Kauai News & Information

Timeshare Owners at Hanalei Bay Resort Can List Resales for Free

2009-11-24T09:31:00.003-07:00

Timeshare Owners at Hanalei Bay Resort Can List Resales for Free

Princeville, Kauai, Hawaii - November 24, 2009 -- SummitPacific.com, already a leader in marketing Kauai vacation rentals, is now letting owners of timeshare units a free way to advertise timeshare resales at Hanalei Bay Resort.

Hanalei Bay Resort, a beautiful 22 acre destination resort on the north shore of the Hawaiian island of Kauai is located next door to the new St. Regis Princeville Hotel. The resort has both timeshare ownership and also full unit ownerships. SummitPacific has long provided a way for owners to advertise full owner condos for rent in the popular vacation rentals market, but now for the first time, SummitPacific is also allowing those that have purchased timeshares at Hanalei Bay Resort a way to resale their interval ownerships.

Advertising Timeshare Resales at Hanalei Bay Resort is Free on Summit Pacific.

“What we’re trying to do is offer those that purchased timeshare ownerships at the resort a way to resale those units without incurring a lot of expenses.” said Doug Porter, president of Summit Pacific, Inc (and also a condo owner at the resort). “Creating an aftermarket for timeshares is healthy for the market and takes a lot of uncertainty and fear out of decision to buy a timeshare because people know when they buy they will also have a way to resale it later if they need to.”

Of course the timeshare resale market is great place to pick up deals on vacation rental ownership; especially right now when many people are struggling with financial problems caused by the poor economy. “We’re seeing people offering their weeks for unbelievably low prices – sometimes as low as 10 cents on the dollar.” “This is primarily a short term result of the bad economy and also by the frustration people have had in not having a good way until now to re-sale their units.” “Once these deals are gone, we expect the market to stabilize.”

Summit Pacific is not affiliated with Hanalei Bay Resort or the primary resellers of timeshares at the resort. “We feel we’re more affiliated with the individual condo and timeshare owners at the resort than we have been with the resort operators,” says Porter.

Hawaii Vacation Rental Discounts Are Available on Kauai.

2009-10-24T16:19:00.003-06:00

Because of last minute cancelations and a sluggish economy, owners of vacation rental homes and condos are finding themselves with a lot of nights that often go unrented. Most owners are happy to discount these nights in order to try to fill their calendars and keep their properties rented.

Many deals and discounts are available around the internet. Summit Pacific has a way for owners to advertise these deals on its Hawaii Vacation Discounts page. If you’re able to fly to Hawaii on short notice (usually within the next 30-60 days) you can find incredible savings; often up to 40% off the normal price.

Spectacular ocean view condos at Waipouli Beach Resort that normally rent for around $350/night are often available for $199. Some units at Hanalei Bay Resort are available now for $89/night.

Because the discounts offered on Summit’s Pages fluctuate from day to day, you need to move fast on these discounts.

Hanalei Bay Resort owners reach agreement with management

2009-10-11T12:58:00.000-06:00

Hanalei Bay Resort owners reach agreement with management

By Coco Zickos - The Garden Island
Published: Friday, October 9, 2009 2:11 AM HST
HANALEI — An agreement has been reached between Hanalei Bay Resort owners and Florida-based management company Celebrity Resorts, according to a letter sent this week to members of the Vacation Owners Association and the Association of Apartment Owners.

Several allegations were made in recent months by timeshare and full-time condo owners regarding Celebrity Resorts’ involvement with the 30-year-old property. Since then, members of the VOA and AOAO Board of Directors, along with their legal counsel, had a “very busy summer” involving “confidential discussions with Celebrity Resorts,” the letter states.

California-based Trading Places International will assume management duties at the North Shore vacation destination, but Celebrity Resorts will continue to own Bali Hai restaurant and Happy Talk Lounge, the letter says.

TPI was one of the six management companies board representatives contacted when they sought “alternative management.”

“Their references are outstanding,” the letter says.

Celebrity Resorts will continue to have “exclusive rights to market timeshare sales at HBR and to rent unused timeshare weeks under an agreement with the VOA.”

“... We look forward to working with them in a harmonious relationship,” the letter states.

It was previously reported in a July 4 article titled “Hanalei Bay Resort owners battle management” that one reason owners sought to terminate Celebrity Resort’s contract was its inability to recognize board members of the VOA elected prior to management transitions.

However, there will be “a reconciliation and redefinition of association operational control in favor of the owners and the installation and empowering of a member-only board of directors,” according to the letter.

Dick Schweickert, VOA president, said he was “happy” with the outcome, but declined to make further comment due to “confidentiality.”

“I’m cautiously optimistic,” timeshare owner Lynn Kettleson said Wednesday. “It looks like a good resolution, but we’ll see how the details work out.”

Though he couldn’t speak for other owners, he said the boards should be “commended for doing a wonderful job of resolving this issue.”

A transition will occur where an auditor will “review all income, expenses and advances made by Celebrity for both of the association’s financials to generate a final monetary settlement.”

HBR employees will become TPI employees and it is TPI’s plan to retain “most” of them, according to the letter.

Vice President of TPI Resort Management Douglas Wilcox said they are “very excited,” but was unable to provide further comment at press time.

Attempts to reach Celebrity Resorts for comment were unsuccessful.

