Archive for the 'Neighborhoods' Category
18 Traffic Lights To Ecstasy!
November 13th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods
Hawaii Kai is generally considered one of the better Neighborhoods in Honolulu. I am in the process of helping a client move from Hawaii Kai into town (within 2 miles of Diamond Head). They made their move over this past weekend and, on Monday, I received a telephone call. It went something like this.
Phone rings…
Keahi answers, “Hello”.
Client says in a strong voice, “Dude, why didn’t you tell me!”
After a pause for reflection, Keahi responds, “Tell you what?”
Client in an ecstatic fashion expounds, “That it is so great living in town!”
He was pulling my leg and just wanted to share how easy it is to live in town. The funny thing is that as long as I can remember, I have been singing the accolades of the convenience of Honolulu town living to this client. What made the difference is that he was able to experience a 4-minute drive to work, rather than his normal 30 to 40 minutes. His kids and wife saw a similar reduction in the amount of time it took them to get to and from school.
If he was driving to and from Hawaii Kai 2 times a day, then he is spending an hour a day driving. Multiply this by 5 days a week and he is saving 20 hours a month or 240 hours per year not driving. Add to this the similar time that his family is saving and the move to town makes a great deal of sense.
What is the trade off? They are living in a smaller home. However, is it better to spend more time in your home or driving? Is it possible that physical workouts can now be done, family dinners and breakfasts can be had, and more general family time spent together? From my view, the quality of life that is gained far outweighs the smaller home. On top of this, at the end our phone call he said, “Do you know that there are 18 stop lights between Kahala and Hawaii Kai?” Think about it.
If you would like to discuss a similar move, feel free to call me at 737-2093 or 877-737-2093.
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Honolulu’s Wealthiest Zip Code!
October 9th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods, Rants & Riffs
A recent Pacific Business News article identified the zip code area of 96821 as Hawaii’s most affluent. If you live there…CONGRATULATIONS! If you want to live there call me at 808-737-2093.
“The ZIP code that is perennially at the top of the list, 96821, is the part of East Oahu that stretches from Waialae Nui Ridge to Kuliouou, with Aina Haina and Niu Valley in between.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE PBN ARTICLE.
Tropical beauty in Maunalani Heights
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One Of Honolulu’s Most Exclusive Streets
October 2nd, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods
Makalei Place is one on Honolulu’s little known but exclusive streets. It is a dead end street that starts at Diamond Head Road and climbs up the side of the Diamond Head Crater. Most of the homes have ocean views and the lots are generally on the larger size for the area. One of Makalei’s most famous residents and Hawaii Music Hall of Fame member, Alex Anderson,passed away in 1995. If you have a chance meander up the street for a feeling of “old Hawaii”.
CLICK HERE FOR A 5 YEAR HISTORY OF SALES ON MAKALEI.
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Bad Traffic in Honolulu?
June 20th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods, The Market
It seems the further one gets outside of the core of Honolulu, the worst the traffic gets. A recent report on Honolulu’s traffic confirms that this is the case.
“Forty hours sounds like a typical workweek. But that’s how long motorists are stuck in traffic each week where Moanalua Freeway’s eastbound lanes meet the H-1 freeway from the airport.
That logjam contributes to Honolulu’s rating as the worst U.S. city for rush-hour slowdowns, according to a private survey released by a Seattle firm.”
CLICK HERE TO READ THE HONOLULU STAR BULLETIN ARTICLE.
As sad as I am to say, “I told you so”, this is more evidence that traffic will continue impact your quality of life. Given this confirmation, I believe you will see real estate values in core Honolulu do better than outlying areas. So if possible, buy between Nuuanu and Hawaii Kai.
Today’s picture was taken from the starting line of a canoe race and it is looking back at the beach in Nanakuli.
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Honolulu: Best Place in the U.S. to Raise Your Family!
May 22nd, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods
Wow! Honolulu was just selected by Best Life Magazine as the best place in the United States to raise a family. Even with the high cost of living, I have always believed this to be true. I have a 14 year old daughter and a 10 year old son, I find a sense of safety that cannot be found in the mainland. It is very rare to hear of an abducted child, in fact, the last missing child I can remember occurred in the late 1990’s. We have no missing children printed on our milk cartons. Safety is one thing, but there is so much for children to do. In fact, sometimes I find my kids too busy. Still, luck we live Hawaii. Here is part of what Best Life said.
