Hawaii Real Estate | Hawaii Relocations | Hawaii Home Buying & Selling

Regardless if I have a business plan for 2009 that surpasses all goals that I have previously set for myself, the amount of effort and action I put into it will dictate my success no matter what year it is.

Regardless if I have a plan for my social and personal life for 2009 that surpasses all life goals that I have previously set for myself, the amount of effort and action I put into 'self' will dictate my success in ALL areas ....no matter what year it is.

• Blogging for Business- Bonding with peers - Plain old blogging and blogging on ActiveRain are two totally different things.  We blog on our outside blogs for business. We blog on ActiveRain to connect with our peers, for business and for fun! It's the people that make this place alive!
• The possibilities are endless - No matter what time, place or circumstance, my possibilities are endless. Change is the only constant in this world and without growth my life would remain stagnant. I think I'll keep that in my memory bank now....and forever. (whatever forever means) It just makes sense. Sure I can have a few goals or a business plan but what is all that worth if I limit myself? Nope....there's more to life!
• Balance and Boundaries - Continuous are the challenges for these points. Keeping healthy boundaries regardless of who it is is my life goal. People respect me more for being honest. Who trusts a person who ALWAYS says yes? Who has respect for someone who has no balance in their life? There is more to life than business and more to business than just living.

The virtual meetings and interactions while blogging, connecting through social sites and contacts through websites that I have encountered lead me to REAL face to face meetings. PEOPLE. And isn't that what all this is worth?

 This is just the beginning.

Look out 2009....here I come!

You received a wonderful gift!   It is the gift of receiving orders to your new duty station and you're moving to paradise!  Hawaii, with its tropical breezes, blue sunny skies, breathtaking scenery and warm weather year round IS all you dreamed of...and more. What's more of a dream than working and living in paradise?

You're an Active Duty, Retired or Veteran of the Armed Forces and you are Relocating to Hawaii. It's not easy picking up and moving to another state let alone across the Pacific Ocean but you sure can do it with ease when you have a sponsor who is willing to go the extra mile to get you acquainted with your new base and in processing information and needs, right?

There's another criteria for you that you need to keep in mind. Yeah, you have those sponsors but you are also looking at purchasing a home while you are here. So often we listen to friends, family and ‘acquaintances' who do not know the Hawaii Home Buying Process or Hawaii Real Estate Laws and though they may mean well, they are not really the experts.

You need the professional guidance of an experienced Realtor® who will give you sound advice regarding the local Hawaii housing market, your VA Guaranteed Loan for a Hawaii Home Purchase and the areas near the Honolulu County Military Bases that you may be interested in.

Education, Information and a Good Realtor® IS The Art of Hawaii Relocations. 

The following information will give you more information for your Hawaii Relocation Home Buying Process & your Hawaii VA Home Loan Process:

• This Realtors® Perspective: Hawaii Military & the VA Loan These guidelines will help you in preparing for your Hawaii Relocation (or even if you already live here and are purchasing a home) and learning about the transaction process using your VA Guaranteed Loan
• Hawaii Military Relocations: Choosing the RIGHT Realtor® & Loan Officer  Make sure your Realtor® and Loan Officer ARE well versed and knowledgeable in the VA Loan & Transaction process. Just because they advertise that they're the experts doesn't make it so.  
• Hawaii VA Loan Process: BE PREPARED!  Know your process and know your Realtor® and loan officer. Your loan process should be a smooth and successful if you are prepared and all work together in a timely manner. Learn more about the process here.
• *Across the Ocean to Paradise: Military Relocations Hawaii* Don't be shocked when you arrive...get the scoop on the environment, jobs, house hunting, BAH current rates and more!
• A Honolulu Hawaii Relocation: Getting Ready With Your "To Do" List Be proactive in getting ready for the big move. A great simple list with to do's to get started!
• The Art of Hawaii Relocations Expect smaller, different and of course paradise.
• VA Loans & Hawaii Military Relocations: This Realtors® Process Know the process for your VA benefits and the VA loan process.
• Honolulu-Hawaii Pet Quarantine: Prepare For Your Hawaii Move! Hawaii is Rabies Free so our laws are strict with incoming pets.
• Hawaii Military Relocation Clients Being Proactive!  Be proactive in your search for a good Realtor® and a local loan officer who know Hawaii Real Estate Contracts and Real Estate laws. Being proactive in your relocation needs will surely benefit you in the long run.
• New Hawaii Condominium Laws for Insurance  If you are specifically looking for a townhouse or condo then it is advisable to get condo insurance. The Association has insurance for the common elements (roof, grounds, water and sewer) but you need insurance for the inside of your unit. Very affordable!

