Also known as the Pineapple Island from its past as the world’s largest pineapple plantation, Lanai is the 6th largest Hawaiian island. The privately owned island is part of the County of Maui and home to some estimated 3,200 residents.

This past weekend, I visited the island of Lanai for the first time, but it definitely won’t be the last. I was looking for a place to get away from it all, relax, and take things at a slower pace. Lana’i is the Hawaiian island to do just that. Here I’ve shared just a few places to stay, eat, and call home.

The grounds of the Four Seasons Resort Lodge at Ko’ele are a very different Hawaiian experience

Where to Stay

• Four Seasons Resorts Lodge at Ko’ele—Located in the cool upcountry with beautiful surroundings and plenty of activities inside and out. The rates are very competitive with neighbor island resorts.
• Four Seasons Resorts Lanai Manele Bay—A luxurious ocean-side resort with great poolside and beach amenities as well as the Kids For All Seasons Camp for guests 5-12 years-old.
• Hotel Lanai—A small, cozy hotel in Lana’i City with Cook Pines outside your window. There are no phones in the rooms and some are without televisions.

Where to Eat

I dined at both of the Four Seasons Resorts during my visit, which have a variety of dining options, but below are some casual options in Lana’i City where you can eat beside island residents.

• Blue Ginger Cafe—On my first morning on Lana’i, I met residents from Maui who invited us to join them for breakfast here. Order at the counter and find a seat. My son loved the spam and eggs breakfast; I ordered pancakes that were bigger than the plate. Come hungry because the food is good and the portions are huge. Cash only.
• Pele’s Other Garden—I meant to eat here, as I’ve read and heard great reviews, but I ran out of time this trip. I did stop in though and buy Hawaiian-flavored bottled soda and saw a case filled with eye-catching cakes.

Where to Call Home

As the days passed quickly, even on slow-paced Lana’i, I found myself wondering what the options were for calling Lana’i home. The variety surprised me.

• Lana’i City—There are small plantation-style homes starting from the low $200,000′s.
• The Pines at Koele—Condominiums starting from $489,000 that are eligible for Island Club membership, allowing access to Four Season Resorts Lana’i amenities.
• Koele and Manele Bay Homes—Residences up to $6.8M with some eligible for Island Club membership.
• Land—Experience at Koele lots starting from $499,000 and Manele Bay area lots starting from $1.65M. Both communities are also eligible for the Island Club memberships.

Many of the other guests I met were neighbor island residents as Lana’i is easily accessible by a 30 minute prop plane from Honolulu, Oahu, or by a 45 minute ferry ride from Lahaina, Maui.

Related posts:

1. Escape to the Island of Lana’i
2. Maui Earns Top Honor as “Best Island in the World”
3. Hawaii’s Big Island and its “Call” to New Residents

Looking for something to do this weekend on Kauai’s North Shore? With events from Kilauea to Hanalei, there’s something for just about everyone: nature enthusiasts, music and art lovers, and families too! Hope to see you there!

Here I’ve compiled a few events for this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday:

Friday, June 10, 2011

• Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar and Ukulele Concert—from 4-6 p.m. at Hanalei Community Center featuring songs and stories honoring Raymond Kane. Tickets are $20 ($15 keiki and seniors). For more information and reservations call 808-826-1469.

Saturday, June 11, 2011

• Kahili Beach Cleanup—The Kilauea Neighborhood Association invites anyone interested to help. Meet at the Wailapa parking area at 9 a.m.

Sunday, June 12, 2011

• Concert in the Park—This free, family-friendly event features local musicians and activities for the kids (there’s also an adjacent playground). St. Regis, Federico’s, and “I Scream” Truck will offer food and beverage for purchase. Bring your own lawn chairs, blanket, umbrella, or hat. Prince Albert Park, Princeville from 2-6 p.m. I went to this event last year and it was a lot of fun!

• Artist Exhibit—Come meet Gina Mears and view her art. Live music and pupus. From 5-7 p.m., at Relish Salon (upstairs, above Bar Acuda) in Hanalei.

Related posts:

1. Luxury Resort & Real Estate on Kauai’s North Shore
2. North Shore of Kauai – Great Neighborhoods of Kilauea
3. New and Noteworthy Dining on Kauai’s North Shore

The ocean is just steps away from this condominium’s patio!

This oceanfront condominium at Poipu Makai (MLS# 241679) is now listed for $579,000 after a $52,000 price reduction, making it the lowest priced condo in the complex. #E1 is a 2 bed/2 bath, single-story, ground-floor condominium that is offered turn-key with vacation rental bookings into March 2012!

The current county assessed value for this unit is $682,300; that’s $103,300 above listing price! In this complex of only 15 units, the last sale was in November 2009 for an upgraded 3 bed/3 bath condo for $945,000.

