Gary Bland R (S) E-Pro, ABR

So many stories, so much excitement for our Native Son, even at the early hour the inauguration was televised in the Islands. The dawn of Obama's presidency held a special meaning for Islanders, who provided him with his biggest majority of any state with 72 percent of the vote last November.

At Charley's Restaurant in Paia, a crowd was packed shoulder to shoulder, crying and cheering, joyous and buzzing, in spite of the event's 6:30 a.m. start. The Paia event was one of at least three on Maui Tuesday morning and evening, including a gala at the Maui Tropical Plantation and a more casual Upcountry celebration at the Stopwatch Bar and Grill in Makawao.

Many residents traveled to the ceremony, calling it a chance of a lifetime to witness history. One high school sophomore said, "It was very exiting. It was also really cold, and I was tired because of the time difference. But I'm really proud of Barack Obama. I know because he is from Hawaii that he'll spread aloha around the country and world. At one point, I felt like crying when he said we could unite together as one. If we just work together, I feel confident in what a wonderful place our world will become."

A volunteer who worked on the campaign and was given tickets to attend, described "this feeling of openness and joy. We really are one. It felt like the world had changed."

A former Makawao resident now living on the mainland who went to Washington said, "I felt like I was watching our nation's history in the making." "It was really powerful being there. Just looking around at people's faces, you could feel the sense of hope."

The Punahou Band played in the inauguration parade, the second group after the U.S. military. Obama made the shaka sign as they passed his viewing platform. At the school in Honolulu, students and parents watched Obama take the oath of office. Everyone stood when Vice President Joe Biden and Obama took their oaths, and again after the new president finished his inauguration speech.

Back in Maui, two retired teachers reminisced about 5-year old Barry Obama, whom they taught as student teachers in a kindergarten class. One said, "You tell students all the time you can be whatever you want to be when you grow up. And now here's Barack Obama. He's president. Who would have thought?"

From Wailuku, Punahou classmate Robert Apo - who played basketball with Obama and was one grade ahead, remembered, "If he told me he was going to be president in high school, we would have laughed. He's just an amazing guy. And boy I didn't know how brilliant he was."

Many feel the spirit of the Islands, the multicultural and multinational acceptance given so freely to everyone here, helped shape the new President's views. His kindergarten teachers remembered a young boy who was "being confident, like the way a president should be. He was a good listener from the time he was little," one said. "I remember him always smiling and observing, just watching all the time, smiling and observing. He didn't have to be the center of attention."

It was a day of joy, hope, and pride throughout our Islands.

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

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The Hawaii market in general, and Maui in particular, stayed strong long after the mainland prices started dropping and foreclosure rates rising. But in 2008, the nation's real estate woes found their way here.

"Short sale" became part of our vocabulary, we've seen some foreclosures, and the number of sales has definitely declined. Prices have held steady, even with the loss of buyers, except for some large projects like the Kihei Villages condos and new developments.

Our Maui MLS shows average prices for single family homes down 10% for 2008, and condo prices down 13%. The median price of a single-family house in Maui County was $577,867 in 2008, compared with $630,069 in 2007.

In 2005, the peak of the recent market upswing, 1316 single family homes sold, but in 2008, only 907. For condos, 2,050 sold in 2005, and only 788 in 2008. But compared to 2007, sales are down considerably - 21% for single family and 34% for condos. Half of all 2008 sales occurred in central Maui, and about 1/4 of those in Spencer Homes' Waikapu Gardens - a fast-track affordable project of 412 units.

Terry Tolman, the chief staff executive at the Realtors Assn. of Maui, suggests "sellers who don't really need to sell should stay off the market, and clear the marketplace for those who really want/need to sell." As for buyers, he writes,"It's a great time to buy and hold. Prices have declined considerably in the past two to three years. . . . Buyers waiting for the 'bottom' may also miss unique properties or opportunities as market forces, qualification requirements and rates may fluctuate. (There is no bell that rings when the market hits the bottom.)"

Contact me to discuss these opportunities.

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

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
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Today marked a new beginning for millions around the world, not just those in the U.S. President Obama's spirit and message will be felt as far away as Africa and Iceland. In his inauguration speech, he pledged that "On this day, we gather because we have chosen hope over fear, unity of purpose over conflict and discord. On this day, we come to proclaim an end to the petty grievances and false promises, the recriminations and worn out dogmas, that for far too long have strangled our politics."