 Being proactive in your Hawaii Military Relocation will make it easier on you...and...your family.

Your gift of a Hawaii Military Relocation!

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved 

 

 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

  

 

Yesterday we decided to head over to Ala Moana Shopping Center and eat lunch at Tanaka of Tokyo -Japanese Steak & Seafood House. With a wide variety of steak and seafood dishes on the menu to choose from each dish is prepared by a skilled Master Teppan-Yaki (teppan meaning iron griddle and yaki meaning fried or broiled) chef.

The seating is situated around the iron griddle with the chef in the middle preparing the food with an entertaining show of flying spatulas and knives. With the chef cracking us up with jokes and flinging shrimp tails into his hat and pocket it was a very pleasurable meal.

The chef first started off with a shrimp appetizer and then afterwards flavored grilled beansprouts while the waitress brought us miso soup and pickled vegetables. Then he made our calamari steak appetizer (we ordered extra) and then the fried rice (steamed rice is usual but we chose fried rice) and our main course of filet mignon grilled to perfection with a slight sause cooked in for extra flavor. (others chose teriaki chicken or lobster or shrimp with steak combos).

Eating in little courses like this allowed us to digest before moving on to the next course. In the end we felt full but not overstuffed and we topped it off with Japanese green hot tea.

Tanaka of Tokyo is one fabulous restaurant!

 

For a peek at Tanaka of Tokyo's menu click here >>>>> Tanaka of Tokyo's menu 

 

 

Ala Moana Center, Hookipa Terrace, Fourth Floor, 1450 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu, HI 96814;

TEL(808)945-3443

Business Hours Lunch- 11:00AM ～ 2:00PM (Open Daily) Dinner- 5:00PM ～ (Open Nightly)

 

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

  

 

Reblogging John's post so the word gets out twice as much....our own Rich Jacobson's Birthday is right here...right now...wish Rich a very Happy 52nd Birthday!  WooHooooooo!

This past Tuesday I took mom to Pacific Medical Healthcare & Supply so she could get her elasticized stocking to support her leg from ankle to knee. Months ago she injured her leg on the golf course and landed in the hospital with a severed artery. Anyway, she's healed and back to golfing but her leg still gives her problems. (Keep in mind that mom will be 81 years old come January and she is still working at a Country Club four days a week and goes golfing every Monday!)

I love mom.

When we got there I thought it was just going to be a run in and out thing so I waited in the car with my son and my daughter went in with mom. Eventually, mom got "fitted" for her stocking and bounced around thereafter.  In the meantime, my daughter and I were checking out the scooters. Mom doesn't need one but I just may need one later on.

This particular scooter model (in the picture above; the model is my daughter) had a full seat, a headlight, basket and other features that made it pretty expensive. But I think in older years the behind just may need that extra cushion!

The one thing that really caught our eye was the speed mode button:

 

 

The picture to the left shows the button for speed mode located all the way to the right of the dashboard and it tells you what mode to turn it to for speed.

Turn the button to the left which is the tortoise (for slow) and turning to the right is the hare (for fast).  We cracked up but that was pretty cool when we thought about it.

 

 

 

 

 

For all your medical healthcare needs go to the 7,500 sq/ft showroom and store of Pacific Medical Healthcare & Supply located at

420 Kuwili St.
Honolulu, HI 96817

Phone: 537-1671
FAX: 537-1393
Email: PacMed

M-F 8:30 am - 4:30 pm
Sat - by appointment only

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

  

 

Not everyone may celebrate the Christmas and New Year's Holidays although it was my sincere wish for all of you to gain insight, some inspiration and whole lot of Holiday Acceptance through this contest and all of the entries.  As the New Year of 2009 approaches we will bring prosperity and happiness to others and ourselves because WE  create our joy and happiness. 

Acceptance. Understanding acceptance starts with awareness, identifying the need through our gut feeling that it's time to move on from a situation or circumstance that is negative or uncomfortable.  Often times it becomes "The Art of Letting Go" from things we have no control over.   

For just that moment in time you graced us with such transparency in your writing and shared your stories of acceptance with us. You achieved that state of mind of Acceptance and you are truly admired. Thank you so much for giving back to our community and I guaranty we are all taking many learning lessons with us.

The judges really worked hard and took their time to read all the entries, evaluate them and shed a few tears along the way while going through the judging process and they all agree that EVERYONE was a winner!

 

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Notes from the Judges.....

Kathy McGraw from Banning, California said, "I  want to personally thank Sally, Ann, Tami, and Kristin(in no particular order) for Setting up and/or Judging one of the hardest contests I've been involved with to date.  Not only because of the excellent entries, but also because of the AR Problems that kept messing up with the entries. I also want to thank everyone that entered and shared their stories with us......as Ann said in our book everyone is a Winner :)  Happy Holidays to everyone.