Hanalei Bay Resort Board of Directors Reach Settlement with Celebrity Resorts

2009-10-07T16:16:00.003-06:00

Press Release from Hanalei Bay Resort Board of Directors

Settlement Agreement with Celebrity:
We have reached an agreement between Celebrity Resorts and the VOA and the AOAO, which settles the various legal issues between them. As you know, Celebrity purchased Quintus Vacation Management last year which included the VOA and AOAO management contracts along with certain Developer Rights. They also purchased Apartment 16-A - the Happy Talk Lounge and the Bali Hai Restaurant.
The Settlement Agreement enables the buyout of the two management contacts from Celebrity and restores the member elected VOA Board installed last year. The AOAO will have a right of first refusal on a future sale of Apartment 16-A, and some rights to lease or subsidize operations of the Happy Talk Lounge in the event Celebrity feels it is not a profitable operatio n and wishes to close it. The re-opening of the Bali Hai Restaurant is an economic decision that will be made by Celebrity as the restaurant owner—it is currently open on a limited basis.
The result is a cessation of excessive legal expenses, a reconciliation and redefinition of Association operational control in favor of the owners, the installation and empowering of a member only board of directors, the hiring of a new professional management company and the onset of a bright and exciting future for Hanalei Bay Resort and you, the members.

New Management Company - Trading Places International (TPI)
The VOA and the AOAO Boards have executed agreements with TPI, a resort management company based in Laguna Niguel, California. TPI manages three resorts in Hawaii plus another 19 in the US and Mexico. TPI was one of six management companies the Boards contacted when we sought alternative management, and their references are outstanding. The agreement with TPI will initially be for a three year term, renewable, but entirely under the control of the two respective Boards. TPI will begin the transition of management of the resort as soon as all legal documents have been cleared which will occur early in October—Started Today!

Transition Period Planned / Employees Retained / Board Meeting Planned:
There will be a transition period during which an independent auditor will review all income, expenses and advances made by Celebrity for both of the Association's financials to generate a final monetary settlement. We are also trying to resolve the lack of accounting records from Quintus when Celebrity acquired the contracts. This has been a problem in completing our 2008 audit.
The resort employees will become employees of TPI. We have compared benefits and salaries to insure that employees do not lose in their transition to TPI. It is TPI's plan to retain most of our employees. An AOAO and a VOA Board meeting is planned for October 17, 2009 at the resort to review the transition, prepare the 2010 budget and complete some long term planning.

Celebrity Resort's Continued Presence at HBR:
Celebrity continues to own the restaurants and we look forward to working with them in a harmonious relationship. Their success will benefit each of our owners and guests. As part of the Developer Rights (which Celebrity owns), they will have exclusive rights to market timeshare sales at HBR and to rent unused timeshare weeks under an agreement with the VOA. The AOAO will lease a portion of the Aikane Room (now exclusively the timeshare marketing office) and the Food and Beverage Office on the lower level to Celebrity. The Concierge desks in the lobby will be operated by TPI under a lease with the AOAO, with timeshare marketing leads referred to Celebrity.

2009 Regular Dues Payments:
TPI will be providing the VOA interval owners with continued service for the payment of annual fees. They will also be providing the AOAO owners with regular monthly statements so the AOAO owners can complete their regular payments on time. In the meantime AOAO owners should pay their monthly dues to the AOAO account in Princeville. If you are a VOA owner and you are delinquent in the payment of your fees, we would ask and highly recommend that you pay curren t. The Board is securing our future and it is bright and your timeshare will have great value for excellent vacation experiences you bargained to own.

Resort Update:
Operations at the resort are generally positive except for the spa. The resort has incurred numerous maintenance challenges with the gas fired heater and pumps this summer. Through the leadership and experience of AOAO Board member Dave Blank, who is a resort manager himself in Colorado, the AOAO board has approved rebuilding and replacement of the heater and pumps. There is a great need to build the AOAO and VOA reserves to the legally mandated levels, and to make major improvements in the VOA units and the boards will be taking on these challenges immediately. There will be a need for an owner assessment, the amount of which is currently being determined. You will be receiving more detail on the assessment along with other information in the next week or so.

Successful Negotiating Team:
Many thanks to the Board appointed negotiating team for the Settlement discussions. They have put in numerous hours and great personal effort. Thanks to Bill Kraft and Kent Oehm representing the AOAO; and Dick Schweickert and David Nicholl representing the VOA; and Bill Byrns and Ralph O'Neill our legal counsel.
We extend to you our deepest appreciation for your support and patience during this difficult process. We understand that you have been worried and upset over the recent circumstances surrounding your ownership. We thank you for your participation and recommendations and we know that you will be pleased that we have been able to work so well with Celebrity Resorts and arrive at a reasonable reconciliation and secure control of our beautiful resort and our future.

Sincerely,
The VOA and AOAO Board of Directors:

Bali Hai Restaurant to Open?

2009-09-21T10:02:00.002-06:00

The front desk at Hanalei Bay Resort has been telling guests that the Bali Hai Restaurant will be opening starting today on a limited bases.

The Bali Hai Restaurant was closed nearly two years ago by the resort’s former operator Quintus Resorts, presumably for financial reasons although the official explanation was that the restaurant was being remodeled. Much to the chagrin of north shore patrons, resort guests and condo owners, the popular restaurant has remained closed even though it was purchased by Celebrity Resorts way back in August of 2008.

Although no official word has ever been given as to when the restaurant might officially open, the front desk has been telling condo owners and guests to spread the word that the restaurant will open on a “limited basis” on September 21st.

The Happy Talk Lounge re-opened in July.

