Considered to be the “third region of Mililani”, Launani Valley is a secluded master planned development in the valley below Mililani Tech Park. About 5 minutes away is Wheeler AAF and Schofield Barracks and definitely convenient for the military and government workers at these Army Bases on Oahu.  A hop, skip and jump and you’re on the freeway and about 20-25 miutes to Hickam AFB and Pearl Harbor Navy Base and 35-40 minutes down the H-2 Freeway to the H-1 Freeway to downtown Honolulu.

What’s even better is the North Shore of Oahu (beaches, surfing, scuba diving and more!) is just 20 minutes away!  One of my favorite spots is Laniakea Beach which is known as Turtle Beach for our Honu (Ho New), the Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles who bask on the beach in the sun.

Waihuna Joint Venture was the Developer of the fee simple Woodcreek Homes in Launani Valley and these zero lot line homes were built between 2001 and 2004. A total of 102 Woodcreek Homes built were either  ‘attached’ homes (duplex style) or detached dwellings, all with two car garages, developer fences around the properties throughout the community. The owner occupant level for this community is 71.57%.

Woodcreek 3-4 bedroom Homes Market Report for the last six months:  We have 0 Active Listings currently with 6 homes in contract and 5 sold.  A sign that Launani Valley’s Wookcreek Home activity is picking up Sales Prices Ranged from $435,000 (3 bedrooms) to $495,000 (4 bedrooms).  Woodcreek Homes in Launani Valley were on the market an average of 44 days.

We’ve definitely had a turn in our Mililani Oahu Housing Market and this includes the Woodcreek at Launani Community.  We have had our ups and downs but our market took an upward turn in the last few months including higher prices and shorter length of time on the market. 

Our interest rates are still at an all time low and these interest rates could make the difference on your monthly mortgage payment. JUMP OFF THE FENCE NOW!  Oahu Housing Market is slowly turning into a SELLER’S market with our LOW INVENTORY and upward climbing home sale prices.

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We live in a Townhouse Community and as all other Association we not only have rules to follow but rules of our own as well.  After past issues with leaks of our own as well as from our neighbors we found out QUICKLY what we need to do to ensure that we prevent further damage to our unit. We also found out QUICKLY that the things we needed to do also made us good neighbors and therefore made for a better community to live in as well.

 

Preventative Measures to take for Potential Problems:

 

1. Condo Insurance is a must (and affordable!) Even though our association has condo insurance that is included in our maintenance fees for the common elements (common land, beams, foundation, stairwells, roofs, parking, elevators, main power and plumbing, ducts and whatever else as determined by the declaration) it does not include the inside of the unit!
2. As a townhouse/condo owner we have an obligation to repair and fix our problems immediately.  A Townhouse/Condo Association requires us to follow steps to insure that during a plumbing/electrical/safety hazard problem we protect ourselves and our neighbors from further damage and safety issues.
3. We Contact our Resident Manager (Association) and our Association Management Co. if there are any leaks or hazardous issues. Notifying them of any damage to structure or potential hazards/damages that may affect neighbors is a very important “to do”. We want to be responsible homeowners and let everyone know as we do not want to face any repercussions either.
4. We call the appropriate licensed contractor/plumber/electrician etc. and get the work started on to remedy the problem. We could possibly cause more damage to our unit (as well as neighboring) if we sit on the problem.  Being responsible homeowners for potential dangers and hazards to other members of the community means we nip the problem in the bud.

We take preventative measures as responsible homeowners….

Because….

WE are the ones who make our community a better place to live.

 

The Ewa Beach, Oahu, Hawaii area grew and developers built many new construction homes starting from the early 1990's.  The communities in Ewa bloomed with the housing boom and there were several styles, communities and townhomes to be had during this time.

During the last few years the Ewa Homes and Townhouse/Condo Market Prices went down considerably in this area and sales numbers were still booming to get a piece of that Ewa Beach area pie. Prices are now at an all time low and with interest rates now at an all time low as well it is surely a great time to buy your home in Ewa Paradise.

Located on our Southwestern shore of Oahu, the Ewa Beach area has beaches (One'ula and Ewa Beach Park and now open Iriquois Point), surfing spots, parks, golf courses, recreation centers and shopping centers to accommodate the still growing communities in Ewa.

In some Ewa Gentry Communities there are associations with maintenance fees. Though these homes are single family homes they are within a “condo ownership association”. Previously I spoke with the on-site manager of the Ewa Gentry Las Brisas, Ewa GentryTiburon, Ewa Gentry Terrazza, Ewa Gentry Sun Terra, Ewa Gentry Montecito/Tuscany to inquire what their monthly maintenance fees take care of.