Ann Cummings from Portsmouth, New Hampshire said, "I have to say that of all the contests I've judged, and it's been a few over the time I've been involved at AR, this one was by far the toughest one to judge.  There are so many heartwarming stories, such personal stories, and more than a few tears shed as I read so many of these.  I would like to have been able to pick more and to have them all be number 1.  This was very difficult to choose winners from and I feel so honored to read such touching and personal stories.  My deep thanks to all who entered and shared what they did in their posts for this contest"......Ann I Am SO VERY Thankful........ 

Kristin Moran from  San Antonio, Texas  said, "The entries for the PAWS Holiday contest was extremely hard.  I was laughing, crying and smiling all at different times.  All the posts were very touching and I enjoyed reading them, relating to them and learning about other ActiveRainerʼs.  Thanks for letting me be a part of this contest.  

Tami Vroma from Greater Grand Rapids, Michigan said, "This contest was hard to judge but I have learned so much. "It is amazing to me how much alike so many of us are!"  I was honored to be part of the contest and the judging".

MY NOTE:  

Kathy McGraw wrote Monday Morning Gifts: What do Seagulls and Eagles have to do with you? The light bulb went off for our annual Holiday Contest for the Positive Attitude for the Weary Soul  Group.  She stated, "So many times we aren't satisfied with who we are or what we have.  We want more, or better.  I guess it's not all our fault, we are taught to want more, but when is it enough?  Accepting who we are and what we have are the first steps to understanding.  And understanding brings acceptance." Thanks for the inspiration your hard work to support MANY of the contests we've had. Sally

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It is with great pleasure that I am announcing the Judges choices for the winners:

• FIRST PLACE - 3,000 points!  Holiday Acceptance--365 Days a Year   by Debe Maxwell   
• SECOND PLACE- 1,500 points! Holiday Acceptance - Finding Strength Through Connections  by Nannette Saunders
• THIRD PLACE -1,000 points!  Holiday Acceptance - A Gift You Give Yourself   by Elizabeth Nieves

Honorable Mentions - 500 points! 

1. Holiday Acceptance of Self ........... HO, HO, HO  by George Souto ,
2. Holiday Acceptance - Some Gifts I Give Myself And Pass On To You  by Paddy Pizappi,
3. The missing gift of holiday acceptance, or so I thought at the time.  By Richard Weisser,
4. You can't read a book by its cover..."Holiday Acceptance"  by Debrah Brooks,
5. Holiday Acceptance: A light from within by Elizabeth Ramsey-Cooper -Golden                                                                                                                                                                                       

The remaining entries receive 200 points:

1. holiday acceptance: What do you find unacceptable----my Holiday Acceptance.  Charles Buell          
2. holiday acceptance: The Gift Of Holiday Acceptance...Christmas 2008...!!! -Fran  Gaspari
3. holiday acceptance: Old Fashion Values Helps To Bring Me To Holiday Acceptance! - Elaine VonCannon  
4. Holiday Acceptance... And Beyond  Joslyn Panka
5. The Holiday Acceptance  Dinah Lee Griffey
6. Holiday Acceptance - It's time to serve again!  Michelle Bowman
7. HOLIDAY ACCEPTANCE- ITS THE STUFF WE ARE MADE OF AND A LIFE LIVED   Martha Brown
8. Holiday Acceptance- Sadness and joy for the season.  Ellie McIntire
9. Holiday Acceptance Is Found in Waving Hands and Frost-bitten Smiles  Jo-Anne Smith
10. Holiday Acceptance not just for Christmas anymore! Cheryl Willis
11. The Gift Holiday Acceptance - "That Boy"   Cristal Drake
12. Holiday Acceptance: Face the Fear. Don't Fear to Fail   Rebecca Levinson
13. Holiday Acceptance  Russ Ravary
14. Holiday- Acceptance ~ a Life of a Daisy!   Charlene Hammontree
15. Holiday Acceptance: Love is all you need   Susan Neal
16. *Holiday Acceptance* - Positive Attitude   Jennifer Lee
17. Holiday Acceptance  Jean Groesbeck
18. A CHRISTMAS MIRACLE - Holiday Acceptance   Gail Gladstone
19. Holiday Acceptance - Silencing my inner Grinch   Anita Crum 
20.  Sally Cheeseman's Contest: Holiday Acceptance   Barbara-Jo & Bill 
21. Holiday Acceptance- Thinking Globally!   Midori Miller
22. The Gift of Holiday Acceptance-Purrfect Love   Terry Osburn
23. HOLIDAY ACCEPTANCE--I USED TO SAY "BAH HUM BUG" BUT NOT THIS YEAR!  Diane Bell
24. Questions, Answers and Holiday Acceptance   Margaret Woda
25. The Incredible Momentum of Holiday Acceptance   janeAnne
26. Dreams of Gifts of Holiday Acceptance and Joy really do come true!  Linda Bourgault
27. Holiday Acceptance - Christmas Time Past and Present  Christine O'Shea
28. Holiday Acceptance--- All Year Through   Carole Provenzale
29. Holiday Acceptance - the Gift of an Ordinary Life...   Inna Hardison
30.  "http://activerain.com/blogsview/831929/Take-ACCEPTANCE-For-Improvement-of-Our-ConditionDONATE-YOURSELF-THIS-HOLIDAY"     Ann-Marie Clements
31. Holiday Acceptance: Two Teenagers Gather A Thousand Christmas Gifts  Chuck Willman
32. A "Holiday Acceptance" Story - I find homes for people AND animals!   Toula Rosebrock 
33. The Joy and Gift of Holiday Acceptance (all year long)  Tom Plant
34. The Gift Of Holiday Acceptance: I WANT What I HAVE  Leander McClain
35. HOLIDAY ACCEPTANCE - TRADITION DISCONTINUED   Rosalinda Morgan
36. Holiday Acceptance -- We are all In This Together!   Joan Whitebook
37. Holiday Acceptance~Joy in the Journey   Ginger Sala
38. Holiday Acceptance: As I get prepared for the holidays this new ornament has special meaning to me.    William Johnson
39. Holiday Acceptance - Remembering My Mother's Teaching  Rebecca Gaujot
40. Acceptance 2008... Another Lesson from Grandma  Michele Connors

