Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers » Lucy Clark, RB

Volcanic Obsidian on the Big Island – For Sale?

Lucy Clark, RB — Thu, 21 Apr 2011 22:55:23 +0000

Obsidian from Hawaiian volcanoes is a rare commodity since our volcanoes have very little silica in their flow.

Archaeologists have identified Puâ€™u Waâ€™a Waâ€™a as the lone mount having obsidian today. I have been told of an obsidian field in Kawaihae on land that used to belong to a former sea captain in the days of Kamehameha I. Obsidian from Hawaiian volcanoes is black, however, other volcanoes produce blue and green.

More commonly we have volcanic glass (the glassy rind that can be seen on pahoehoe flows). This was used by ancient Hawaiians as cutting tools (similar to Native Americans).

Metaphysically, obsidian is known to be protective, inducing the wearer to honesty, sincerity and truth. Obsidian is known to bring out the warrior energy of the wearer. Based on the usage by Native Americans and ancient Hawaiians, they must have known this too.

This home (MLS# 240847) offers views of the obsidian field in Kawaihae, asking $675,000

Come check out the 3 acres of land with its original designed house and pad for building your brand new home. Perhaps you too will feel the protective energy of the obsidian!

Koa – The Native Hawaiian Wood

Lucy Clark, RB — Wed, 20 Apr 2011 17:35:41 +0000

Koa (acacia koa) trees, being endemic to Hawaii, were grown and used by Hawaiians for generations.

I was sitting in my yard today and noticed how large the koa (meaning brave, bold, fearless) trees have gotten in the past 6 years

Koa can grow to be several hundred feet in height and have a diameter of over 10 feet (mine are not there yet). Along with their natural resistance to salt water, they make the perfect canoe. Large heavy surfboards were also made and used.

Due to logging and grazing, there are very few forests left. Cutting of growing trees is now illegal, so any products that are made come from dead/fallen logs or private lands.

The beautiful ukulele was largely made from koa. Now, with koa being less abundant, ukuleles are often made of veneer (a thin layer applied to another wood). If you are lucky enough to have a ukulele of solid koa, you also know how precious it is.

If you are lucky enough to find a piece of property with a koa tree on it, you have just been lucky enough to find yourself a piece of Hawaiian history.

New Homes For Sale in Kamuela, Big Island â€“ Lualaâ€™I

Lucy Clark, RB — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 23:00:10 +0000

Lualaâ€™I (to live in comfort)

Are you looking for newly built affordable housing? At the base of Mauna Kea, surrounded by Parker Ranch pasture land in beautiful Waimea, is Lualaâ€™I subdivision. Moderately priced homes with CC&Rs that maintain the quality and value of your investmentâ€”what more can you ask for?

You can have your pick of houses already built, or select your lot and have a home built for you. With in-house financing and substantial closing cost creditsâ€”homeownership is just a few clicks away!

Floor plan for (MLS# 243712) asking $459,838

Another â€œmust seeâ€ just being constructed listings on the same cul-de-sac is this floor plan (MLS# 243862)Â with planned stainless steel appliances, laminate cherry wood flooring, and fireplace.

Come check out the subdivision and beautiful Waimea town!

Stories of Hawaiian Lava

Lucy Clark, RB — Wed, 30 Mar 2011 04:32:34 +0000

As anyone who has been to Hawaii knows, weâ€™ve had a continuous lava flow since January 3, 1983.

Thatâ€™s 28 years of awesome fiery beauty. Anyone knowing anything about our culture also knows that Madame Pele is the reason. The beautiful goddess brings new life to our islands daily. She never tires. If you close your eyes, you can see her playing with her fiery balls of newly formed earth. Her current project being Loâ€™ihi Seamount.

Scientists say that we may see the peaks of this island break through the surface of the Pacific Ocean in a hundred years or so

Many kama hele travelers to our Big Island have been told not to take lava from the island or some pilikia (unwanted/harmful) will happen to you. A belief has been ingrained into a lot of people. There is a book with the stories of the pain kama hele suffer upon returning back to their home with their souvenirs only to return them immediately because of events experienced once they reached home.

Yes, this makes a great tale to fascinate and scare any kama hele, but letâ€™s really feel this. Madame Pele is creating lava 24/7. She sits atop Kilauea Crater creating her fiery virgin soil. She plays with her lavaâ€”never running out. Do you think she would mind you taking a piece of it home? Are you thinking she doesnâ€™t have enough to share with others? For goodness sake, sheâ€™s making a whole island for us. Of course she shares.