Monthly Maintenance fees for these Ewa Gentry Associations take care of:

• Water and Sewer Fees. The Honolulu Board of Water Supply bills residents every two months although this association includes the water/sewer bill in their maintenance fees.
• Termite treatment - After the current contract is up with the liquid treatment they're moving on to the Sentricon System.
• Community Pool and Recreation area (They have gazebos, tables, chairs a large pool and the Community Office)
• Parks and landscaping around the community  (There are several playgrounds and grassy areas for play, relaxing or to have a picnic)
• Bulk of the homeowners insurance (just like condos ...you will still need to get insurance for the inside of the home)
• Roads and street lights within the community (nicely paved roads and street light maintenance make for a better community too!)
• Pet Waste Receptacles (including disposable bags and trash cans to keep the community beautiful!)

If you are Retiring to paradise, Military Relocating to Hawaii, Relocating due to a job change,  or just a change in lifestyle you'll find that you will get more bang for your buck in the Ewa Gentry areas.

 

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The following statistics for the Ewa Gentry Single Family homes are for the last six months to present.  These communities include Ewa Gentry Las Brisas, Ewa Gentry Tiburon, Ewa Gentry Terrazza, Ewa Gentry Sun Terra and Ewa Gentry Montecito/Tuscany homes.

 

Ewa Gentry- Single Family	# Active	# In Escrow	# Sold	DOM	Average Sales $
3 bdrm/2.5 ba (1300-1475 sq.ft)	11	37	58	56	$388,762
4 bdrm/3 ba (1500-2100 sq.ft.)	14	19	28	91	$486,339
5 bdrm/3 ba (1600-2700 sq. ft.)	6	2	7	134	$536,500

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© 2011 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Market Report. All rights reserved.

 

 

We had this bright idea to go fishing a couple of Sundays ago and see if we couldn’t do any better that our ‘great fishing expedition of 2004”.  Nope, back then we did not catch one darn fish and the best thing that came out of that one was we made a friend for those three days.  “Boy” was there at the beach every morning to greet us and laid at my feet after romping around for awhile.

So, on that Sunday we drove through Old Haleiwa town and then over to Waialua and on Fresh Air Camp Road. Now, in 1915 James Rath founded the Fresh Air Camp which was part of his under privileged children’s program at Palama Settlement in Honolulu.  James Rath took the children on camping trips and leased this permanent camp site at Kaiaka Bay. He also rented this park to the community for picnics and parties and this site was the home field for Waialua Sugar Company baseball team for many years.

 

Kaiaka Bay Beach Park was transformed into a 53 acre park and it’s the site of a balancing rock called Pohaku O Lana’i and the word is that the balancing rock floated over from the distant land of Kahiki. This rock formation is all alone at the edge of the bay and considered to be a sacred place for kings and chiefs to consult Tani on war and peace.  They prayed that their bodies be invincible to their fighting enemies. 

Kaiaka Bay is also the site we picked for our ‘great fishing expedition of August 2011.  With an array of bait we felt we were well prepared to catch the big fish to tell our grandson about. We sat…and sat…and sat… and finally a nibble!  Awwww….shucks…he got away.

Then all of a sudden there was a rock floating on top of the water…  A VERY DARK MOVING ROCK. Oh, goodness! It was a Honu! (Ho Noo) The Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle and an endangered species in Hawaii.  Snap! Got a picture!

 

I watched and followed and watched as the Honu ate the vegetation growing on the coral..then moved towards the ocean.  Then…….another Honu pops up out of the water and looks at me. Smiles at me too! Okay, just wanted to believe that but it was so cool to see both of them just cruising and enjoying all that vegetation for their lunch. 

We left shortly after without a fish to be had…and another ‘fishing expedition’ to add to our memory book without a fish story. But the rich history, scenery and experiences that surround our island and our lives are surely the reward for living in paradise.

Needless to say, I learned a valuable lesson.

There’s always a positive in every negative

The simple things in life….

Like a “smiling face” …will warm the soul.

 

 

Oscar and Evelyn Overton wanted a successful business and in 1940 Evelyn opened a small cheesecake shop in Detroit, Michigan but closed it to raise her two small children. She continued to bake in her own basement and supplied cakes to different restaurants.