     

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The POSITIVE ATTITUDE for the Weary Soul was founded on June 18, 2007 with the sole intent to have a place for weary souls when they needed a bit of positive reinforcement to look at their cup half full ...instead of half empty. A place to support one another in our endeavors, dreams and each other.

We continue...to be a driving force in the ActiveRain Community. 

Prosperity and Happiness to All in 2009!

WooHooo!!!!! 

 

 

First of all, Shadow, our English Cocker Spaniel asked me to wish all of you ActiveRain members a Happy Holiday Season! She went to the beauty shop yesterday and got all nice and pretty with red Christmas bows too! She had to take a couple of pictures because she 'wasn't quite ready and finally told me to use this shot for you all. Isn't she just the Princess? 

Second, she is not being too transparent here and I managed to catch a "She's on Flip Video" moment so you all can see really see Shadow for who she is. (hope she doesn't sue me for this one...I didn't get her permission lol!) Watch the video....

 

 

Happy Holidays from our house to yours!

That first meeting! We usually have some insight regarding the attitude of a person at that very first meeting. It's that first impression that really stands out in ones mind. 

Let's say we 'meet' a peer online and for that first impressionwe get is an opinionated mindset and a bunch of !!!! (yelling) with a judgmental view. Let's say we meet the lady in line at the cashier checkout in a grocery store and all they're doing is nagging and ranting about who knows what.

Well, sometimes we HAVE to be judgemental on our end in picking and choosing what kind of friends and company we keep.

Yes, we farm certain areas...or maybe attack all the expired and withdrawn listings with a letter. But harassing a seller is NOT the way to get a listing! We are in sales, yes. Most importantly we are in the market to represent a seller or home buyer's best interests.

We do have to be aggressive  assertive or we may lose out to the next real estate professional. Where do we DRAW THE LINE? I have seen some very vulture type behavior and it is not becoming for ones professional behavior to take a back burner! I mean come on. Why would they think that pissing off the seller is a good sales tactic?

Here's what I'm seeing:

• Calling the seller on his cellular phone (buying the cell #'s). and then seller went off on the caller when the agent kept calling!
• Knocking on the sellers door (and there's a sign that says no soliciting)...and the seller goes off on the knocker.
• The withdrawn listing specifically states that there is a new signed listing agreementbut not putting it into the mls until XXXXXX...and they still call or knock on the seller's door.
• The agent cuts down the listing agent about why they didn't sell the home and what they're going to do differently. (not even knowing anything or meeting with the seller and they conclude why)

Aggressive is one thing, being pushy another...but being a pain in the behind is not the way to make a friend .....or gain a client.

I personally cannot stand someone hounding me in the store when I'm trying to shop.

Your opinion?

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved 

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Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

  

 

It's my turn to pass the 400,000 point mark and it is important with reaching this milestone that I acknowledge the people who made this journey possible. Well, that's mighty easy! It's the founders and staff, the peers and professional in the real estate industry, and the friends I've made along the way.  