St. Regis Princeville Resort To Open in Hawaii

2009-09-21T00:04:00.001-06:00

by Doug Porter

Nearing completion of a $40 million renovation, the former Princeville Hotel will open this month under the ultra-luxury St. Regis brand. A soft opening is scheduled for September 26th with the long awaited official grand opening set for October 1st.
Soon to become Hawaii's first and only St. Regis, this high-end luxury resort will certainly stir things up in Princeville on the north shore of Kauai which has been hit hard by the recent recession.

Over the past year many restaurants and shops on the island have been forced to close, adversely affected by the drop in tourist dollars. But Hawaii is starting to notice an uptick in visitor arrivals. Just as things are starting to turn around and visitors are coming back to Hawaii, the new resort will open with 252 guest rooms and 51 suites, four restaurants, several boutiques and shops, and a 10,000-square foot Spa and fitness center.

Although it might seem like bold move to open in this economy but the timing of the renovation was planned way before the economy took a nose dive. They had their plans and financing already in place and were able to do their construction and get the place built while tourism was down. Now they’ll open just as tourism on Hawaii is starting to show some signs of life. Things will probably be pretty soft until Christmas and hopefully a recovery will be underway going into 2010.

To celebrate the opening, the St. Regis is offering packaged specials which include free rounds of golf and other outdoor adventures, or free package deals at their spa and restaurant. But they are clearly marketing to the higher end guest with room rates starting at $465 dollars a night and going up to nearly $6,000 per night. It remains to be seen if those rates will hold up. They’re obviously going to be marketing to the rich and famous.

Those not willing to shell out the big bucks for a vacation at the St. Regis have other options. There are several other Kauai vacation rentals available in Princeville.

After waiting for over a year and putting up with the construction, owners of neighboring condos and rental homes are excited that the hotel is finally going to open. They’re expecting the St. Regis to help promote the island of Kauai and boost tourism on the island. They also expect that after seeing the rates that the hotel is planning to charge, (starting at about $500/night and going up to nearly $6,000/night) many guests will like what they can get next door at Hanalei Bay Resort and other condos in Princeville for a lot less money.

One condo owner at Puu Poa said he is excited to see the construction finally finished so that guests can stay in his condo and walk next door to the hotel to eat. “We’re planning to be there for the Grand Opening and we wish them well, but we won’t be spending the night.” “We’ll hang out on the beach with the celebrities but be able to come back to our own condo for some reality.”

Shortage of Rental Cars in Hawaii

2009-02-14T07:54:00.003-07:00

Shortage of Rental Cars in Hawaii
By Doug Porter

An interesting thing happened this week. Hawaii car rental companies like Avis, Budget, Thrifty and all the others actually ran out of cars. Visitors to Hawaii are up and shortages exist on all islands.

For 8 or 9 months now, rental companies have been reducing the number of cars in their inventory to cut costs. Fleets have been reduced by more than 1500 cars, but the bump in visitors from President’s weekend and Mid-winter break caught rental companies by surprise. Either things aren’t as bad as they expected, or perhaps – dare I say it – we’ve rounded a corner?

Of course it’s too early to say, but the increase in visitors to the islands is a good sign. Not just for car rental companies, but for airlines, restaurants, hotels, vacation rentals and just about everyone else in Hawaii. And, if it’s the beginning of a national trend it could start to spread to other sectors. Rental car companies will start increasing fleets and helping automakers, etc.

I may be grasping at straws here, but I’ll take any good news I can get.

Special Deals On Last Minute Vacations to Hawaii

2008-12-02T12:48:00.003-07:00

With tourism stalling in Hawaii and most of the rest of the United States, owners of vacation rental condos and homes are looking to woo vacationers back to the islands with great deals and special rates on their properties. SummitPacific is advertising those deals on a special announcement board called Hawaii Vacation Discounts which is helping to get the word out about the deals and special rates owners are now offering.

“We’re a vacation rentals by owner website; meaning most of the properties advertised on our website are managed by their owners” said Doug Porter, owner of SummitPacific . Our advertisers now have a way to post discounts directly to a large audience of people looking to rent their condos and homes.” "It's sort of like a Blue Light Special, and deals of up to 50% off have been posted on the discount page."

Getting to Hawaii is cheaper now too with carriers such as Delta and United offering one way fares as low as $174-$289 from select cities. Check This Link for Limited-Time Airfare Deals at Delta.com

Getting around the islands is less expensive too with car rentals offering lower rates on cars. The best way to rent a car is through an online company that specializes in Hawaii car rentals. These online companies can negotiate lower rates because of the large volume they generate and the savings are passed along to you. They also allow you to quickly compare the best rates of some of the biggest rent-a-car companies all in one place.

With prices this low you just might be able to afford a last minute vacation to Hawaii for Christmas or New Years.

Killer whale dies on Kauai's south shore

2008-10-24T18:39:00.000-06:00

By Duane Shimogawa

POIPU (KHNL) - Witnesses describe seeing a rare sighting at Brennecke's Beach on Kauai's south shore Wednesday as a painful to watch.

An ailing 20-foot killer whale was discovered around midnight Wednesday. Crews were forced to put it to sleep. But before they could do that, the whale died.

Nathalie Gilchrist and some friends got up early to take a walk on this beach. But it turned out to be a walk they'll never forget.

"We came out here, a group of ladies and there was a killer whale, about 20-feet long, kept flipping over," she said.

Crews prepared to remove the whale after veterinarians found its condition to be very poor.

"It was emaciated, you can see the ribs and you can see the neck of the whale," NOAA Marine Mammal Response Coordinator David Schofield said. "The decision was made that if the animal didn't perish on its own, that it would have to be put to sleep humanely."