 

With children grown they moved their cheesecake business to Los Angeles in 1975 and named it “The Cheesecake Factory”. In 1978 their son, David founded the The Cheesecake Factory Restaurant in Beverly Hills, California. 30 years later and with over 150 locations, including one here right on Kalaukaua Avenue in Waikiki.

 

 

My son and daughter accompanied me to a doctor appointment in town and when asked where they would like to go to lunch after my son suggested The Cheesecake Factory. He and I had not been there but my son and I were fortunate to try a piece of cheesecake my daughter brought home.

 

 

 

 

We wanted to save a ‘space in the tummy’ for one of their MANY selections of cheesecake so we ordered a Chinese Chicken Salad that my daughter and I split and my son tried the Spicy Meat Pizza. The salad arrived like a picturesque mountain and I was glad we decided to share it!

 

 

Our Cheesecake selections:  One Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake for the three of us to share, One Ultimate Red Velvet Cheesecake to take home to my husband and One Caramel Turtle Cheesecake for my son in law.

 

We Will Return to The Cheesecake Factory to try more of their LARGE selection of lunch/dinners and cheesecakes!  Thank you to our server “Norm” who gave us excellent service with a smile!

 

 

Location:  2301 Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki (Honolulu, Hawaii) Phone: (808) 924-5001

 

Hours:  Monday through Thursday 11am to 11:30pm, Friday through Sunday 11am to 12am and on Sunday from 10am to 11pm

 

 

 

It was just one of those days to take a drive and find a site on Oahu that would be interesting to share.   I was going into 10^th grade at Leilehua High School in Wahiawa in 1971 as our high school in Mililani was not finished yet. A lot of history surrounds this area and I'm going to share a part of this area right outside Wahiawa and the historical significance of the Kukaniloko Birthing Stones Site.

The Wahiawa Plateau used to be forest land and three districts (Waianae, Waialua and Ewa) of ‘old Oahu' extended into this plateau. Known as the ‘uplands' chiefs were born and resided here and it was also the location where the key battles for control over Oahu were fought.

The chiefs preserved their chiefly kapu (pronounced ‘kah poo' and is the code of conducts of laws and regulations). Several heiau (sacred Hawaiian temples) were built around this chiefly area in the slopes and gulches of the Waianae mountain range and facing the Wahiawa Plateau.

Major trails crossed the island of Oahu and met near Kukaniloko. The Waialua Trail started in Waialua and went through Wahiawa down to the Ewa plains. The Kolekole Trail started in Waianae and crossed over the Waianae Range and joined the Wailalua Trail near Kukaniloko.

Wahiawa (meaning rumbling) is where thunderstorms and the voices of ancestral gods welcomed an offspring of highest and divine ranking. Such as being in central Oahu, Kukaniloko is symbolic of the PIKO (navel cord)...... and so symbolizing.....birth.

The royal birthsite here was Kukaniloko (coo kah knee low koe) which was north outside the city of Wahiawa and located in the Waialua district. It included the associated Ho'o'onopahu Heiau (hey ee ow are ) ancient Hawaiian temple and nearby Lihue within the Waianae Uka district. A  royal center on Oahu between A.D. 1400-1500 the Kukaniloko Birth Stones Site has been honored as a significant cultural site on Oahu.

From Kukaniloko the open skies might have made this location a prime location for a sort of Hawaiian kind of Stonehenge.  A University of Hawaii team from the Institute of Astronomy recorded designs and shapes that may have been used for the movement of stars and such for calendars.

 The plaque reads:  KUKANILOKO...This site is sacred to the Hawaiian people. As many as 800 years ago, chiefs and chiefesses came here for the birth of their children. A child born at Kukaniloko was assured high -ranking status.  Please respect this sacred area. Do not damage the stones by marking them or leaving coins. PRESERVE HAWAII'S PAST FOR THE FUTURE. 

As always, it is unlawful to take, excavate, destroy or alter any historic site on state land. Any person who violates this law is subject to a fine of $10,000 (HRS, Chapter 6E-11) DEPARTMENT OF LAND AND NATURAL RESOURCES, DIVISION OF STATE PARKS.

 

Regardless if an Open House does not work in the Continental United States (commonly referred by us Hawaii residents as ‘the mainland') it does work on our island of Oahu in Hawaii. Densely populated, most neighborhoods on our island are a hop, skip and a jump from one to the next. Most can hit up to 20 Open Houses and view "homes of their dreams" within a three hour period on any given Sunday.