“Television executives seized the idea long ago: American families value where they plant their roots. The Cosbys had Brooklyn. The Cunninghams, Milwaukee. The Simpsons, Springfield. But fathers face reality when they’re not in prime time. They want to raise their children somewhere safe, where they can attend good schools with favorable student-teacher ratios, above-average test scores, and respectable budgets. Plenty of museums, parks, and pediatricians also contribute to a good quality of life, whereas multihour commutes, expensive houses, and divorcing friends and neighbors do not.”
Click here to read the entire Best Life article.
The picture above is an example of one of the great things about living on Oahu. This picture was taken from the Lanikai Pillbox hiking trail this past Sunday. Our island has many really great hikes, just minutes from most homes and condominiums.
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Shangri La view of Black Point
May 19th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods
Here is an unusual view of Black Point. This is taken from the beach in front of the surf spot called “Browns” and it is on the Kahala side of Diamond Head. Look closely and you will see columns of Doris Duke’s estate which now a museum and known as Shangri La. If you like this neighborhood, plan on spending $5,000,000, plus or minus a few million dollars, to get moved in.
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Honolulu’s Best Latte
May 16th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods, Rants & Riffs
For me, I make the best latte in Honolulu. If you like your coffee extra hot and very strong, then you will like the way I make mine. Here’s the problem, I only make them for me or the guests in my home. If you’re forced to buy a latte in Honolulu, then the best around can be found in Kaimuki, at Coffee Talk. This great little meeting place is located at the corner of of 12th Avenue and Waialae Avenue. For clarity, if you like your latte on the “foofoo” side (ie. lots of foam, not much coffee flavor) you might find this too strong, but if you want a drink that will get your attention, it could be the perfect. While you’re there, be sure to have some of their home made baked goods (each day there is a different muffin). I like their blueberry muffins on Monday and Friday’s ginger muffin is terrific. This is another reason Kaimuki is a great place to live. Go, order, relax and enjoy.
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Can Honolulu’s Newest Safeway Change a Neighborhood?
May 13th, 2008 categories: For Buyers, Neighborhoods
This past Mothers Day I had the chance to shop at the new Safeway on Kapahulu. As I drove to the convenient rooftop parking, I considered that this store is going to positively change the face of this desirable Honolulu neighborhood. Not only is this one of the nicest super markets I have seen anywhere, but it shows that Honolulu will patronize really high quality retailers. Every part of the store exudes excellence!
The deli is delightful. A bakery that will make your mouth water! How about a meat department that has everything you need. The produce department reminds me of Gelsons Super Market in California. Every fruit and vegetable looks like it is of the highest quality. Need sushi? Go to the sushi bar. How about a latte? Stop by the coffee bar. It is a good thing that there is an area to sit down and relax, because the store is so big that going up and down each aisle could be a work out for some. It is worth going to on a Friday evening to check it out and have dinner. Safeway is not the only tenant at this center.
Once it is completely full this mall will have many of the things that residents in this area had to go to other areas to find. Given the quality of this project, Read the rest of this entry »
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Honolulu’s Paiko Lagoon
May 9th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods
I was inspecting a house that fronts on the the mauka side of Kalanianaole Highway and I was able to take this picture of Paiko Lagoon. Paiko is located just beyond Niu Valley and has homes on the ocean and fronting on a lagoon. If you wanted to buy in this Honolulu neighborhood, you could choose from three active listings priced from $1,977,000 to $9,750,000.
Here is a little known fact for fly fishermen, the oceanside of this area offers some of the largest bonefish in the world. One doesn’t get many bites, but a friend of mine has landed fish in the 9 to 12 pound range. Just another great thing about Honolulu.
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“Downtown” Honolulu Sizzles
May 8th, 2008 categories: Neighborhoods, Rants & Riffs
Congratulations to Chef Ed Kinney for making the Conde Nast Traveler Hot List! He was the only Hawaii restaurant to make this year’s list. It is the second time he has been on the list. The first award came for his Kaimuki shop aptly named “Town”. Lucky for me, “Town” is a half block from my office and has terrific lunches (my waste line can attest to this). Check out the recent article on “Downtown” in the Honolulu Star Bulletin.
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