Crews pulled it out of the water and hauled it to private lands near the Old Koloa Sugar Mill.

"We expect to see a sick whale, obviously killer whales are very social species and to have a lone, single animal in this body condition on the beach, points to an animal that's in big trouble," Schofield said.

Still, some felt the young female whale should've been let go.

"Lot of people asked us why not push it out to sea, thinking free willy and all that but that's really the wrong thing to do, an animal that's sick like this comes ashore because it's dying and it's having trouble breathing," Schofield said.

Gilchrist and others hope to never see this sight again.

"It was sad to see the whale laying there trying to survive, it was very sad, it kept blowing and pulling in air and but she would roll over and be upside down, that was very sad," she said.

There were also several shark sightings in the area. Kauai County officials have closed Brennecke's Beach. It's not known when they'll re-open it. The last stranded orca in Hawaii was off the coast of Lanai in 2004.

Beached Orca Whale Euthanized in Kauai

2008-10-23T14:34:00.003-06:00

POIPU, Hawaii — Federal wildlife officials euthanized a sick killer whale after it washed ashore at the popular Brennecke's Beach on the island of Kauai.

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spokeswoman Wende Goo says the 18-foot-long female orca was emaciated and had shark bites, as well as whale lice. She says they are signs the orca had been sick for some time.

Goo says a Hawaiian cultural practitioner conducted rites Wednesday for the animal before it was killed.

A necropsy is to be performed to determine what was ailing the whale.

The animal washed ashore early Wednesday, attracting about 500 people. Killer whales are rarely seen in Hawaiian waters.

John Boulay is a manager at Brennecke's Beach Broiler. He says people tried to push the whale back into the ocean, but it kept washing back.

Brennecke's Beach is next to Poipu Beach on the south shore of the island.

More Hawaii News

2008-10-22T11:55:00.000-06:00

For information and news events happening around Hawaii please visit Maui News & Information, and Hawaii News & Information.

Canada Based Airline Expanding Routes to Hawaii

2008-10-21T23:36:00.000-06:00

Canada Based Airline Expanding Routes to Hawaii
By Gina Mangieri

In an otherwise weak tourism outlook for Hawaii, the trend from Canada is on the upswing, and about to get better.

A Canada-based airline expanding its winter routes to Hawaii, bringing thousands of visitors from the north our way each week. They may partner with upstart interisland airline Mokulele, and Hawaiian responds.

Westjet is boosting hawaii capacity about 20 percent this winter as demand from canadian tourists booms -- 23 flights will bring 3,500 guests weekly.

Which can't be said about Hawaii's U.S. mainland market. Hawaii is seeing solid growth from Canada . They stay the longest, and they're shopping.

Westjet flies from Vancouver to Honolulu, Maui and Kona. they're eying Kauai, and they're exploring a partnership with Mokulele airlines to pre-sell interisland packages.

Hawaiian Airlines President, Mark Dunkerley says, "If Westjet wants to give us a call we'd always be happy to talk to them, if they decide to go with somebody else we will be there competing as we always do."

Mokulele last week announced its own expansion, citing a price and capacity void left by aloha. Hawaiian says the interisland pie is actually shrinking and that price is up in the air until Mokulele, GO and Hawaiian are actually battling it out as of next month.

"The marketplace has its own dynamic, we don't set the fares, we don't tell everybody what the fares should be. It's unlikely they would be setting the fares and telling everybody what it would be."

Hawaiian, meanwhile, remains committed to its 4 billion dollar airbus fleet purchase -- what they say is the largest private sector investment in hawaii history. It makes possible nonstop routes as far away as the asian continent and europe. No word yet if Canada is on their list. But they welcome the added visitors Westjet will bring for now.

Westjet says they're meeting with Governor Linda Lingle tomorrow about state marketing partnerships.

Early Voting Begins in Hawaii

2008-10-21T23:14:00.003-06:00

Early voting began today in 15 locations around the State of Hawaii. Residents of Kauai can vote early in this year’s election at the Historic County Annex - 4386 Rice Street, Lihue (next to the Historic County Building) between the hours of 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

The State Office of Elections is reminding Hawaii residents to bring picture identification with them. Registered voters can cast ballots in the presidential, congressional, state, and county elections. Early voting ends Nov. 1, three days before the general election.

For additional early voting locations across the state visit this link.

Waipouli Beach Resort

2008-10-18T15:02:00.004-06:00

Waipouli Beach

One of Kauai’s newest and finest destinations is Waipouli Beach Resort in Kapa’a. Located on beautiful Waipouli beach, this resort has been rated by Expedia voters as the number one resort in Hawaii and number 7 in the United States.

It’s easy to understand the resort’s popularity. Just a few minutes from Lihue Airport, visitors can arrive on the island, get their luggage and Kauai car rental and drive up the coast. A few minutes later they can step out of their condo and find themselves in Waipouli’s fabulous golden sand, sunshine and warm Pacific surf.

But that’s not all. The resort boasts a 2 acre fantasy pool with lazy river, water slides, spa, and a kiddy beach for the kids. A beach side cabana serving lunch and dinner and a full Aveda Lifestyle Spa & Fitness Center are also on property. Ocean views are available from elegantly furnished 1 and 2 bedroom condos complete with granite counter tops in the fully equipped kitchens and bathrooms.

Waipouli’s location in Kapa`a makes it easy to walk to nearby Kauai restaurants, shopping and golf. Plus Kapa`a is considered a central location for exploring the rest of the island of Kauai. Go north a few miles and you’re in Princeville. South is Poipu Beach.