Keep in mind Oahu is just one island of the chain of islands that make up the State of Hawaii. Oops!  You thought the island of Hawaii (aka the Big Island) was the State of Hawaii?  Well, guess what. You thought wrong. You have to  know more about the area you are relocating to. HONOLULU INFORMATION

Another misconception is that all our land is leasehold land. Find an educated Realtor® who will give you the correct information.  There are a few areas that are still leasehold land (you are renting the land underneath you) and while the landowner earns a monthly income it is a fixed lease for 30 plus years and adjusted at intervals over the remaining length of the lease. Yes, fee simple is more desirable. You own the land underneath you and a portion if a condo/townhouse. READ MORE>>FACT or FICTION? Honolulu County Leasehold Land

We run around topless wearing just grass skirts,

live in grass shacks and sip on Mai Tai's all day.

HUH?

Well, we in Hawaii may be behind times just a little although we are not in the olden days. Real estate has grown to where we are educated that there is very little buildable land on Oahu. There are strict zoning laws, rules and guidelines for our precious land and there is no such thing as buying a home or land without doing our due diligence.

• Purchasing Hawaii Vacant Land? Ancient Hawaiian Burial Sites and Laws 
• Restricted Preservation and Conservation land in Hawaii 
• Honolulu County Hawaii Zoning Laws and Land Use Permits

The price we pay to live in Paradise. Yes, you can bet your bottom dollar that you are paying for a LITTLE piece of Hawaii with less square feet on the land and roofed area. Again, we have just so little buildable land and you're thinking....houseboats?  Nah, that's not feasible around winter time on the North Shore where 30 foot waves are being ridden by surfers from around the world.  

Living in a state in the middle of the Pacific Ocean that has tropical island weather, blue skies, sunny days, surf, sand, scuba diving and mountain climbing has its perks for sure. No getting snowed in and getting that dreadful disease called cabin fever.

What do I say?

Lucky I live Hawaii!

 

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Mililani Town Association is holding an Easter Egg Hunt on Saturday, April 23, 2011 from9am to 11am at Recreation Center 6 and MTA Identification Cards will be checked and tickets collected at the door.

Admission fees include:

• Pre Purchased Ticket - $2.00 per person with valid MTA ID card
• Pre Purchased Ticket - $5.00 per person with valid MTA sponsor
• Purchase of Ticket at the event - $4.00 per person with valid MTA ID card
• Purchase of Ticket at the event - $7.00 per person with valid MTA sponsor

Pre-sale tickets may be purchased at the MTA Administration Office. For more information, contact the MTA at 623-7300.

BRING YOUR CAMERA to take pictures with the Easter Bunny!

 

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OPEN HOUSE! SUNDAY, April 24, 2011 from 2-5pm!!!

During a VA transaction for a foreclosure we hit a bump. The appraiser decided to put in the report that the hole in the screen door needed to be repaired and the central air conditioning needed to be repaired BEFORE closing.

It just does not seem fair for the buyer to put out more money before the transaction is approved by VA and before the transaction is recorded.  When there is a notation on the appraisal report VA will not submit an NOV (notice of value) to the lender UNTIL the repairs are complete. Most of the time they will need invoices and second trips out to the property to make sure the repairs were done.

Yes, VA looks out for their veterans and it's understandable that the central a/c needed to be assessed to make sure that it was a fixable problem. But there was one big problem. If there needed to be a repair that cost a substantial amount of money was it worth the risk to do the repair before closing when it was bank owned?

Okay...so we move forward.  I call a handyman to repair the screens (which I paid for) and go through my connections to see if I can get a central a/c company to go out and at least look at the situation.  Shobu's Refrigeration and Air Conditioning was willing to go out without charging an arm and a leg and zoomed out there to meet me by the next morning.  Turns out that the central a/c had a loose connection on the relay in the indoor unit and with a quick fix we were well on our way to move towards closing!  

Shobu's Refrigeration and Air Conditioning is a a commercial refrigeration and a/c contracting company. Though they do mostly businesses, they also have residential customers as well. They are also accredited by the Better Business Bureau and I highly recommend them for efficient, speedy and professional work.

Shobu's Refrigeration and AC - (808) 526-8068

Call them...you'll be happy you did!

 *A special thanks to Dan Kukimoto!

Mililani is a Master Planned Community that started building on June 3, 1968 with 112 homes offered for sale by Castle & Cooke. 

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My parents bought their newly constructed home in Mililani Town in 1971 and it was completed in the summer of that year. It was the summer before I entered my first year of high school and I had my last slumber party with my intermediate school girlfriends (from my old neighborhood district) in our new home.

