Barbara Abe

The Hawaii DLNR (Dept. of Land & Natural Resources) has published the Recreational Renaissance Plan, which proposes new and improved facilities at area harbors and beaches. The Plan is proposed as House Bill 980 House Draft 1, and defined as "a rebirth in the way we care for our land and ocean recreational spaces, our natural and cultural resources, and the residents and visitors at Hawaii's State Parks, small boat harbors, boat ramps, hiking trails, natural area reserves, forest reserves and beaches." The bill creates a new fund within DLNR which would allow the department to respond more quickly to contracting jobs.

According to the East Oahu Sun, "East Oahu projects that are currently being proposed include those at Maunalua Bay Boat Ramp, Diamond Head State Monument Linear Park and Waahila Ridge State Recreation Area. Also included among proposed projects are entry road and lookout projects at Ka Iwi Shoreline, where residents may see new apparatus and facilities, such as channel markers, a launch ramp, boat wash-down areas, a loading dock, a comfort station, an event ramp at the canoe club area, as well as parking and roadway improvements, in the future."

Steve Carr, President of the Hawaii Kai Marina Community Assn, said his organization has not yet taken a position on the bill. "It is quite obvious the DLNR and DOBAR (Department of Boating and Recreation) are looking for funds to repair and augment existing infrastructures. If user fees were collected at the state boat ramp at Maunalua Bay, they should be used for the site only, and not kicked to the general fund," Carr said. He is very negative on past state efforts for the boating community, so is hesitant to endorse the bill.

DLNR representatives hosted a meeting at Kamiloiki Elementary School earlier this week to discuss and collect community input on the Recreational Renaissance Plan and the specific capital improvement projects for Maunalua Bay within that plan. Read more about the plan in the East Oahu Sun article, and attend the meetings of the Marina Association if you are interested, open to the public the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Office phone 808-396-2469.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537

Even though this idea has been implemented by an agent from another firm, I thought it so timely that I wanted to share. A realtor has organized real estate bike tours of Hawaii Kai on the 2nd Saturday of each month.

As explained by KITV.com, "These tours allow buyers to see more of the neighborhood, conveniently stop and ask questions and is a great opportunity to learn about the neighborhood. Viewing real estate on bikes saves gas, cuts down on traffic, reduces greenhouse emissions and is great for the health.

"The length of the tours depend on the number of homes open that particular day. Priority will be given to listings fitting the rider's parameters, that week's new listings and best buys. Tours will consist of homes mostly in the flat areas, although some hillside homes may be shown. Bikes can be arranged if you don't have your own."

For more information or to schedule a private preview of a home you may see on the bike tour, give me a call. I've been working and living in Hawaii Kai for more than 20 years.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537

Even though prices continue to decline and inventory increase, in our part of Paradise home and condos are selling because there is a finite supply of Hawaii Kai and smart buyers understand the great prices.

Here's the highest sale of a single family home in February: in the Triangle neighborhood, lot 11,619 sq ft, 4 bedrooms/3 baths, roofed living (because we measure lanais separately) 2,527 sq ft, built in 1967, remodeled in 2007. Sales price $1,075,000. (Contact me for your free report on Triangle and all the Hawaii Kai neighborhoods.)

Here's the higest sale of a condo in February: fee simple in Mawaena Kai (many of the homes are still leasehold), 3 bedroom/2 bath, interior sq ft 1,296, lanai 131, upper level corner townhome, slip not included (some do have deeded boat slips). Maintenance fees $594/mo. Sales price $627,000. (Contact me for your free report on all the Hawaii Kai condos.)

There are great buying opportunities here - contact me to discuss how you can make your dream come true and live in Hawaii.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com

An article in the East Oahu Sun confirmed what many of the residents of Hawaii Kai have worked for, for years - Gov. Linda Lingle announced a plan to reclassify Ka Iwi from urban use to conservation use. The area - land between Queen's Beach and the Makapu‘u Lighthouse - is heavily used by hikers, surfers, biologists, beachcomers and more, and lies just a few minutes from residential Hawaii Kai. Ka Iwi is the channel between Oahu and Moloka'i, and the easternmost tip of Oahu. Watch a visual tour of this beautiful coastline by LostVirtualTour.

This 235 acres of state-owned land, the Ka Iwi Scenic Shoreline, (literal translation means "bone" and is called the channel of bones for the difficult crossing) has been in contention for many years. In the 1960's, the land was zoned for a resort, but was reclassified to urban use in 1964. Opposition grew among not just Hawaii Kai residents but Windward Oahu as well, especially Waimanalo, who fought to save the last open space lands on the southern coast of Oahu from development as proposals came and went before the government agencies.

"If the land remains classified as urban, there will always be the threat of development to this unique scenic beach and open space treasure," said Governor Lingle. "The community has worked to protect this area for future generations and the action my administration is taking will support their efforts by helping to prevent any further development proposals."

Her action still leaves unprotected two large parcels of about 184 acres on the mauka side of the highway (mountain side) which have been purchased in the last year. Now designated as P-2 general conservation, for protection, they still will need to be reclassified into conservation use.

Read the full article in the East Oahu Sun online edition, and visit more photos of Ka Iwi.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537

I always want to show off the gorgeous properties that sell in Hawaii Kai. Imagining folks reading this with snow up to the window sill in Illinois or ice on the wires in Kentucky, these places must look like true Paradise (and we think they are).

Here's the highest sale in January: $1,000,000 even, in the Triangle Neighborhood (request a neighborhood report from my web page), a 3 bedroom/2 bath home on more than .25 acres, built in 1966 and remodeled in 2008, with an open lanai and 1,696 sq ft inside.

Here's the highest sale of a condo in January: $655,000 in the Moana Kai complex (get your report on the condo page of my web site), a 3 bedroom/2.5 bath home of 1524 sq ft built in 2005 with a 2-car garage. (photos not of actual unit)

There are great buying opportunities here - contact me to discuss how you can make your dream come true and live in Hawaii.

Barbara Abe, REALTOR
barbara@barbarashawaii.com
808-226-2537
www.movetohawaiikai.com
www.barbarashawaii.com