See Waipouli Beach Resort and dozens of other condos on Kauai that are available by owners on the Summit Pacific website and consider your winter escape.

Moonrise over Waipouli Beach Resort
Picture taken from Unit D406

Kauai Visitor Count Down by 25%

2008-10-17T17:55:00.004-06:00

The Good and the Bad News... by Doug Porter

Visitor arrivals to Hawaii were down nearly 17 percent in August and Kauai's visitor arrivals were down 25 percent from last year. Visitor spending throughout the state and in Kauai is down similar percentages. The downward trend started earlier this year by rising airline ticket prices due to higher fuel costs and also the closing down of Aloha Airlines. These factors, combined with the more recent tailspin of the economy are taking their toll on the state. State tourism liaison, Marsha Winert said, “Hawaii’s visitor industry is feeling the effects of the continued softness in the national economy.”

"Softness" ...have you looked at your 401K lately Marsha?

The good news is that if you're coming to Kauai, there are some great deals to be had. Many hotels, resorts and other accommodations are slashing their prices. There are plenty of deals on privately owned Hawaii Vaction Rentals with owners trying to fill their calendars. There are deals on Hawaii car rentals too, especially if you go through companies that have negotiated special rates with the bigger national rental car companies. Nearly all sectors of the island economy are offering bargains as they try to hang on to market share. These discounts are helping. Certainly they help to offset the higher prices you pay to get here.

This fall we've even seen the airlines finally cutting their fares. There are some good deals if you look for mid-week travel. The bottom line is this, now is a good time to visit Hawaii. You'll find the beaches and highways less crowded, better rates at hotels and some great deals on Kauai condos, plus everyone's going to be glad to see you get off the plane.

Kauai Drownings Near All Time Record

2008-10-16T17:40:00.005-06:00

Four people have drowned in the waters around Kauai in two days. This brings to 15 the total number of people that have drowned this year in Kauai and the island is in danger of breaking the all time record of 17 in one year set in the 1970s. The recent rash of drownings has caused Kauai officials to issue warnings to tourists to stay away from the ocean until the high swell subsides. Beaches north of Hanalei Bay were closed on Monday.

Two women drowned at Queens Bath on Sunday when they were swept off the rocks by a large wave. That same day a visitor from Japan died while snorkeling near Kapa’a. Another man drowned Monday when he entered the water at Hanakapiai Beach along the Na Pali Coast.

Queens Bath, Kauai

Kauai hibiscus produces vivid spectacle

2008-07-21T15:08:00.000-06:00

By Rick Barboza

Description: If you can find a more beautiful hibiscus species, I have got to see it to believe it. I don't know what it is about this flower that draws me to it, but when it blooms it is a truly spectacular event. Don't think that I'm exaggerating when I say "event," because once you see it you'll count the days until the next bud blooms.
Other people who own this plant tell me the same thing. In fact, one woman just told me that she saw this flower blooming in the store from a distance and had to walk across the garden department just to see it up close. It drew her in, spellbound by its beauty.
Hui Ku Maoli OlaThis gorgeous shrub is generally 4 to 10 feet tall. It has dark, glossy, green leaves with some varieties having reddish petioles that connect the leaves to the stem. But of course the most distinguishing feature is its amazing flowers, the most striking of all hibiscus. The blooms are bright orange to orange-red and so vivid, they almost look fluorescent.
Distribution: In the wild this rare endemic subspecies of Hibiscus kokio (typically a red hibiscus) is found only in the coastal valleys of northwestern Kauai and nowhere else in the world. I've seen these plants in the wild, and they stand out so much against any backdrop they almost look fake - as if they don't belong, but in fact they do.
Landscape use: Whether used as a hedge or specimen plant, the St. John's hibiscus makes a wonderful addition to any garden. It responds well to pruning and requires little water once established in the ground. Like all hibiscus, keep an eye out for the usual pests, such as aphids, whiteflies and mealybugs, but don't let them discourage you from getting one. You'll be more sorry if you don't get to experience the flowers for yourself.
Right now this amazingly beautiful, ultrarare hibiscus is available at Home Depot stores on Oahu and Kauai for $12, or at Hui Ku Maoli Ola native plant nursery for $10. Get them before they become as rare in the stores as they are in the wild!
Additional information: The Hibiscus St. Johnianus is a highly variable plant. Flower colors range from dark orange-red to bright orange-yellow, and there is even a pure yellow variety that is extremely rare.
Outside our state flower, the endangered ma'ohauhele (Hibiscus brackenridgei), this is the only other pure yellow native hibiscus. Although hau (Hibiscus tiliaceus) is also considered a yellow flowered native hibiscus, it's flowers are not pure yellow, as it has a large maroon center and the whole flower tends to turn pink-orange as the day goes on. The other two varieties will stay true to their yellow color until they fall off the plant.