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Rich red soil covered the Mililani Community and across the plain we saw pineapple and sugar cane fields being harvested for one of those last few years.  The smell of pineapple and sugarcane filled the air at these times and I was fortunate to be around to watch it from the lanai windows for fond memories to hold.

I watched more and more homes being built and our community expanded up three streetlights from South to North and East to West of Kamehameha Highway along this ‘suburb' of Mililani Town. With dozens upon dozens of increments of homes, condos and townhouses our community grew for about forty years.

Between our home on the Mililani Town side and what was soon to be Mililani Mauka was the unfinished H-2 freeway and it was finally completed in 1976 from the H-1 /H-2 Merge all the way to Wahiawa and the off ramp to Schofield Barracks.  This cut the commute time in half from our area of Mililani in Central Oahu all the way to Honolulu and a blessing to all who worked in the business district of Honolulu.

Mililani Town now has three shopping centers, Walmart, Restaurants, 7 recreation centers (for residents), a strip mall (that just completed) in Mililani Mauka,   a public library, post office and MANY parks around this huge community. 

In Mililani there is a high school, intermediate school and many elementary schools (Kipapa, Mililani Ike, Mililani Uka, Mililani Waena and Mililani Mauka) and you can read more on the schools here>> State of Hawaii Schools Directory  

A brief summary of my years growing up with Mililani and Mililani Mauka Homes.

• 1968:  The cheapest home was 884 square feet for $25,000 and up to $35,000 for a four bedroom
• 1971:  My parents bought our home in Mililani Town of about 1750 sq/ft for $48,000 and later on built an enclosed lanai to make it over 2,000 sq/ft.
• 1986:  Mililani was named the All American City and the first community in Hawaii to ever receive this distinction. My son was now in elementary school  and my daughter to start the next year.  A 1300 sq/ft home sold for about $70,000
• 1990:  Mililani Mauka breaks ground on April 6 and the first homeowners moved into their new Mililani Mauka homes in 1992. 
• 1992:  A brand new home in Mililani Mauka sold for $327,000
• 2005: The height of the housing market and a home with the same floor plan as the house my mother still lives in sold for $700,000. Mililani was also named one of the best places to live by Money magazine.
• 2008: The last of the new homes in Mililani were sold.
• 2010:  The same home in Mililani Mauka that was bought for $327,000 in 1992 is on the market for $549,000

 Fast forward to the immediate present:

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 all Hawaii Home Buyers and Sellers on the island of Oahu (Honolulu County) including all Hawaii Military Relocating to Hawaii, Hawaii Retirees, Hawaii Job Transfers and Hawaii Residents.

Website: www.hawaiihomesmarket.com

 

 

February 2010  Market Report for Mililani Condos, Townhouses, Homes

As holds true in all neighborhoods nationwide, the local area will determine the market. On Oahu, we can pretty much gather that from neighborhood to neighborhood the sales prices will vary and so will the median and average prices. To better determine the market (particularly for your sq/ft interior, land, condition and year built), contact a Realtor® who will give you a CMA (Comparative Market Analysis) 

Mililani Single Family Home Market Report February 2010:  We have 51 Active Listings for January 2010, with 17  in contract and 13 sold.  Mililani Single Family Home activity remains comparable with January as multiple contracts are submitted for prices lower than the previous year. Average Sales Prices were a bit lower than the previous month of $653,000; down to $618,369 and average days on market...DOM was 99 days.  Compared to a year ago at this same time the sales price average was $549,075 with 108 days on the market.

Mililani Condo Statistics for February 2010: We have 72 Active condos/townhouses on the market from February 2010, 36 Pending and 11 sold. Looks like our Mililani Condo/Townhouse market slowed down a bit for the month of February.  Average sales price of $314,052 is up a bit from January although one ‘luxury' townhouse sold at $498,000. Average days on market ..DOM was 99 days. Compared to a year ago at this same time the sales price average was $323,875 with 73 days on the market.

  

Mililani Boasts Three Shopping Centers:  Mililani Town Center - 95-1249 Meheula Parkway , Mililani Shopping Center - 95-221 Kipapa Drive (where Century 21 Liberty Homes resides), and Mililani Marketplace - 94-780 Meheula Pkwy.

 

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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

 

We boarded the Star of Honolulu for the  Honolulu Sunset Dinner Cruise and we were on our way out into the open sea by 5:30pm yesterday evening. We started with a beautiful romaine salad and a tiny loaf of taro bread...and then out I went to the deck to snap some shots.