The Star Hall of Fame groups were created by Neal Bloom-Realtor ® Assoc.-CRS-Weston  for the sole purpose of telling our story of each milestone and journey's in the Rain to get to each of these Star Hall of Fame groups:

• Activerain Bronze Star Hall of Fame- In order to qualify you must reach at least 50,000 Activerain points.
• Activerain Silver Star Hall of Fame- In order to qualify you must reach at least 100,000 Activerain points.
• Activerain Gold Star Hall of Fame- In order to qualify you must reach at least 200,000 Activerain points.
• Activerain Platinum Star Hall of Fame- In order to qualify you must reach at least 300,000 Activerain points

I've surpassed all....and now I am going into the  The Activerain Dem Dare a lot of points Hall of Fame group for the bunch who have surpassed the 400,000 point mark.

Points don't mean anything if you have achieved them without gaining readership, clients or made friends with your peers along the way.

Yes, we ALL love points and if you say you don't you're lying lol! With this statement I'll tell you this. The reason I am so tickled when I surpass a milestone is because I know I excelled from day one. I have proven without a doubt that it takes HARD WORK and effort, consistency and determination to be all I can be with my online presence for the Real Estate Industry.

It takes writing from the soul with conviction, passion, wit, humor, emotion, integrity, honesty and  being respect to self and others at all times.

Until this year my online presence only brought me prospects, potentials and many friends. This year ActiveRain and my website (and with the help of ActiveRain is the reason my website was successful) brought me closed transactions. I now have triple the friends too!

This IS ....the most bizarre way of networking and communicating that I have ever experienced and no matter how many social media networks there are out there, ActiveRain IS my Blogging Network of Choice.  

Now, I am passing the candle to you folks....for a brighter blogging future and a prosperous 2009!

Takes a lot of commenting and writing good content for readers!

Score:	400220
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Rank in Hawaii :	2 (Featured!)
Rank in Honolulu County :	2 (Featured!)
Rank in Mililani :	2 (Featured!)
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Every year Century 21 Liberty Homes has their annual Christmas party at Honolulu Country Club.

Even though it hasn't been the most wonderful year for sales Century 21 Liberty Homes survived and we proved last night....we still have the spirit of aloha to carry on into 2009!

This year the agenda was a little different and for that I am grateful. We had loads of fun and a wonderful buffet and just looking around the room you could see that the agents and their family & friends were just grateful to share this event with.

Through the last couple of days we've weathered the worst of the Hawaii Storm and I thought about it this morning.

 

We had left the house, picked up my son and got to Honolulu Country Club with no problem. There was thunder and lightning on the way but no rain but while we were in the party it rained hard. By time we got out it had subsided!

After dinner we had singing contests and sang a group Hawaiian Twelve Days of Christmas. I am proud to announce that my fellow agent/ friend Randy Prothero held First Position for our office of Top Sales for 2008...................

 

 

 

and I held Second Position for Sales for 2008 for our office. 

We then sat in a huge circle and played pass the present. By time it was over...the presents were a wreck from being passed around to the left, then right, then left......but we had fun!

 

Randy Prothero has been an ActiveRain member since November of 2006 and with much coercing he got me to join in March of 2007.

From the both of us....we wish you all a very Mele Kalikimaka (Merry Christmas)  and Houoli Makahiki Hou (Happy New Year) and most of all a very Prosperous 2009!

Now...enjoy our Twelve Days of Christmas.....Hawaiian Style!

And the picture show.....enjoy!

Lyrics for the Hawaiian Twelve Days of Christmas: http://www.islandcandle.com/12daysofchristmas.htm

The storm that moved into our Hawaiian Islands yesterday affected everyone.

My dog Shadow kept hiding under my desk and trying to paw my arm in hopes I would cradle her in my lap. She was afraid.

Usually, my dog would body bash the security screen door when someone knocked. (Territorial little bugger)

Not this time. The horrendous pounding from the downpour and wind of up to 50mph were enough to scare me as well.

The hour long news special last night showed the devestation. Our island of Oahu (Honolulu County) had up to waist high water in some areas damaging roads (that literally broke in sections), rivers that overflooded, homes flooded, homes destroyed. It was like a big huge bucket of water was continuously being dumped on us.

Today is another day. The sky shows the eerie looking clouds (not moving) with a hint of sun peeking through. It's still outside.