Woodlanders at home on Kauai ... house sitting

2008-07-21T15:03:00.000-06:00

By Pat Nelson

Home away from home. That’s what a house on the island of Kauai in Hawaii has occasionally been for a team of house sitters including three Woodland couples and families from Kelso, Castle Rock, Vancouver, Portland, St. Helens, and Deer Island.House sitting duties for my husband, Bob and I, began in 2004, when my son and daughter-in-law, Steve and Laura Ellsworth asked us to go to Kauai with them. Laura called her friends on Kauai to inquire about a good place to stay. It turned out her friend would be “off island” the same time we planned to be there. To our good fortune, they offered us the use of their home.The next year, that couple had friends who needed a house sitter for six weeks. The four of us were recommended. We couldn’t cover the entire six weeks, so another couple stayed part of the time, followed by Steve and Laura, and then Bob and I. We all loved having a home instead of a motel room to return to at the end of the day.Our house sitting perks include a two-story home, a lap pool and use of a mini-van. Duties include caring for the house, the pool and grounds, and three pets. The dog, Tasha, is a Borzoi, or Russian wolfhound. She is black with white spots and tall and slender. Because she constantly sheds, all the floors upstairs and downstairs must be swept and mopped each day before it gets too hot. It didn’t take any of us long to fall in love with this gentle, sweet dog who remembers us from one visit to the next and welcomes us with a big smile when we arrive. The two cats enjoy being well-fed and well-loved.Since our first visit, the owners added an aquarium and a fish bowl containing a beta. A goldfish is visiting until September while its owner is off island.This month, I came to Kauai alone for some quiet writing time while my husband trains for a bike ride at home. I was met at the Lihue airport by Woodland residents Scott and Nona Perry, who were just finishing their house sitting duties. Before they headed home, we spent a day together snorkeling, eating Bubba burgers and shave ice, and sifting through sand at Anini Beach searching for tiny seashells.When new house sitters arrive, they overlap with the current house sitters anywhere from a few hours to a few days for a good transition. Last year, the Perrys took over from Woodland residents Ted and Mary Ann St. Mars, who hope to return next year.When the owners make plans to go off island, they e-mail me. I send notices to our house sitting team. Couples must act quickly. The spots are grabbed up within 12 to 24 hours. Everyone on the list has stayed at the house before and knows the routine. Each couple tries to leave the house and yard in better condition than when they arrived, which makes the owners happy when they return home after a six-week absence.People often ask me how to land a house sitting job in Hawaii. Many island residents need to be off island for periods of time and might need house sitters to care for their pets or their yards. Lush island vegetation requires regular maintenance. The plants grow fast and constantly drop fronds, leaves, seeds and pods.If you want to house sit in Hawaii and don’t mind the duties that go along with the job, visit one of the islands and ask everyone you meet.One day, while house sitting on Kauai with friends Scot and Sue Lawrence of Portland, we decided to see how easy it would be to land other house-sitting jobs.First, we asked our tour guide at the botanical gardens if she knew anyone who needed house sitters.“I do,” she said. “I’m leaving next week and my regular house sitter has another job part of the time I’ll be gone.” We were already house sitting, so we couldn’t take the job.Next, we asked at a restaurant.“See that motel?” the waitress asked. “The owner goes to London, and she always needs a house sitter. Go ask her.”We inquired twice and received two leads. We were told some people who live in Kauai year around, house sitting from one place to the next, never having their own place to live. If you’re footloose, fancy free and interested in house sitting, you might try renting a place on Kauai — or the island of your choice — and then ask around and line up jobs. Who knows. Within a year, you might be able to give up your apartment and just move from one lovely home to the next. But don’t accumulate too many possessions ... keep life simple for those frequent moves. Aloha.

HAWAII: Preserving pieces of a tropical paradise

2008-07-21T14:57:00.000-06:00

By Tara Godvin

The National Tropical Botanical Garden offers plenty of beautiful flowers, with three sites on Kauai, Hawaii's "Garden Isle." Here visitors can get off the beach and learn more about the local flora.
But one aspect of what takes place at the National Tropical Botanical Garden goes well beyond aesthetics. Resident scientists face the challenge of snatching the Pacific islands' quickly disappearing plants from the brink of extinction.
"Most of our visitors to Hawaii look at this beautiful, lush landscape and they just think, 'It's paradise,'" said Charles R. "Chipper" Wichman, garden director, gesturing to the verdant valley stretching out below his office window on Kauai. "They have no idea that what they are viewing is a war zone between our native plants that are trying to hold on to a space and all these invasive plants and animals that are trying to take it away from them."
The Hawaiian islands have a wealth of conservation needs and are known among botanists as the nation's "extinction capital." About 180 plant species in Hawaii have 50 or fewer individuals living in the wild, Wichman said.
"We are facing an extinction crisis here in the Hawaiian Islands. And the plants here are part of our national heritage, part of the United States' national heritage," Wichman said.
Conservation at the garden involves locating and identifying endangered plants, raising them in greenhouses and then reintroducing them in the gardens and elsewhere to reconstruct native plant environments and bolster the health of the islands' many other troubled species.
At the National Tropical Botanical Garden's headquarters on Kauai's South Shore, the public can visit display gardens for free, or buy tickets and hop a tram for tours of the McBryde or Allerton gardens in a valley a couple of miles away.
The McBryde Garden nurtures plants from throughout the tropics, some of which are extinct in the wild. Next door, the formal Allerton Garden was begun by Hawaii's Queen Emma in the late 1800s and transformed into its current design by a scion of a wealthy Chicago family who purchased the land in the late 1930s.
The third site, the Limahuli Garden on the lush North Shore, features many native species and stunning 700-year-old terraces for growing taro, known as lo'i kalo.
In addition to these three gardens on Kauai, the National Tropical Garden has two other botanical gardens and three preserves, all but one of which – The Kampong in southern Florida – are located in Hawaii.
Though created by an act of Congress in 1964, the garden does not get annual government funds and instead depends on private donations and grants from public and private foundations.
Among the garden's conservation and research triumphs is the alula, on display at both the McBryde and Limahuli gardens on Kauai. Similar in appearance to a cabbage on a stick, the cute, stocky little plant has been grown by the hundreds in the garden. But only one known alula remains in the wild, tucked away on a cliff on Kauai.
Not all the garden's tales are so simple or triumphant as the alula's. The world's only known wild kanaloa, a humble-looking member of the pea family first scientifically described in 1994, lives on a sea stack off Kahoolawe, an uninhabited Hawaiian island still sprinkled with unexploded bombs after being used for target practice by the military for five decades.
Guided across the small island by people trained in ordnance detection, two of the garden's collectors spotted two of the unique plants on a tiny lump of offshore land topped by a piece of native vegetation that had been isolated for centuries from the human-introduced ravages of rats, grazing sheep, farming and bombs.
The collectors were able to gather samples of the plant after perilously lowering themselves down on ropes. Subsequent visits to the spot have been made by helicopter.
A lone example of this shrub grown from a seed is rooted in a tub, cordoned off from the public at the spot where the McBryde Garden and Allerton Garden meet. But so far researchers haven't found a way to produce any more of the enigmatic plant that ancient pollen records suggest was one of the dominant species here for a couple thousand years until the mid-1500s.
In all, the garden has had a hand in the discovery of 30 new species endemic to Hawaii and the rediscovery of about another 30 thought to be extinct.
But the garden has more in its sights on the research front than reproduction. It also has an Institute for Ethnomedicine through which the garden discovered, with the help of traditional Samoan healers, a potential anti-HIV drug currently in clinical trials.
If the drug proves to be marketable, the Samoan government as well as the village where it was found and the family of the healer who helped find it will get a good portion of the royalties, Wichman said.
"Our goal is to really try and set the standard for how to work with indigenous people and honor their intellectual property rights," he said.