With a sun setting over open seas with a view ‘to die for' of Diamond Head and Waikiki and a lovely dinner with entertainment like hula, Tahitian and other dances with a wonderful dinner  it has surely been another memorable time for Gary and I.

We had gone on this same cruise 8 years ago...the day after we got married. Both of these thoughtful gifts were from my daughter.  One thing is for certain...no matter what the occasion this cruise is a romantic one indeed.

Enjoy the pictures and the video too...it will surely inspire you to take this dinner cruise as well!

 

 

The Star of Honolulu is berthed right across the way from the Falls of Clyde- Pier 7 - Honolulu Harbor and next to Hooters at Aloha Tower Marketplace at Pier 8 and its total capacity is 1,500 passengers with four decks. More details...HERE

The Star of Honolulu - Oahu Cruises

• Five Star Dinner
• Three Star Dinner
• Star Sunset Dinner
• Pacific Star Dinner
• Premier Whale & Lunch
• Hawaiian Cultural & Lunch
• Polynesian Sunset Dinner Ali'i
• Polynesian Sunset Dinner Orchid
• Polynesian Sunset Dinner Plumeria
• Waikiki Fun & BBQ
• Wild Whale Watch
• Wild Dolphin & Lunch

For Phone Reservations: 808-983-STAR (7827) or (toll-free) 800-334-6191 or go to www.starofhonolulu.com

 

Some may tend to believe that Real Estate talk means only short sales, buyers, sellers, loans and so forth. I'm a Real Estate Industry Professional but I'm darn sure human.  And that means I can adjust my thinking and my attitude to any market, conversation, challenge because I AM a chameleon.

Being a chameleon means I can adapt to my surroundings.

Regardless of where I am ....when it comes to ‘All Things Real Estate'..... I can take into consideration what real estate means at any given place and time. While blogging on ActiveRain,  I grasped the concept that ‘All Things Real Estate' meant to write about  ‘All Things Real Estate' too.

Open your mind to the possibilities of what "All Things Real Estate" really means.

My Local Area:  No matter what branch of the Real Estate Industry we are directly connected with our communities, counties and state and everything happening in our area. We have to have knowledge about the businesses,  events, history, neighborhoods and more. We need to know where to direct the consumer when they want to know where the elementary school is in conjunction with the geographical location of the home they're thinking of purchasing. What about the local restaurants and the gym?

Yes, it's a lot of work to research and write about our local area but in the end.....

I AM THE AREA EXPERT. 

I opened my mind to grasp the concept that ‘All Things Real Estate' went beyond the scope of just Real Estate knowledge. It meant that I had to know more about everything and anything in my area. It meant that I needed to get more educated on not just Real Estate...but my local area of expertise.

Are you adapting like a chameleon with "All Things Real Estate"?

Are you the LOCAL EXPERT?

Localism

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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

Supporting Hawaii Local Businesses!

What opened next door to Century 21 Liberty Homes in Mililani Shopping Center? 

BLAZIN STEAKS! 

On July 10, 2009 we had the privilege of having a wonderful franchise open their doors right next to our office. To tell you the truth, we have a great place to get a great plate lunch at an awesome price!

When *Will Szameitat, the franchise owner of this Blazin' Steaks in Mililani Shopping Center was getting the space ready for opening, we got the chance to peek in and see what was going on.

The end product of all that hard work shows the professional and clean atmosphere that a take- out restaurant should have. 

Completely refurbished from head to toe, they opened their doors with a sparkling clean and shiny look to compliment their great tasting food!

At $6 per plate, this is definitely an affordable place to eat with a great selection on the menu. I personally have had ordered a plate a few times with one thing in mind.  A salad, rice (I order the brown rice), and either steak or chicken (wide selection of prepared styles too!) for a quick, tasty and affordable lunch at the office.

Don't have time to cook dinner or make your lunch? This IS the place to go for a quick take out!

Call (808) 625-7808.

Blazin' Steaks in the Mililani Shopping Center (95-221 Kipapa Drive, Mililani, HI 96789) is open Monday through Saturdays from 10am to 9pm and on Sundays from 10am to 8pm. 

Another great local area business that gets my thumbs up!

*Will Szameitat is also the owner of All-In Hawaii Clothing Company

 

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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

 Supporting Hawaii Local Businesses! 