For more information, please read my last blog about this oceanfront condominium.

Related posts:

1. Price Reduction: Oceanfront Poipu Condo Offers Prime Investment Opportunity
2. Successful Vacation Rental – Oceanfront Poipu Condo For Sale
3. Direct Oceanfront Noelani Condo Price Reduction on Maui

This Kilauea home is back on the market and move-in ready

This north shore home (MLS# 239559) fell out of escrow and is back on the market, and at a newly reduced listing price of $399,000! Located in the Kilauea Estates Subdivision, this 3 bed/2 bath single-family residence is one of less than a dozen homes listed for sale on the north shore of Kauai under $400,000.

My husband and I bought this home in 1998 and one of the reasons we chose it was because of the location. It’s at the end of a cul-de-sac on a side street, yet walking distance to all that Kilauea has to offer: shopping, restaurants, services, and the Kilauea Lighthouse. Within a 10 minute drive is Princeville, the St. Regis Princeville Resort, Hanalei, and many beaches.

But let’s not forget too that this home is positioned to enjoy sweeping views of the Hanalei mountains and often colorful sunsets. We have thoroughly enjoyed waking up and enjoying our morning coffee looking at the mountains, and marveling at the sunsets in the evenings. This is the only home currently listed for sale in this subdivision and is ready for a new owner!

Enjoy colorful Bali Hai sunsets from this Kilauea home

Related posts:

1. Price Reduction For Kilauea, Kauai House With Views
2. Deal – Princeville Home on the Market for $549,000 with Bali Hai View
3. Deal – The Lowest-Priced Home in Kilauea, Kauai

Poipu Makai #E1 enjoys ocean views and the sound of the surf

Poipu Makai, located on the sunny south side of Kauai, is an ocean bluff condominium complex consisting of only 15 units. Amenities include a recently renovated pool, covered BBQ area, tropical landscaping, and unique gardens throughout the property.

Newly listed is #E1 (MLS# 241679), a 2 bedroom, 2 bathroom, ground floor end unit with ocean views from the master bedroom, living area, kitchen, and covered patio. With just steps away from the ocean, enjoy the sound of the surf and sunsets views.

Covered patio just steps from the ocean

The unit is currently an active vacation rental with bookings into February 2012. Nearby is Poipu Beach Park, Spouting Horn, and the newly opened Kukui’ula Village Shopping Center.

Related posts:

1. $52K Price Reduction on Oceanfront Condo in Poipu, Kauai
2. Luxury Ocean View Poipu Home For Sale on Kauai
3. Successful Vacation Rental – Oceanfront Poipu Condo For Sale

This Princeville golf front home has just been listed as a foreclosure.

Rear exterior of home as seen from Makai Woods Course.

Located in the Princeville community on Kauai’s north shore, this home  (MLS# 238119) was just listed as a foreclosure for $807,900. With 2,405 square feet of living space, the home has 3 private master bedroom suites, gourmet kitchen, dining area, living room, family room, pool, and an atrium! Views of the mountains and the Makai Woods Course can be seen from the kitchen, living room, upstairs master bedroom suite, and pool.

Current Asking Price: $807,900
Previous Sales Price: $1,290,000

Plunge into this pool that has mountain and golf course views.

Front exterior of home.

View my Gallery of Princeville Foreclosures and Short Sales →

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1. Luxury Princeville Home for Sale on Kauai’s North Shore
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3. $1.9M Home Foreclosure at Kaanapali Golf Estates

Breaded Lamb with Vegetables from Kauai Grill

As someone that loves food, good food, I’m always looking for somewhere different to eat when going out.  Now please don’t get me wrong here, I do still enjoy many of the already established restaurants, but the choices have been somewhat limited on Kauai’s North Shore. I recently had the pleasure of trying two of several new North Shore establishments and am thrilled to share them with you.

Ahi entree from Kauai Grill

With the much-anticipated opening of the St. Regis Princeville Resort, I was excited to learn that they expanded from the usual hotel fare with the opening of Jean-Georges’ Kauai Grill.  I read a bit about Jean-Georges and flipped through one of his cookbooks prior to going. His recipes are too complex for me to attempt at home, but I definitely wanted to try them…prepared for me. After walking through the entry I felt as if I had been transported to a very hip New York eatery…until I spotted Bali Hai from the window. The décor is a wow, especially if you have dined there in the past when it was La Cascata. When you go there, be sure to check out the amazing glass chandelier in the middle of the restaurant that changes color every few seconds. We found our waitress helpful, but not overbearing.  The food, all a la carte, was outstanding both in presentation and to the taste.  And the prices were much more reasonable than I expected, especially for the quality and location.  I’ll definitely be going back there!

