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Patrick Lambert ( Hawaii Real Estate Expert )

Nail polish everywhere ... what did I do?

Patrick J. Lambert  Realtor/Salesperson  Century 21 All Islands  808-937-1188

www.patrickjlambert.com

 

Walkthrough Nightmare

A nightmare was about to happen ... I just didn't know it. Time for the walkthrough on one of my listings. Things are looking good. I go over myself to preview the home. In the master bedroom all over the floor was what appeared to be a red stain. Upon closer review, and smell, I realized it was nail polish. I panicked. The buyers were not going to be happy, the seller was not going to be happy. The seller, I am sure, was unaware as there were tenants in the house. I thought to myself "let's see what I can do". I called my wife and asked her if she had any nail polish remover I could come get to get this nail polish out of the carpet. My wife laughed and said "nail polish remover will only make the stain worse". She said to me " you need windex". Windex? For nail polish remover? She came right over with a little scrub brush and a bottle of windex. I saw it happen right before my very eyes ... the nail polish was coming up out of the carpet. It took a little while, but by the time she was done there was absolutely no evidence there was ever nail polish in that carpet. Nightmare avoided, walkthrough went great, house closed escrow. Thanks to Windex!!!

 

 

NEVER LEAVE HOME WITHOUT IT!!

The Banyan Tree ... Growing in Hawaii

Patrick J. Lambert Realtor/Salesperson Century 21 All Islands 808-937-1188

www.patrickjlambert.com

The Banyan Tree

 

Coming from a place called "The Pineys" where the only tree that can be seen is a Pine Tree or a Pine scrub meeting the Banyan tree was very cool. I found it to be the most interesting tree I have ever seen. The roots grow out of the ground. Most are very large. My first experience was on a cruise. I got off the boat in Hilo. The line for the cab was so long, it would have taken too long. I saw a "tour van" off to the side and went over to inquire. Being she had a tour license she had to do a tour, the charge $20. So, we said OK, let's do the tour. She drove us down this wonderful street called Banyan Drive. Filled with Banyan trees planted in the early to mid 1900's, some by famous people, I started to feel at peace.

The largest Banyan tree I ever saw was in Maui ... Lahaina. This tree takes up a whole block and keeps on going. The tree itself is actually a park. Aside from the millions of ants crawling all over the tree I think this is the coolest tree I ever did see.

Wild Ginger ... Growing in Hawaii

Patrick J. Lambert Realtor/Salesperson Century 21 All Islands 808-937-1188

www.patrickjlambert.com

Wild Ginger

Ginger has got to be one of the stongest smelling scents on this island. When in season a drive from Ka'u to Hilo is filled with the scent of Ginger. More than half the drive the road sides are just filled with ginger in huge patches. We will often stop along the road with our machetti and cut some to bring home. You need a machetti cause the stem is so thick it takes a machetti to cut it. When I came to Hawaii to get married in 2000 my Mother had sent my wife and I leis to our rooms. Both leis had ginger in them. Going up the elevator, I swear we both felt intoxicated from the scent of the leis. We both felt like we had already drank the bottle of champagne that awaited us in our room. That strong scent was the ginger in the leis.

Koa Tree ... Growing in Hawaii

Patrick J. Lambert Realtor/Salesperson Century 21 All Islands 808-937-1188

www.patrickjlambert.com

The Koa Tree

The reddish wood is highly prized for use in wood carving, musical instruments, and furniture. Its trunk was used by the ancient Hawaiians to build dugout canoes.  Koa is also a tonewood, often used in the construction of ukuleles, acoustic guitars, the Hawaiian steel guitar and longboards.

The Koa is one of the fastest growing trees in Hawaii. It can grow up to 20 feet in 5 years, however, it takes 50 years for the tree to become full grown adult and at a point where it could actually be used for what people want it for. If you own land in abundance in Hawaii at about a 3500 foot elevation you could generate a nice income for your property by farming Koa Trees. Besides they are beautiful trees.

 

The story of the Ohia Tree and the Lehua Flower ... Growing in Hawaii

Patrick J. Lambert Realtor/Salesperson Century 21 All Islands 808-937-1188

www.patrickjlambert.com

The Ohia Tree and the Lehua Flower

Having just trimmed out my whole house in Ohia wood, I have to say this is not only one of the strongest woods it is very unique and has a beautiful color. I am very pleased with how it all came out. But did you ever hear the story about the Ohia Tree and the beautiful bright red flowers called Lehua? It goes a little like this ...

One day Pele, the goddess of the volcano, met a handsome young man named Ohia. She desired to have him as her sweetheart. He confessed that he already was in love with another young girl, Lehua. This enraged Pele and she used her magical powers to transform the young man into the ugly Ohia tree. Lehua was terribly sad and pleaded with Pele to return the young man back to his human form. Pele refused so Lehua begged the gods to help her to be reunited with Ohia. Instead of changing Ohia back to a human, the gods transformed Lehua into a lovely red blossom to adorn the Ohia tree. Now when anyone picks a Lehua blossom, it will rain because the lovers have been separated. End of tale.

I have seen Ohia trees with different color flowers like orange and yellow. While the ohia in my very dry area of Ka'u run small I have seen huge ohia trees in several locations of our fine islands. If you live on the Big Island or plan on visiting you must take a ride up Mauna Loa Road and go through the Ohia Forrest. I promise you will see a white owl. Or if driving along the Hamakaa coast or beyond you will notice along the only road there is that the ohia trees are the biggest you have ever seen.

 

Here is a picture of some of the trimmed windows...