization is working with Congress to pass legislation that would pay for training and upkeep of these animals, Luehrs said. Typically it takes two years and costs about $20,000 to train an animal, not including the price to purchase a puppy.

Visit Hawaii Fi-Do to donate and for more information, and contact your senator or representative to support legislation for their work.

Finn is one more example of our Aloha spirit in action. Come see for yourself the spirit of the Islands.

US News & World Report just released a recent study of national job markets. While Hawaii has certainly been affected by the economic downturn, our unemployment rate is lower than that of many states, and now we learn that Honolulu is one of the Top Cities for New Jobs.

As reported by Realtor.org, "The underlying strengths of the top cities vary considerably. Some of the stronger cities are state capitals and have lots of government jobs. Others have abundant natural resources, stable housing markets, growing health care sectors, or are in close proximity to military bases.

"But overall, what separates these communities from those that have been hit harder is a steady economy that protected them from steep unemployment."

Listed in alpha order, Honolulu ranked 4th. I rank it first, because of our Aloha Spirit. Here are the others:

Anchorage, AK - Arlington, VA - Columbus, OH - Houston, TX - Oklahoma City, OK - Salt Lake City, UT - Shreveport, LA - Tallahassee, FL - Wichita, KS

Hawaii Kai is a short commute from downtown Honolulu and, of course, not all jobs are in Honolulu. Hawaii Kai has one of the most stable real estate markets on the island. Sign up for my Free Relocation Package and contact me for real estate market information for all areas on Oahu. Why live in the ice and snow or thunderstorm alley when you can live in Paradise?!