Downtown Honolulu!  It's where you'll find the Business District of Honolulu where you'll find the federal, state and district courts and businesses and Honolulu's Chinatown, with an array of local vendors and shops. Fruits, vegetables, roast chicken and duck, char sui and roast port. Chinese Restaurants, jade and jewelry, Chinese gifts, Feng Shui Stores, Bamboo plants and arrangements, clothes, flowers and more. So much more!  READ MORE HERE>>  History of Chinatown & Historic Honolulu County Hawaii

CHINATOWN incorporates a rich mixture of cultures but maintains a sense of identity.

Before my daughter and I went shopping  for produce in Chinatown in Honolulu and we found a wedding shop along the way. We popped in just for a peek.

At that time it was a couple of months before she was to get married and she found a beautiful dress at Downtown Fashion - Chinatown - 108 N King St Honolulu HI 96817 ...  The wedding dress, veil, garter, shoes, tiara and the alteration for her size 1 frame.....  All for $250!!  The Chinese have some of the best seamstresses in the world and just by pinning a few pins the alteration came out perfect! 

My daughter then ordered her bouquet from Lin's Lei and Flower Shop located at 1017 Maunakea St # A Honolulu, HI 96817 - (808) 537-4112 for $85.00! 

Check the picture to the right out....all from Chinatown!

We went shopping for produce on a open mall called Kekaulike Street Mall between North King and Hotel Streets. We came across the fruit stand with the exotic fruit Rambutan. It's bright red and hairy looking (weird looking) and in Malay and Indonesian languages it means hairy.. lol. In the middle it looks like the lychee fruit with a seed in the middle. Tangy and delicious!

Thorughout the whole Kekaulike Street Mall  the vendors outside are just a smidgen of what lurks inside the stores beyond the stands! 

Our Honolulu Chinatown is not only Chinese shops but Vietnamese, Japanese, Korean and Filipino and more. So, you can imagine the variety of wares and items for sale!

Supporting our local Honolulu businesses in Downtown Honolulu in Chinatown is a given. No matter what, there are bargains, fresh produce, meats, fish and poultry and items from around the world!

                                                     Kekaulike Street Mall....and my daughter.

 

 

 

Feng Shui Shop in Chinatown Honolulu 

More produce shops on Hotel Street in Chinatown Honolulu

 

 

"THE BUS" stopping on Hotel Street. Honolulu County has a wonderful city bus system traveling the whole island with many different routes.

Hotel Street traffic is limited to only buses.

 

 

 

 

 

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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

  

With our warm tropical island weather and outstanding scenic views Hawaii is THE choice spot for a Hawaii Relocation. With the Hawaii Military Relocation, the Hawaii Retiree and the Hawaii Job Transfer at some point they all consider buying a condo or home on beachfront property.  It's the dream come true, right?

Ah...the famous North Shore of Oahu where the beaches are gorgeous and the famous surfing competitions commence every winter. Sun, surf, sand, mountains mean coastal and country living at its best! 

Historic Haleiwa Town  is one of the towns on the North Shore that has everything from historic landmarks like the Heiau's (ancient Hawaiian temples) to shopping malls, shops, oceanfront restaurants, surf shops, scuba lessons. sky diving, fishing, boat harbor, community centers and more!

One thing you should know about the island of Oahu. Our island (Honolulu Country) is so densely populated that the next town can be smack next to each other.  The North Shore IS made up of the following towns:  Waialua, Mokuleia (Dillingham Air Field), Haleiwa, Waimea, Paalaakai (in Wailua area), and Kawailoa (where Laniakea Beach - Turtle Beach is).

Keeping all of this in mind.......

Luxury Condos, Townhouses and Single Family Residences are available NOW!

The following housing market statistics for the North Shore are for the last six months or so for condos and single family homes:

North Shore- Condos/Townhomes	# Active	# In Escrow	# Sold	*DOM	Average Sales $
1 bdrm	8	1	3	52	$241,900-$428,000
2 bdrm	23	1	4	86	$254,900-$525,000
North Shore -         Single Family	# Active	# In Escrow	# Sold	DOM	Average Sales $
2-3 bdrm (912-2939 sq.ft) Active up to $5,500,000	28	4	12	81	$455,000-  $3,385,000
4+ bdrms (1500-4374 sq.ft.) Active listings to $4,500,000	26	0	7	93	$539,000-$3,550,000

 *NOTE:  DOM (Days on Market) means how long the property was listed on the MLS until the properties went into escrow with an accepted contract.

Bottom line...if beachfront, oceanfront, ocean or mountain views and country living is your agenda for your living style then you may want to consider the North Shore on the island of Oahu in Honolulu County, Hawaii.