People around the world relate to Obama's themes. A world made weary by war, recession, joblessness, and fear celebrated with him. At the United Nations complex overlooking the Danube River in Vienna, Austria, someone wrote "YES, WE CAN!" in giant block letters in the snow.

An Irish village called Moneygall covered itself in red, white and blue bunting Tuesday in honor of Obama's ancestry, a great-great-great grandfather named Fulmouth Kearney who emigrated to the United States in 1850.

In Kenya, birthplace of Pres. Obama's father, feasts were prepared, beer with Obama's name on it brewed, and movie screens erected so neighbors could join together for the moment.

In the Japanese town of Obama, hula dancers performed, and businesses offered Barack Obama sweet bean cakes, chopsticks, T-shirts, fish burgers, neckties and noodles.

"Obama fever is all over the whole world, " said Cyndee Peters, an Afridan-American singer who grew up in North Carolina and New York, and now lives in Sweden. "I was congratulated by I don't know how many Swedes after the election. I think what he stands for needs to be celebrated. No one is doing their favorite songs or greatest hits. We're doing songs about hope."

He has been praised for a trait unusual in politicians - an unwavering message: a heartfelt call to service, to help each other. We in the Islands who live Aloha understand his commitment, and in the next four years, so will the rest of the world. He said today, "At this moment - a moment that will define a generation - it is precisely this spirit (of service) that must inhabit us all." So we wish our Native Son well, and hope all countries will now work together to realize his visions of honesty, tolerance, and the brotherhood of all peoples.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
808-385-1265
www.garybland.com
Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
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The crisis in the financial markets seems to be the top story on every news channel. But many of the reporters and so-called pundits don't understand what really happened...and what may happen next. I'm pleased to share with you a short video and article that were created to put an end to the confusion once and for all.

In these easy-to-understand resources, Barry Habib, Founder of the Mortgage Market Guide and Chairman of the Board for Mortgage Success Source, explains in layman's terms exactly what caused the current financial crisis - and what to be watching for in the near future.

Please take a moment to access these resources at http://www.mortgagesuccesssource.com/go/markmarket/ The few minutes you spend will open your eyes to what very few "experts" truly understand. As your trusted real estate advisor, I'm committed to doing whatever I can to help you understand what the current economic situation means for you going forward in 2009.

Give me a call to discuss strategies for strengthening your financial future in the weeks and months ahead.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
gary@garybland.com
808-385-1265
www.garybland.com
Partners with Jeff Manson at American Dream Realty
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I received this in an email, so don't know if it's true. But the message comes across loud and clear!

A man sat at a metro station in Washington DC and started to play the violin; it was a cold January morning. He played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes. During that time, since it was rush hour, it was calculated that thousands of people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.

Three minutes went by and a middle-aged man noticed there was musician playing. He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then hurried up to meet his schedule.

A minute later, the violinist received his first dollar tip: a woman threw the money in the till and without stopping continued to walk.

A few minutes later, someone leaned against the wall to listen to him, but the man looked at his watch and started to walk again. Clearly he was late for work.

The one who paid the most attention was a 3 year old boy. His mother tagged him along, hurried but the kid stopped to look at the violinist. Finally the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk turning his head all the time. This action was repeated by several other children. All the parents, without exception, forced them to move on.

In the 45 minutes the musician played, only 6 people stopped and stayed for a while. About 20 gave him money but continued to walk their normal pace. He collected $32. When he finished playing and silence took over, no one noticed it. No one applauded, nor was there any recognition.

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the best musicians in the world. He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth 3.5 million dollars.

Two days before his playing in the subway, Joshua Bell sold out at a theater in Boston and the seats averaged $100 each.

This is a real story. Joshua Bell playing incognito in the metro station was organized by the Washington Post as part of an social experiment about perception, taste and priorities of people. The outlines were: in a commonplace environment at an inappropriate hour: Do we perceive beauty? Do we stop to appreciate it? Do we recognize the talent in an unexpected context?

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world playing the best music ever written, how many other things are we missing?

Don't Miss Maui. Give me a call or email - it's waiting for you.

Gary Bland, REALTOR
www.garybland.com
gary@garybland.com
808-385-265

Partners with Jeff Manson
American Dream Realty
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