Kauai, Big Isle realty sales fall

2008-07-08T16:28:00.001-06:00

By Allison Schaefers

Neighbor island home sales continued slowing last month, but real estate experts said buyers were looking and properties that were priced right sold.
Single-family home sales for June dropped 39.1 percent on the Garden Isle and condominium sales dropped 12.5 percent, according to statistics released over the weekend by the Hawaii Information Service. Still, the median price paid for a single-family home on Kauai last month rose 5 percent as more than half of the buyers paid $687,500 or more to purchase a house. The median price paid for a condominium declined to $569,000 last month. However, it was a scant 0.6 percent drop.
"There are a lot of people out there still kicking tires, calling and looking," said Phillip Fudge of Kauai Landmark Realty in Kapaa. "There's still plenty of demand, but I think that prices have held and that's hurt sales some. People think that prices should be going down more like they have seen on the mainland, and they are waiting because they haven't seen that happen here yet."
Single-family home sales on the Big Island declined 37.3 percent last month from the same period last year, and condo sales fell 32.6 percent.
The median price for a single-family home dropped to $299,000, which was a 17.9 percent drop from the prior year's June.
The median price paid for a Big Island condominium declined 11.6 percent in the same period to $355,000.
"The sky isn't falling. I've actually had more volume this year than ever," said Howard Dinits, an agent with Re/Max Island Surf Realty in Pahoa. "I've already closed 32 transactions this year. There are buyers out there — it's just the prices that are falling."
Houses and condominiums that are priced right on the Big Island are selling, albeit in some cases for less than the sellers paid, Dinits said. The rash of speculative development and buying of the last cycle has hurt some neighbor- hoods, he said.
For example, there are 180 houses for sale in Hawaiian Paradise Parks, Dinits said.
"Those who bought pre-2003 have big grins on their faces and those who bought in 2005 have found that their houses aren't worth what they paid," he said. "That's the difference two years has made, but it won't stay that way forever."
Neighbor isle prices
Median sales prices for homes and condominiums :
Kauai
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
June 2008 $687,500
June 2007 $655,000
Change +5.0%
CONDOS
June 2008 $569,000
June 2007 $572,500
Change -0.6%
Big Island
SINGLE-FAMILY HOMES
June 2008 $299,000
June 2007 $364,000
Change -17.9%
CONDOS
June 2008 $355,000
June 2007 $401,500
Change -11.6%
Source: Hawaii Information Service

Holiday travelers feeling pinch of higher air fares

2008-07-08T16:26:00.000-06:00

By Minna Sugimoto

Holiday weekends usually mean more air travel. But with less airline competition and rising fuel costs, many travelers say they're feeling the pinch.
When we learned one traveler had to pay $278 to get from Oahu to Kauai and back, we headed to the airport to see how everyone else was faring.
It's like waiting for money to come out of an ATM, only the money is going the other way.
"It's really expensive," Summer Fergerstrom, Manoa resident, said.
The machine spits out boarding passes and receipts. For Summer Fergerstrom, they're harsh reminders of the $295 she coughed up for a single inter-island trip.
"It's definitely a huge increase from what it was before when Aloha was around," she said. "But I guess we just don't really have that much of a choice anymore, so I had to pay it."
For Lori Ikenaga's kids, visiting grandma and grandpa in Hilo is no longer child's play.
"It was actually pretty shocking because the prime times that we wanted to fly, we found out was $176 for one way," Ikenaga said.
With four passengers, including her husband, it can really add up. Determined, she located a fare of $190 dollars round trip.
"We had to kind of search a little bit more and try to be flexible with the dates and times that we flew," the Salt Lake resident said.
Barbara Belsito says the key is to start early.
"Absolutely, especially with the economy and I knew the price rule would go up," the New Jersey resident said. "So I did it as soon as I knew what I wanted to do, where I was going."
$230 got her two round-trip tickets to Maui, for her and her boyfriend, Joe.
"I'm really happy 'cause I thought our prices were high when I first started," Belsito said. "But I'm really thankful now. I feel that the prices were low."