There are different stories describing how this myth came to be. The one that makes me giggle (and makes the most sense to me) is the one of the tour bus driver telling this tale to his flock because, back in the day, he had to clean his own bus. Lava is black, crumbly soil and gets into every nook and cranny once it is stepped on by tourists getting on and off the bus. Imagine how time intensive cleaning would have been.

Today this story is being told (in part) because of the strong need of the local people to have the kama hele hoâ€™ihi (respect) the land and the people. When telling this story, we are asking you to come here with hoâ€™ihi and reverence for the land and the people. Come, visit, we are willing to share our aloha spiritâ€”and we have a lot to give.

We are an island people. We know our roots. We know our kuâ€™auhau (family history). We know our kupuna (grandparents and elders).Â We know how to live and survive on an island. Ask and weâ€™ll teach you. Need lava for your garden back home? Would love a beautiful piece of lava to place in your hearth by the fire that warms your hale (home) and ohana (family)? We gladly share. Just ask, â€œShe who shapes the sacred landâ€â€”Pelehonuamea.

Interested in Repairing Your Credit For a Home Loan?

Lucy Clark, RB — Sat, 26 Mar 2011 00:17:02 +0000

Suffered a foreclosure 3 years ago? Credit scores too low to buy a home? Canâ€™t get a loan, but you have some cash on hand?Â Perhaps we have a solution.

In the recent days, I have come to know of a few lenders who are willing to assist you in rebuilding your credit scores, so that you can find homeownership once again. Yes, it will take some honest self-assessment and a little work on your part, but if homeownership is a dream of yours that you once thought could not happen for you, we can tell you there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

One of the local developers has had the foresight to establish a program through their lending institution whereby they will assist a potential buyer in increasing their credit scores up to 61% within 90 days. This particular program will work with you for 12 monthsâ€”if neededâ€”free of charge, and you donâ€™t even have to purchase one of the developerâ€™s properties!

We at Hawaii Life are always striving to find the solution for our clients and provide the best service possible. Wonâ€™t you let us help you?

Laupahoehoe Property For Sale on the Big Island’s Hamakua Coast

Lucy Clark, RB — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 05:20:53 +0000

Located on the slopes of windward Mauna Kea is the old sugar town of Laupahoehoe.

Imagine seeing this view daily from (MLS# 23658) asking $2,495,000 for a 3,600+ sq. ft. home on nearly 20 acres of land

Laupahoehoe’s natural contrast of a rocky shoreline to its wet forests of ‘ohi’a and koa, wet grasslands, and small lakes makes it an area of interest to many people as well as wildlife. The endangered Hawaiian Hawk (I’o) makes its home here.

(MLS# 239833) asking $1,996,000â€”live on the edge of the Pali!

At about the 1,800—2,500 ft. elevation is an area referred to as the banana belt, having less rain that the neighboring areas of Hilo or Ahualoa. This area is great for grazing cattle or other livestock, and fertile and warm enough to grow bananas—usually found at sea level to about 7,000 ft. elevation.

(MLS# 237916) asking $239,000 for 18+ acres of land.

Nestled up at around the 1,800 ft. elevation are 18+ acres of beautiful open land. Although you need a 4-wheel drive to get there, it’s a small price to pay for the privacy and beauty of this property. Come and build your dream home away from your busy city life. Imagine relaxing on your new lanai at dusk with magnificent ocean views and the songs of the native birds coming home to rest, or riding your horse through the thousands of acres of open land.

Is Laupahoehoe calling you?

Whale Watching on the Big Islandâ€™s Kohala Coast

Lucy Clark, RB — Sun, 20 Mar 2011 00:00:33 +0000

The whales are still here!

Such graceful creatures. Their language is such beautiful music. Imagine whatÂ they must see during their migration to Hawaii from Alaska to birth their calves. How large is the largest squid or shark? I bet the whales could tell us.

This weekend, we went on a whale watching cruise with Hawaiian Ocean Sports.Â In addition to what you would expect from a whale watching cruiseâ€”Mai Tais and whales, of courseâ€”we also experienced magic in the form of the better side of human nature and luck.

Among the 30 guests on this catamaran was a young woman enjoying herself at the bow. She and a few friends were having a great time. On our way back from our 2 hour tour, she realized that she had lost her camera packâ€”a very small red packâ€”out in the blue Pacific Ocean.

After notifying the Captain, he turned the boat around, and with the magic that we see a lot of in Hawaii, her pack was found! The gods must have been smiling on Hawaii that day because she was a professional photographer, and her pack was filled with pictures of recent weddings!