Now if you’re looking for something a bit more casual, a great new place to check out in Hanalei is the Iti Wine Bar, located next to the well-known Tahiti Nui Restaurant & Bar. I just happened upon this one after I saw a friend become a fan of it on Facebook.  This is the place to go and be seen.  They offer a huge wine selection, with wine by the choice of a 2 oz. taste, a glass, or a bottle.  If you don’t care for wine there’s beer and a full bar too. And they also offer a full a la carte menu ranging from focaccia (very, very good) to lamb!

A few others that I haven’t tried yet (but will soon) are Federico’s Fresh Mex Cuisine in the Princeville Shopping Center and Thai 2 Go located in Kilauea just off the highway on Ho‘okui Road next to Kauai Pacific School.

I found it a bit surprising that so many new restaurants are opening now, and in such a small geographic location.  But with the growing resident population, and consistent visitors, we all have to eat!

Related posts:

1. Luxury Resort & Real Estate on Kauai’s North Shore
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3. Tradition Meets Technology… Hanalei North Shore Properties merges with Hawaii Life

Now only $495,000! This 3 bedroom 2 bath home (MLS #231185) in the Kilauea Estates neighborhood is a rare find. Ideally located at the end on a cul-de-sac, this single story residence features a vaulted ceiling in the living/dining room, built-in closet organizers with drawers in Master and 2nd bedroom, a solar water heater, enclosed 2-car garage, partially fenced yard, and mountain and Bali Hai views.

The Kilauea Lighthouse, restaurants, shopping, medical facility, schools, post office, and
Farmers market, and more are just a short walk away.

Listing agent is part owner. Both owners are Hawaii Life agents.

Related posts:

1. Price Reduction on Kilauea Home with Amazing Bali Hai Views
2. Deal – The Lowest-Priced Home in Kilauea, Kauai
3. Kauai’s Kilauea Town is a Flourishing Residential Community

When the real estate market was up, flipping real estate was somewhat commonplace. I’d see the same investors buy a property, sell a property, buy a property, sell a property and so on…making a lot of quick profits. I heard mixed reactions at the time from those on the sidelines, from those that were disgusted by the amount of money being made to those that wanted to jump in and be a part of it.

Several television shows aired simplifying the flipping process, from purchase to sale, all within a 30-60 minute broadcast. Even with unexpected delays or problems, the investors always managed to come out on top, walking away with a substantial profit from a property that they might have owned for just a few short weeks, if that. And while there definitely were a lot of success stories, it was made to look easy and that anyone can do it. Unfortunately, we are well too aware that not everyone should do it.

Lets look at just two points to consider when purchasing investment property:

1. Money

• Buyers need to be pre-qualified now more than ever if seeking financing. Those days of 100% financing are memories for most. And be prepared to cover all costs of the mortgage, taxes, HOA dues, utilities, etc.
• For rental property, be prepared to cover those costs listed above, just in case renters default or you find yourself without tenants.
• Repairs should also be factored in for not only materials, but labor costs too.
• Don’t forget about capital gains tax for when you sell.

2. Time

• Selling the property for profit may take longer than what we saw in the past. This is due to several factors like supply and demand (there’s more supply now than what we saw in the last 10 years).
• Consider buying and holding. Prices have not moved in an upswing yet, so patience is key.

With the lower sales prices and interest rates, it can be expected that flipping properties will make a comeback. After all, history usually repeats itself. But just make sure to ask yourself, do you have what it takes?

Jessica L Mugrage, RA can be reached at 808.639.6182.

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1. Hawaii Ocean View Homes – Protecting Your House From The Sun
2. 3% Down Payments are Back – HomePath On REO Homes
3. 3 Things You Should Know Before Making an Offer on a House in Hawaii

Originally a sugar plantation, Kilauea Town has flourished into a residential community with many modern day conveniences. There are public and private schools, several places of worship, medical facilities, numerous unique shopping opportunities, a salon, natural food grocer, restaurants, a bakery, an ice cream and video rental store, and more all within close walking distance. You’ll also find a community center with a gym and adjacent lighted baseball/soccer field where a variety of activities and events take place.

A new community facility just outside of Kilauea Town has recently broken ground mauka of the highway, and will feature an 18-hole miniature golf course with botanical garden and clubhouse in its first phase. A second phase is said to include a multi-purpose amphitheater.

With all these amenities and Kilauea’s close proximity to several beautiful beaches, its no surprise Kilauea Town’s real estate market has seen a fair amount of activity so far this year. There are currently 8 homes listed for sale from the mid $300K to $600K. In this price range, there have been 11 sales and another 6 are in escrow to date. Kilauea town had only four residential sales in this price range in 2008.

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1. North Shore of Kauai – Great Neighborhoods of Kilauea
2. Kilauea Volcano – A Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight
3. Two Kilauea Homes for Under 400K on Kauai’s North Shore