For more on our weather, news and reports:

• SEVERE WEATHER STATION
  • Gov. Proclaims State Disaster on Kauai, Maui & Honolulu Counties updated on Dec 12, 06:52 PM
  • Storm Patroller Sent Pictures from Kauai, Friday updated on Dec 12, 04:48 PM
  • EXTENDED: Flash Flood Watch for Niihau, Kauai and Oahu updated on Dec 12, 04:03 PM
  • Wastewater Warning Signs Posted in Kaneohe updated on Dec 12, 03:06 PM
  • Storm Patrollers Capture Amazing Snapshots updated on Dec 11, 11:43 PM
  • High Surf Advisory: North and West Shores updated on Dec 11, 10:57 PM
  • Rain Causes Wastewater Overflows in Wahiawa and Sand Island updated on Dec 11, 10:55 PM
  • Brown Water Advisory for All Islands Following Heavy Rains updated on Dec 11, 10:55 PM 
• Honolulu Advertiser News
• National Weather Service

 

We awoke at 4:30am to banging on the window. Yup, the storm had indeed arrived!

At 5:30 this morning I was showered and dressed...ready to start my day.

I love mornings....no matter what the weather. Right.

Flooding, torrential rain, winds up to 50mph in some places and a couple of broken poincetta plants so far. Sob.

These are the kinds of days where I should stay in ...cozy up to my blog ...with a cup of hot chocolate in one hand and tapping on the keyboard with the other :)

 

But...nooooo.  It's off to the office as soon as I post this.

P.S. If you all haven't listened in on Blog Talk Radio with Brad Andersohn..you may want to tune in next Thursday. We had loads of fun, chatting amongst our peers and trivia questions with prizes!  That was awesome listening about FaceBook with Jay and Brad and I learned much.

I actually rejoined Facebook after getting off earlier this year. Now that I know more about social media...there's no stopping this ..is there?

 You all have a wonderful day!

Enjoy the video!

 

Didn't get a chance to post it before going to the office (proxy error stuff) and just wanted to add in this tidbit. NOTE: Do you folks wonder how some people obtain their drivers licenses???? Yeah, it was raining hard but this one guy swerved and almost hit the guy in front of me...swerved back and went across two lanes. When passing the guy I noticed....his face was above the steering wheel and almost plastered to the windshield. I think he should voluntarility give up his license. Horrendous downpours now...homes and condos are flooded...inside. No end in sight. © 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved

For those of you who have a spouse that doesn't blog, who doesn't Twitter or get in on the Linked In action you most likely struggle with the excuses to your spouse of: WHY you MUST blog. The reasoning behind those hours of writing and commenting pays off when your spouse sees the emails and phone calls come in. When the closed transactions and income come in.

It takes time, effort, consistency and determination to MAKE this blogging thing work.

My husband laughed at me back when I first joined ActiveRain in March of 2007. Over time he became a believer in the power of blogging:

• I jumped up and down when I received my first email through my contact form on ActiveRain and he was impressed.
• I nagged him to look every time I received a Google Alert for my keywords in my Localism and Public Posts......and he was impressed
• I begged him to drive while I took pictures out the passenger window at everything and everything in hopes of an inspiring moment to write a post....which he supports fully.
• I wrote a post about the company he works for when they built me a new pc and he immediately was alerted (by me) that Google Alerts picked it up.....20 minutes after I posted it. PDC Systems Hawaii: I LOVE My New PC HE CALLED THE OWNER....he was proud of me.
• A news reporter from Kauai  contacted me and then Teri Eckholm and he wrote an article here>> A hard-fought day off by Nathan Eagle - in which he mentions both mine and Teri's views on Labor Day.
• In mid 2007 I started receiving many contacts and started working with them for a few months until they relocted to Hawaii.
• In 2008 I closed 4 transactions and when I asked them how they found me on the internet they ALL said through my blog.
• In 2008 I closed 2 transactions from my website and I also attribute those contacts to ActiveRain. For all I have learned to create the properties for each page on my website Google caught them big time. 

I no longer have to listen to the snide remarks by my spouse and family:

• You're making cornbread? Honey, the trick to making cornbread is to not blog through the time when you're supposed to take it out so you don't burn it.
• You're making dinner?  What kind of microwave concoction are you whipping up because you spend the whole day....blogging.
• You don't feel good? That's because you haven't blogged today.
• You want to go to the North Shore? You just want to go so you can take pictures for your blog.
• Let's go to the zoo? You just want to go so you can take pictures for your blog.
• I'm daydreaming and he says, "What...thinking about the blog?"
• I wake up in the morning and he looks at me and asks, "Did you dream about the blog?"
• It's a blogging kind of day!  Or how about the "Wanna a blog to drink?" Or the guilt trip, "Puppy, did mommy forget to feed you because she was blogging all day?".
• Mom..... you don't even spend quality time with us because of blogging. (these are my adult kids saying this.)