Kaua'i bog gets 'milestone' new fence

2008-06-30T14:49:00.001-06:00

The Nature Conservancy of Hawai'i recently completed construction of a fence around south Kaua'i's Kanaele Bog, which is home to rare and endangered plant species.
The fence encloses the Nature Conservancy's 80-acre preserve in an effort to keep out wild pigs, which have damaged the area to the south.
"This fence represents a major conservation milestone for us," Trae Menard, director of the conservancy's Kaua'i program, said in a news release. "Kanaele is a natural treasure. Nothing like it exists anywhere on the planet."
At 2,100 feet above sea level, Kanaele is the sole remaining low-elevation bog in the Hawaiian Islands and contains tiny endangered bog violets, carnivorous sundews (mikinalo), and the showy Lobelia kauaensis, with its tall spire of white-petaled flowers streaked with purple.
Pigs and weeds are the primary threats to the bog. Menard said, "The fence will prevent pigs from damaging the fragile bog ecosystem and allow the native bog vegetation to recover." Also, invasive plants will be removed from within the enclosure.
At the preserve, established in 2003 through a management agreement with landowner Alexander & Baldwin Inc., the Nature Conservancy protects the bog's natural community of plants and invertebrates.
The 6,552-foot-long fence, which Nature Conservancy said cost $149,000, was designed and constructed by the conservancy in collaboration with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and McBryde Sugar, a Kaua'i-based subsidiary of A&B. The fence was partially funded by the USFWS and various private donors, and was built by Remote Fencing Outfitters, a private contractor.
Durable materials, including corrosion-resistant galvanized mesh coated with polyurethane, were used to enable the fence to withstand the bog's wet environment. Kanaele receives an average annual rainfall of 161 inches.
"The fence is really just the first step to effective bog conservation," Menard said. "The next steps entail weed control. With the bog protected from pigs and weeds, rare plant reintroduction can then take place to build more robust populations."

Kauai Chopper Crash Settlement; $9.5 Million

2008-06-25T16:05:00.000-06:00

Nine-and-half million dollars. That's how much a New Hampshire couple will receive for injuries they suffered in a tour helicopter crash on Kauai last year.
They were on a sightseeing trip when the tail rotor broke off and the chopper went down. A California man was killed, Judy Barton was paralyzed and her husband Douglas broke his back.
Their attorney said Barton can no longer work and his wife will likely need assistance for the rest of her life. And they'll use the money to build a handi-cap accesible home.
"They are very pleased, I'm sure like almost all my clients they'd much rather be healthy without all the money," said their attourney Rick Fried.
Fried says a defect in the tail rotor assembly caused the crash.
The settlement money will come from the two manufacturers, Boeing and Aluminum Precision Products.

Settlement reached in fatal 2007 Kauai crash

2008-06-23T15:05:00.000-06:00

A New Hampshire couple injured in a Kaua'i helicopter crash last year that killed one person have reached a "nearly eight-figure" settlement with the aircraft 's manufacturers.
Details of the settlement will be announced tomorrow by the couple's attorney, Richard Fried Jr.
The March 11, 2007, crash of the Inter-Island Helicopters' Hughes 500 killed Michael Gershon, 60, of Walnut Creek, Calif., and injured the Newport, N.H., couple and another passenger, Dania Hansen of Los Altos, Calif.
The helicopter had been previously used by the Ventura County Sheriff's Department in California, according to FAA records.
At the crash scene, the entire tail-rotor section was missing.

When tourism falters, it hurts everyone in Hawaii

2008-06-12T15:31:00.000-06:00

By Jim Cone

The question has been asked many times by many people over the years: What percentage of Hawaii's population works in the tourism industry? The answer to that question during the past 20 years has been somewhere between 25 percent and 32 percent, give or take a point or two.
The real question for all us stakeholders -- in the travel industry and not -- is, What percentage of Hawaii's population is financially influenced or dependent on Hawaii's tourism industry? And who on these islands is not hurt by a loss of tourism? The homeless? No, for they are dependent on tax dollars that provide programs of help and recovery.
If tourism is down, if a couple of airlines disappear or even a small hotel, the welfare of an entire island can be affected. To what degree Molokai's fortunes will turn because of loss of tourism, we have yet to discover. Do residents of Maui, Oahu, Kauai or Hawaii actually believe they are different?
Two years ago, 40 percent of real estate sales on Kauai were from the mainland. That is a substantial amount of conveyance tax alone! Tourism is down, Kauai's real estate market is off, tax dollars are down and projects for the homeless will not get funded. None of this is coincidence. The homeless numbers are up. Is that due to a slowing of tourism? Not specifically, but that slowing is seen to be woven into the overall funding of all Department of Human Services projects -- including, I'm afraid, employee training. Tourism slowing seems to be woven into construction and certainly the construction unions.
Right behind the financial aspect from loss of tourism comes the loss spiritually, culturally, emotionally ... even socially. We are all touched in one way or another by the ebb and flow of Hawaii's tourism industry. The military is involved; they have to get here, pay the airfares. The medical profession, real estate, education, finance, retail and so on -- all are undeniably affected with the coming or not coming of tourists.
Even Hawaii's indigenous peoples and their organizations get funding that is fed by tourism dollars.
The housing dilemma on the mainland, the cost of oil, war ... all of them end up extending to and becoming a tourism challenge -- our challenge, not just 25-32 percent of us.