Maui Real Estate - Lisa B. Miller R(S)

Recently my family and I spent the weekend at Maui's luxurious Fairmont Kea Lani hotel in Wailea! This is a beautiful resort situated right off of Polo Beach, providing a magnificent setting. If you are interested in vacationing in Wailea, but cannot decide between the other grand resorts, I certainly recommend the Fairmont Kea Lani.

Most people prefer the exquisite Grand Wailea for their luxurious accommodations and fabulous pool area, but we decided on the Fairmont for its generous-sized rooms, relaxed vibe (and to take advantage of their fantastic resident discount rate)!

Rooms at the Fairmont Kea Lani are all suites that have been recently updated and measure about 800 square feet. Included in these suites is a Stereo with a CD player and DVD player, a wet bar with microwave and mini refrigerator (at no extra cost!). The living area has a TV with a pull-out couch for extra guests and can be closed off for privacy from the master suite (so important!).

One of the highlights of the suite is the bathroom! The beautifully appointed bathroom is so large that is includes two pedestal sinks, a generously sized soaking tub, a shower, and ample room to dance around if you need to. Bathrobes and are also provided in the rooms to feel extra pampered.

We were upgraded to the Deluxe Ocean Suite so our private lanai had views of the ocean and the hotel's grand pools. Waking up in the morning to the sounds of the waves and watching the stunning sunsets in the evening were truly remarkable!

We spent a LOT of time out by the pool, which was truly relaxing. The Kea Lani has 3 different pools. Two are for kids and families and the other is only for adults. We hung out by the pool for families so we could swim with our 2 year-old daughter, which she loved! The pool also has a water slide, which many of the other children enjoyed.

Pool servers were always on hand to bring you drinks and food from their menu. I especially loved when they would serve you complimentary pineapple slices. It was like tasting it for the first time - very sweet and refreshing on a warm and sunny day! Private cabanas were available for rent, but we opted for the comfortable lounge chairs set in the shade.

It was also fun to stay there during the holiday season since the grand lobby was festively decorated with poinsettias, beautiful garland, and a large and elaborately decorated Christmas tree.

The holiday season is my favorite time of year on Maui, so it was a treat to enjoy such luxury during this time.

I can't wait to go back!

Piilani Villages II and III is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Kihei, which located in South Maui. The nearby location to stores, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and schools cannot be beat. Families, couples, and retirees also enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.

It is Christmas-time and many neighbors have lights and holiday decorations adorning their homes. It's always fun to stroll around and enjoy the festive displays.

Piilani Villages II and III is one of the most desirable neighborhoods in Kihei, which located in South Maui. The nearby location to stores, restaurants, beautiful beaches, and schools cannot be beat. Families, couples, and retirees also enjoy the peace and quiet of the area.

Homes in the neighborhood range from 2 bedroom/2 bath to 4 bedroom/3.5 bath floor-plans. If you are interested in homes for sale in the neighborhood, click here.

These are the homes that have sold in the past 6 months (6/10/09 through 12/10/09):

Christmas is certainly in the air here on Maui! Just this morning I saw a man with a santa hat on while cruising on his moped down South Kihei Road! If that doesn't put you in the spirit, then nothing will.

Tree lots are bursting with fresh trees and busy with helping people select the perfect one. Our tree is now trimmed after an adventurous tree hunting weekend. We haven't had a live tree in a few years since we were accustomed to chopping ours down in farm while living in California. Christmas trees don't grow so well here on Maui, so we didn't have that option this year.

Fake trees are a popular and eco-friendly option here, but nothing beats a real, pine-scented noble fir which looked so beautiful in the Home Depot tree lot. My husband, however, had always wanted to plant a Norfolk pine tree in our yard and thought it would be perfect to buy a living Norfolk pine as our Christmas tree this year.

You see Norfolk pine trees all over the island. These grand pine trees are have beautiful long needles and a slightly crooked trunk that remind me a lot of something out of Dr. Seuss. They grow quite large, and as a novice gardener, I was intimidated by taking on such a complicated task as planting an actual tree, but the idea of trimming a living tree rather than one that has been cut down was appealing to me. Besides, if there are so many of these trees on the island, how hard can growing one be?

We didn't find any at Home Depot, so we headed up to Kula Hardware up in Kula, where we purchased one... or actually about 5 of them since they were all planted in the same pot for fullness effect. We brought it home and decorated it very carefully since the branches of these trees are very delicate. With the weight of the ornaments and strung lights, it is leaning quite a bit to the right, but it is quite a beautiful little tree!

It'll be fun to plant it once the holidays are over and then to see how much it has grown a year from now (if it survives, that is).

But, if you are looking for a living Norfolk pine to decorate this Christmas, head up to Kula Hardware. They have a great selection at great prices.

Planning a move to Maui is exciting (and may be a little stressful) with all that is involved in transporting your furniture, cars, and other belongings. If you are planning to relocate with your cat or dog, however, please be aware of Hawaii's Pet Quarantine Laws.

Hawaii is a rabies-free state and wants to keep it that way, which means any cat or dog originating from the Mainland needs to undergo a 120 day quarantine process before entering the state to ensure your pet is rabies-free.

We underwent this process with our dog a few years ago before moving to Maui, and although it was very rigorous with the amount of paperwork and the number of deadlines to meet (not to mention the stress of transporting him in the cargo area of the airplane!), everything went smoothly and he arrived in Maui safe and sound.

Your pet can stay with you in the Mainland during the 120 day quarantine process, which is what we did. The 120 days is basically just a waiting period once the lab at KSU has received your pet's blood sample for the OIE-FAVN rabies blood test. Your local veterinarian helps you with this process, as well as other shots, microchiping, flea and tick treatment, and health certificate that is required for your pet.

Be sure to check the Hawaii's Pet Quarantine Laws website and follow their quarantine checklist to make sure you meet each and every requirement. Otherwise, your pet may have to stay in Honolulu until each requirement is met, which can be expensive, as well as a hassle.

It may seem like an intimidating process, at least it did for me, but as long as you follow each step and fulfill each requirement of the quarantine procedure, it's pretty easy to receive clearance for your pet to enter the state of Hawaii.

When in need of boarding for your pet on Maui while on vacation, I HIGHLY recommend The Ohana Animal Inn, in Kula. The facility is located on a beautiful piece of land with views of the ocean and of the West Maui Mountains. The location is a place I wouldn't mind taking a vacation at, so I always feel happy to leave my dog in their care.

We've taken our cocker spaniel there for the past 3 years whenever we need to plan a trip to the mainland, and it's the best boarding facility I've ever seen. I especially like how reasonable the rates are, given its location and size. Dogs of any size are $25 a night. They take any pet, so you if own chickens, mice, or turtles, you are in luck! Check out their website for more information.

We live in Kihei and the drive to Kula may be considered 'out of the way' for many, but the drive to the boarding facility is so beautiful that the drive is worth it.

Just across the drive way of the boarding facility, is a small little farm with goats, turkeys, chickens, and geese. It's a lot of fun to see these animals, especially for my 2 year-old daughter, and it adds to the character of The Ohana Animal Inn.

TIP: If you are planning on making reservations for your pet at The Ohana Animal Inn during the Thanksgiving or Christmas break, make sure you book early since it does fill up quickly!