Many wise crack since that fateful  wonderful day I started blogging. I have proven without a doubt that all the hard work, the consistency and the determination to write productively with real estate, local area and all around posts have been beneficial. This new way of marketing myself and making friends with my Real Estate Industry Peers is definitely the most fulfilling experience as well as the most successful time that I've spent...working on my internet presence.

I want to thank my husband for all his support for without him I would not have succeeded in blogging.

No more monkeying around...this blogging is serious stuff!

~~~~~~~~~~

P.S. A very Happy Birthday to my husband, Gary.

 

A popular drive inn with plate lunches and local style grinds is the Loco Moco Drive Inn located in the Waipio Gentry Shopping Center (94-800 Ukee Street) and they have a variety of meals and an array of side dishes on their menu to order from. From "plate lunches" to burgers to saimin soup you will definitely have to ponder for a few minutes before deciding.

For those of you that are unfamililar with what a "plate lunch" is, we classify it as a 'take out lunch - or dinner on a plate to go'. The oh so famous plate lunches usually come with an 'entree' such as beef teriaki or chicken katsu, two scoops of rice (or substitute for fries) and macaroni salad (or tossed salad) and reasonably priced between $4.50 (for the mini plate) to $7.75 and a meal so large I can eat half and save the rest for dinner :)

Loco Moco is also an item on the menu and a long time favorite for breakfast, lunch or dinner. A Loco Moco is a hamburger patty on top of a bed of rice, with a couple of eggs (cooked over easy but you can have it any way you like) and gravy all over it. Yummy!

Check out their menu!

 

There are MANY other locations of the Loco Moco Drive Inn on Oahu including Mililani, Ewa, Kapolei, Waipahu and in Honolulu so for convenience, a quick take out or eat in and a very affordable meal stop on by to Loco Moco Drive Inn!

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved 

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman is a Realtor-Associate with Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani, Hawaii. With a sharp understanding that a listening ear is the key to a client's needs  she serves the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) and all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents. Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

  

 

Funny how we call it Speechless Sunday or Wordless Wednesday and still title the picture or HAVE to write something. Seems like a post is not a post if you can't write something. I wonder if Speechless Sunday is meant for the picture to leave us all in awe....leave us speechless? How about Wordless Wednesday? I definitely think that one was left for us to have no words.

So, in honor of Speechless Sunday...I am leaving you all to decide if there should be any utters for this picture. Fitting for a Sunday don't you think?

 Have a wonderful "Sun...day" !!

 

© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved

 

Writing respectfully and professional online is always in the back of my mind.  I have always believed that ActiveRain is a place to write about ourselves, our experiences and our businesses with the intention of showing a bit of transparency so our peers and the consumer will be walking along side with us through our journey in blogging.

Picking a few of the posts I'd written on these topics, I took an exerpt from each to share with you all. If you have a certain post you've written about on this same subject put a link in the comment section for others to read as well.

The whole purpose of this is to remind ourselves of the importance of blogging safely, respectfully and professionally on ActiveRain and online. We present ourselves online as we would face to face to others in physical form as well as being mindful of what we would/wouldn't do if we are teaching our children is THE fact of what transparency online means.

****Again, if you folks have a favorite post you've written and believe it could add to this topic then please add your link in the comment section for others to read*****.

Giving back to the community.

• Can You See The REAL Me? We give a little of ourselves, our personalities, our expert advice, tips and tricks and all sorts of things while writing online. But when it comes to displaying inappropriate behavior online I really start writing.....A lot.  I'm being transparent with my feelings on unprofessional behavior online. I will always speak up so that others may see that they are contributing to the highest form of negative and unprofessional behavior that does nothing good for our network, our industry and THEIR business. Not to mention the bad reputation that they can attribute to their ‘letting it all hang out' as being in the lower sense of ...transparency.
• YOUR Online Presence: The Aftermath Try and be mindful and respectful of the next person's opinion. If they don't believe in the same religious faith, your favorite color, why you believe your ideas are better than others or even your choice for president, mayor or whomever it does NOT give you the right to disrespect them. If you choose to believe in all the junk that you get in your emails or online about any subject that coincides with the Star Magazine or Enquirer (lol) then by all means...that's your choice.
• Hang Around the Barber Shop Long Enough....and You'll Get a Haircut No matter what the topic or situation it surely is not a reason to call other people out ONLINE, point direction to their posts or downright bash them. What kinds of people are these? I am human like the next person and though I have my own opinions and judgements too it is NOT professional (or humane) behavior to call attention to someone while harboring a bad attitude.