Lucky we live Hawaii!

Celebrating the Ukulele on the Big Island

Lucy Clark, RB — Wed, 09 Mar 2011 03:30:48 +0000

The 40^th Annual Ukulele Festival at theÂ Waikoloa Beach Resort took place over the first weekend of March.

Performers entertaining the crowd at Queen’s Marketplace

Roy Sakuma held an open ukulele workshop at the Marriott Hotel bringing people of all walks of life and all ages together to enjoy the day’s festivities, and to learn more about this beloved instrument.

Roy Sakuma teaches; Randy and Ohta San-Hawaiian virtuosos; kapuna teaching

Queen’s Marketplace was filled with people enjoying the free music of the mastersâ€”Ohta San, Roy Sakuma and his keiki class, Na Kupuna o Kona Aliâ€™i with their blend of Hawaiian music, and jazz to name a few.

And of course, Danny Kaleikini was there as the Master of Ceremony. The kupuna were out in full force â€“ teaching lei making with fragrant plumeria, ukulele strumming, and umeke (gourd) making.Â The area was filled with laughter and music.

The ukulele (jumping flea in Hawaiian) was brought to Hawaii by the Portuguese.Â Made of beautiful native woods by local wood workers. With its prolific availability, the ukulele is now played by young and old around the world. Want to have some fun? Pick up a ukulele and start strumming!

Discover Waimea (Kamuela) Town Property For Sale

Lucy Clark, RB — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 07:35:16 +0000

Thinking of purchasing property on the Big Island? Discover Waimea.

Asking $549,000, this home (MLS# 242815) offers Mauna Kea views from Puu Nani subdivision

Come and visit us in Waimea (Kamuela as it is known to the post office). With Waimea’s rolling hills, expansive pasture lands, and winter views of snow-capped Mauna Kea, it is so easy to fall in love with this peaceful town.

Located on Lindsey Road right in town (MLS# 242941) is asking $650,000 and offers an unusual amenity—a sun room

Waimea has some of the most fertile lands and its farmers hold two large open markets every Saturday at Hawaiian Homes field and the other at Parker School.

Fresh produce of all kinds—lettuce, corn, broccoli, avocados, mangoes, tangerines, kim chee, fresh baked breads, and even poi from Waipio Valley—is sold weekly. You want to get there early in the morning, these markets are so popular the best items sell out quickly!

This home (MLS# 233740) sits stream side on the “dry side” of Waimea, and just had a price reduction today to $738,500

There are many different styles and types of homes, lots, and farms for sale in Waimea. This is my home town, I’m honored to share it with you.

The Spirit of Hawaii

Lucy Clark, RB — Tue, 01 Mar 2011 05:35:09 +0000

In Hawaii, we have many diverse cultures, backgrounds, ways of thinking, and being. It seems that we, together, have been going through a state of transition from being focused on the physical—financially obtaining and surrounding ourselves with things, to reverting back to something our forefathers understood—saving and reusing; Helping ourselves as well as our environment.

My dad would reuse all kinds of items—old tires were made into sandals, coconut leaves woven into baskets or toys for kids. He even made kites from black plastic with tails of old sheets and large spindles made out of scrap wood for string that held the flying kite.

One of the oldest Hala tree groves on the Big Island is found on this North Kohala property for sale. Asking $9,650,000 (MLS# 229636) also offers a home named a “Record House” by Architectural Record in 2007, one of only 7 homes selected world wide.

In a way, I am taking from that. In the past year or so, I’ve taken up weaving lauhala (leaves of the pandanus). Hala means transition or death. Taking something that is dying and creating new life. My first adventure was a papale (hat). It was definitely reflective of my own painstaking transition.

My papale held all the sadness and remorse and victimization I had in me, and was ready to let go of in the past couple of years—you could call me the hemo queen (weave, take it off cause it was wrong, weave, take it off again and again and again). Finally, giving it up in a full moon ceremony just to end its misery, and mine!

This “X-bangle” is a sample of my work

Today, I weave just fine. Picking up new ideas and moving forward with them. No longer the hemo queen, I can now see my mistakes, make the necessary adjustments, and move on without the self-judgment and criticism I was really good at.

When I look at my life now, it is the same way. The way others I know are feeling as well. We’ve come full circle. We are all closer in spirit. We are kinder to each other. We have survived another grueling year and left it behind us. Nothing can change what we’ve been through and we are open to the future. Knowing we are strong, resilient, and can rely one another.

We are no longer an island unto ourselves.