It's not easy moving across the Pacific Ocean to the Hawaiian Islands AND purchasing your Hawaii Home too....so be proactive and start now!  

Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations will give you the start you need!

More Views and A Show ....

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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

You've walked with me through the Historic Honolulu County Hawaii - Club Chaos Eye Candy post and my pictorial of Historic Sites in Honolulu County. Now you will really see a few sites in video......and be there right beside me....

Historic Haleiwa Town:  In 1898 Benjamin Dillingham (a businessman) opened a hotel on the North Shore of Oahu and named it Haleiwa (Ha le ee va), Hale meaning house and iwa is a frigatebird.  With many preserved old buildings this old town makes for a wonderful destination for tourists.  Anahulu Stream Bridge, also known as Rainbow Bridge is on the north entrance to Haleiwa town. It is also listed as one of the historic bridges of the United States.

Pu'u o Mahuka is the largest heiau (ancient temple/religious site) on Oahu (island I live and Honolulu County) and covering almost two acres. They say the village must have been constructed in the 1600's and built with three walled enclosures. The rock walls are stacked from 3-6 feet height and the interior paved with stone.  It was most likely used as a sacrificial temple...maybe for success in war? This was a time of political upheaval and in 1795 Kamehameha I conquered Oahu  and his high priest Hewahewa (he va he va) conducted religious ceremonies here.

Hale o Lono Heiau is a temple that was excavated and dates between 1470 A.D and 1700 A.D. and located in Waimea Falls Park. Dedicated to the god Lono who was the god of agriculture, harvests, weather, sports and medicine. 

 

Our historical sites and history surrounding our islands is mysterious, exotic and educational ...to say the least. Come join us and experience the rich history in our tropical paradise. 

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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

 

We have this space above our counter on the outside of our kitchen and needed desparately to put pictures up there to give clarity and substance to the space. For three years I look at my three pictures but this one is my favorite.

In my mind this picture depicts the growth of downtown Honolulu and Waikiki since the year 1890.

Kawaiahao  (Ka Wa ee ah ha o) Congregational Church was constructed between the years of 1836 and 1842 and was the site of royal coronations, christenings and funerals during the reigns of King Kamehameha II and King Kamehameha III. 

The part of history that is embedded in my mind is when King Kamehameha III, while at Kawaiahao Church uttered the phrase, Ua Mau ke Ea O Ka Aina i Ka Pono which translates in Enlish to  "The life of the land is perpetuated in righteousness".  

This became our official Hawaii State Motto.

Waikiki has long since been a place for taking a break, relaxation and where visitors flock every year to enjoy our warm tropical climate with fun and sun on the beach. 

• In the late 1700's Waikiki was just flat land and loaded with fish ponds and water filled taro fields that were cultivated by Hawaiians.
• 1804:  Foreign disease killed many of Kamehameha I troops in Waikiki
• 1853: Smallpox brought to Waikiki by a sailor killed 3,000 Hawaiians.
• 1877:  Businessmen started to build homes in Waikiki
• 1888: Park Beach Hotel Opened in Waikiki and in 1893 Sans Souci Hotel Opened in Waikiki
• 1899: Princess Kaiulani (named heir to the throne by Queen Liliuokalani) died at her home in Ainahau in Waikiki
• 1901: Moana Hotel Opened in Waikiki (and still there :) and in 1906 the Seaside Hotel Opened.
• 1917: The Halekulani Hotel Opened in Waikiki (still operating)
• 1921: Ala Wai Canal finished
• 1927: Royal Hawaiian Hotel completed...and just opened this year after renovations.
• 1959: Airline turned away business because we had too few hotels.
• 1970: Ala Moana, Hyatt Regency and Sheraton Hotels open with over 1,000 rooms each.

Like they say.... "The rest is history".

If it's one thing I can suggest for any Hawaii Visitor, Hawaii Resident, Hawaii Relocation and Military Moving to Hawaii is to go to all the historic sites and learn about our rich history. After living in Hawaii most of my life, I can honestly say that I did not pay attention in school (we took Hawaiiana) and the past two years I have gotten educated, researched and enjoyed learning a lot of the history these islands have to offer. Dive in and learn all about the History of Hawaii....you'll be glad you did!

Want the whole scoop, nothing but the scoop about Hawaii Relocations and Real Estate?

  

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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

  

 

 

 

With my agressive marketing skills this home went into contract within 11 days on the market! SOLD on March 30, 2009!