• Professional Attitudes & Behaviors Online Professional Attitudes & Behaviors ONLINE should hold true as the same offline. We follow what is stated in our Code of Ethics and Standards of Practice.  Even if your profession does not specifically have a Code of Ethics it is pretty much common sense to respect others in our industry as well. Our COE specifically states, "The duties imposed by the Code of Ethics encompass all real estate related activities and transactions whether conducted in person, electronically, or through any other means.
• Your Writing Reflects YOU Everyone has their own style when it comes to writing and you all will either stay and continue to write original, worthy, educational, informational posts as well as hilarious, deep and emotional posts too. Or you will leave because you chose to write without meaning and no one is acknowledging your writing (and consumers aren't finding your posts interesting) 
• Most Common Things that Reveal Your Blogging Worthiness  There is a fine line between giving an opinion and being opinionated because  We All Have an Opinion... BUT (that dreaded 'but') sometimes we need to take a step back and be quiet for a moment and think before we pound the keyboard.  Giving support is the most valuable asset you can give others ...whether it be here blogging, within your office or even in your personal life. The other stuff won't get you anywhere but a weak reputation
• ONLINE Writing: Reliable Information From Worthy Sources? Just remember that the person who is demeaning their boss, or lying on their online application for a job or in our case demeaning their client or their peers and writing about it online just may not be the kind of info you really are counting on for reliability. Long after it has been publicly posted it is thought about by the individual writing it and then they decide to delete it only to later on wonder how it came to light again. Not only that, why would anyone hire anyone with a bad rep for lying about their credentials, their experience or their tenure? Why would anyone trust the individual who is revealing all in a post about a peer or client? 
• Stewardship: The Way to a PLEASANT Blogging Experience We can thank ActiveRain and all they have given us by simply giving back to the community in a respectful manner and respecting others and their right of individuality.  Write your ActiveRain Success Story or about how this community and your peers have positively affected you and your business. How ActiveRain helped you to connect with your peers, how ActiveRain is a place to make a few friends. The POSITIVE stuff.

 ...and all these were just from the last year :)

Your Turn!

 

Our own Rich Jacobson (ActiveRain Community Builder) wrote Establishing an Internet Presence: "Are You Creating a 'False Front?" and it got me thinking about the profile pictures and the internet presence we create online.

There are professionals online that use signs, smiley faces, a picture of their dog or whatever for their profile pictures.

To each his own.

I have always believed that I should have some transparency as to who I am through my writing. I write as if the reader is walking along side of me and give information the same way.

So I thought you folks may gain a little insight into who I am from this picture. :)

The only tip I have for anyone who is writing online is to just be 'real'. You are who you are and no matter what....when they finally meet you in person you should be who you say you are online.

 Have a wonderful weekend!

 

 

After reading the warning sign and taking precautions by standing back a few feet from the warning tape I looked up to see big breaking waves on the shore and the whitewater rushing back out to see. Rip currents are DANGEROUS. The powerful, channeled currents of seawater flowing away from the shoreline, through the surf and past the breaking waves will take you out to sea quicker than you can bat an eyelash.

There is no doubt that conditions change and we need to take heed to the warning signs.

The housing market and real estate industry is constantly changing and has been for some time.  Though it is known that the market is LOCAL and every area has different statistics I think I can safely say that there is no housing boom going on.

In October,  there was  Good News! October Statistics for Oahu's Housing Market!  Then, The Ripple Effect From Our Hawaii Tourism Industry took a dive and many restaurants and industries are closing down.  For the month of November, our home sales declined but our prices here on Oahu are still stable and hopefully this decline will last just a short while.  

Needless to say, the Rip Currents are dragging many out to sea and everyone is out there trying to grasp at every straw to stay afloat:

• Buyers are backing out for no reason ....or maybe they were just too embarrassed to say why. (i.e. family problems, lost jobs or whatever the case may be)
• Loan Officers are promising the world and can't deliver when it comes time for processing. (giving a preapproval without taking everything into consideration ....in hopes it goes through)
• Realtors® are nagging at sellers to list their home. (Who knows how they got the private cell number of the owner....yes this just happened to my seller)
• Realtors® are giving bad advice to the buyer for the sake of a sale. (i.e. bank owned and no warranties, inspections or recourse)
• Sellers are thinking that it's still a great market (and thinking that they can play hardball when there are few and far between buyers)

The majority of us have kept afloat with great marketing skills and a niche we have created for ourselves. We listen to our clients and only after listening to their needs first do we give back sound, straighforward information and advice. We follow our Code of Ethics which can be compared to our every day behavior following our personal beliefs, morals and values in this game called life. We hold our heads high and sleep VERY well at night knowing...we lived each day right and didn't step on anothers toes to get there.

The rest will be sucked out to sea by those dangerous rip currents.

 And You?

 © 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, All rights reserved