Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR

Hawaii conservationists are warning that many important Maui efforts may be severely curtailed because of state revenue shortfalls. Environmental programs like miconia eradication, coqui frog control and watershed fencing could see major setbacks.

According to Maui News, the state's Natural Area Reserve Fund, which supports watershed partnerships, invasive species committees and Natural Area Reserves throughout the state, anticipates having only $6 million available for grants in the fiscal year that starts July 1. That's down 46 percent from the $11.2 million the fund had available this year.

"It's huge," said Jordan Jokiel, project manager for East Maui Watershed Partnership. "We've got to start thinking about damage control and laying people off. And the thing is, we've had these successes with invasive species. We lose those gains." He's planning for a cut of 40% in his total overall budget.

The Natural Area Reserve Fund revenue comes from the state conveyance tax, paid on real estate sales, and that source has dropped dramatically. Teya Penniman, manager of Maui Invasive Species Committee, said the budget cuts mean conservationists likely won't be able to keep up the gains they've made against invasive species and other environmental challenges in the past several years, especially with the coqui frog.

Read the list of threatened programs and likely budget cuts in the full Maui News article. To imagine the consequences, Jokiel compared the loss of funding and programs to "Letting your yard go for a couple of years."

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

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After 6 years of rebuilding an abandoned coffee plantation, MauiGrown Coffee, Inc. announced a harvest 4 times that of previous years. Owner James "Kimo" Falconer stated he got 225,000 pounds of green coffee beans in the season ended last month, up from about 50,000 pounds in the prior season. Yield was really good," Falconer said, adding that his challenge now is to find new customers for the pricey coffee in tough economic times."

Located in the West Maui Mountains near Lahaina, MauiGrown started in 2003 in Ka'anapali on land formerly owned by Amfac Hawai'i subsidiary Pioneer Mill. The company had created a 600-acre coffee farm on former sugar land, but in 2001 closed and the coffee trees grew wild. Falconer was a Pioneer Mill executive, and arranged to lease many of the acres from the company. He now has a 325-acre farm, and attributes the increased yield to help from Amfac successor Ka'anapali Land LLC, which added new irrigation and fertilizer. They grow several varieties of Arabica coffees.

Ka'anapali Land will integrate coffee farming and million-dollar residential lots, which keeps the ag lands in production and supports the real estate development. With increased production, Falconer plans to focus on exports to the mainland and possibly Europe. Close to half of MauiGrown's coffee is sold in Hawai'i. Prices for most MauiGrown varieties sell for $4.50 to $5 a pound, though some sells for as much as $9 a pound. (Read the full article on Honolulu Advertiser.)

Visit MauiGrown Coffee's web site to order online, and if you are on the island, stop by for a sample.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
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A recent article in USA Today online said tourist numbers have declined by 50% not just on Maui, but all the islands, "Symbols of the global financial meltdown are ubiquitous in the Aloha State, from shuttered shops along Lahaina's main drag, Front Street, to empty tables at popular restaurants on Kauai's South Shore, to the foreclosure of Honolulu's landmark Ilikai Hotel.

"Hit early by the California subprime mortgage debacle, last spring's back-to-back bankruptcies of Aloha and ATA airlines and the May pullout of the second of three Norwegian Cruise Lines' Hawaii-based ships, the state's tourism industry has been taking it in the boardshorts ever since. Last year, visitor arrivals dropped 10.8% from 2007, to 6.8 million. Spending fell by 9.9%, and statewide hotel occupancy slipped 4.7%, to 70.4%. December was even worse, with hotels emptier than they'd been since just after 9/11."

For tourists who do come, there are unprecedented discounts available in some of the country's most luxurious accommodations, from Wailea to Paia. The whales are back and the island is as beautiful as ever, so come visit and take advantage of great tourist "deals." Businesses from shops to restaurants have lowered prices and want your patronage!

There are many real estate opportunities on Maui too, so while you are here, give me a call and I'll discuss what "deals" are available for real estate buyers.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
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On Feb. 15, the 25-member Maui General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) reviwed the draft of the subcommittee's Maui Island Plan. The deadline for presentation of the long-term master plan is March 1. Then the committee has six months to review and forward to the Maui County Council for final approval.

According to Maui News, one of the projects that the subcommittee wanted scaled back was Maui Land & Pineapple Co.'s Pulelehua near the Kapalua-West Maui Airport. Because of concerns about its proximity to the airport, a gulch and Hawaiian homelands, the subcommittee recommended cutting Pulelehua from 1,100 housing units to 696. The subcommittee also made a request to scale back Makila Land Co.'s Launiupoko on the Hill 200-lot subdivision above Honoapiilani Highway.

GPAC Vice Chairman Dick Mayer explained that the subcommittee considered 3 main factors for siting future growth: projected population growth, current unbuilt housing units, and public opinion on urban sprawl. The subcommittee divvied up the island into six community plan areas: west, south, central, Upcountry, north and east. Based on existing County Council project approvals or entitlements, some of which are decades old, the subcommittee determined what the future housing unit supply and demand should be for each area.

Read the entire article about the plan and which developments were included or rejected, or scaled back at Maui News.com.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
real estate in Hawaii on the following Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Hawaii Big Island
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Maui Land & Pineapple Company, Inc. (NYSE:MLP) announced that it concluded a financing agreement to complete construction of its joint venture project, The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences at Kapalua Bay. Robert Webber, President & CEO of MLP, said, "We continue to be encouraged by construction progress, and the project is on schedule to open in June. We believe Kapalua Bay will offer purchasers the most stunning ocean-front luxury experience in the state of Hawai`i. Moreover, because many other luxury projects in the state have recently been abandoned, we believe the project is well-positioned for the eventual economic recovery."

About The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences at Kapalua Bay

The Ritz-Carlton Club and Residences at Kapalua Bay offer 84 private ownership residences and 62 residences sold in deeded, one-twelfth fractional ownership interests, along with an abundance of amenities on a 24-acre oceanfront site, complemented by dramatic mountain and ocean views overlooking one of Maui's most spectacular beaches.

The wholly-owned Residences at Kapalua Bay feature upscale, island-influenced contemporary homes with panoramic ocean and sunset views and spacious three and four bedroom floor plans, ranging in size from 3,000 square feet to 4,200 square feet, including media rooms, private lanai and den options. Fractional owners may select two or three bedroom units, including gourmet kitchens, designer bathrooms and state-of-the-art entertainment systems.

All residents enjoy membership in the Kapalua Club, which includes tee time privileges on Kapalua's Plantation and Bay golf courses, preferred access to the 30,000 square foot Kapalua Spa, membership at the Kapalua Bay Beach Club, offering an ocean-side bar and beach recreation activities and 8,500 square foot lagoon-shaped pool with indoor/outdoor grill and bar.

Read the complete press release at BusinessWire, Feb. 11.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
www.garybland.com
808-385-1265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
Hawaii Realtor services Maui - Kauai - Oahu - Big Island Hawaii
real estate in Hawaii on the following Oahu - Maui - Kauai - Big Island