OK.  A seahorse farm.  What could that possibly be?  Probably one of the most interesting things you could see here on the Big Island!  And yes, they actually raise seahorses here – a true aqua farm, with no harvesting of living sea creatures.

Located north of Kailua Kona, on the way to the airport, this facility is unique in that it not only grows seahorses, it is breeding seahorses to be more adaptable so that they are a commercially viable item, and it grows their food.  Seems seahorses do not do well at all outside of their natural habitats when they are harvested from the sea, and really don’t adapt well to new habitats.  So Ocean Rider has developed stronger, hardier species for collectors at this farm.  They have also developed new foods and feeding methods to keep the little guys happy and healthy so that you and I are able to go into a pet store and purchase a seahorse, bred to adapt and survive happily in our home aquarium.

When you first begin the tour, you go into a large covered area, filled with chin-high tanks.  And this is where the little guys grow.  You will see them in all different stages of growth, but the very best part is towards the end of the tour when you get to actually hold one!  Volunteers take you one by one, show you how to place your hands in the water and weave your fingers together to simulate coral or ocean plant life, and then they will give you a real seahorse to hold in your own hands.  What a thrill as it wraps its little tail around your finger.   Unfortunately that is about all a seahorse does.  They don’t smile, or look soulfully up at you.  They just flutter their little fins and stay upright, tail curled around your finger.  They are cute little things though, and most of us see them very rarely if at all.  There is lots more to learn about seahorses, particularly if you become interested in their reproductive cycles, which are different to say the least!  Suffice it to say that the males do most of the “child-rearing.”

But wait! That’s not the end.  After you have held your seahorse, you proceed into the small gallery of aquariums holding a really magnificent collection of rare and unique sea horses from all over the world!  What a treat to view them, entwined around their favorite branch, or all wrapped up together.  Definitely worth visiting for a couple of hours learning about sea horses. Just another one of the wonderful things to do when you’re visiting our Big Island.

http://www.seahorse.com

PARASAILING!

Each morning they hover over our bay – their colorful chutes brightening an otherwise already bright morning.  They are the daily parasailers viewing Kailua Kona from a chute, tethered to a line (tested for 10,000 pounds of pressure), which is attached to a boat.  And if you’ve never tried it, or pushed your personal “afraid of heights” limits, this is something you should try!  Bring your best friend and ride double (or even triple!) – come on, it’s really fun.   And you don’t even need to get wet.   Your tenders are so experienced that they will alleviate all of your fears and give you the confidence you need to say, “Let’s do it!”

You will board a boat in the harbor, usually off the pier, and be run out to the launch area, where you are directed into your safety harness, gear and life jacket, checked out and sent onto the aft (that’s the back end) platform.  Before you know what’s happening you are being gently lifted up into the air!  There are different heights – 600 feet, 800 feet, and 1200 feet – and if you’re going to do it, you might as well go all the way and go for the 1200 foot ride.  As you drift up and float serenely above the ocean, you may see our spinner dolphins playing in the bay, maybe the occasional whale or two, depending on the season, and you will see our little village nestling snugly on the lower slopes of Hualalai.  And yes, that’s where you are staying – and that’s where we went for dinner last night…and then the sun comes up completely over the top of Hualalai and another gorgeous Kona day has begun.

During your ride, the boat captain will slow down, which allows you to slowly drop down close to the water’s surface – then a speed up and back up you go.   What fun!   But as all good things good do, it comes to an end, but without your realizing it.  The crew is slowly and carefully winching you into the boat and as you near the aft platform, you see reassuring arms reaching out to steady you as you land on your feet on the platform without touching the water.   Slick!  What a truly fun thing you just did, while conquering your fear of heights demons!

Find out more at  http://www.ufoparasail.net

A recent article on housing published in the New York Times by Karl Case suggests that the “American Dream” of home ownership, rather than being dead in the water, is actually alive although somewhat battered!

Agents, buyers and sellers alike are currently being inundated with market “analysis” and “commentary” relative to the current and, indeed, future of our housing market in the U.S. and the disparity between the opinions is vast. There are some who are projecting a further 20 percent decline in values and others who believe that we have bottomed out and a recovery is around the corner. It is all immensely confusing.

So, what is the likely direction of housing as we move forward with our overall economic recovery?

It is our opinion that the mass pricing declines that we saw were a function of a meltdown in the market and that we have seen the worst of the price declines. As we move forward, the recovery in real estate will not be on a national level but will be market specific, with some areas faring better than others. We expect that markets with better employment prospects, topographic and political restrictions that limit new development and lower foreclosure activity are likely to fare better than others. The US Census bureau shows that we live in a country with 310 million residents and over 77 million owner-occupied housing units; to suggest that a recovery will be equal across the country is naive.

The core of Mr Case’s argument is that the “Dream” very much depends on what one’s expectations are. If house buying is driven by the expectation of astronomical returns, then it is fair to believe that this will not be the case going forward. However, if buyers are realistic in their expectations of value and a good rate of return, that a home represents stability, offers tax incentives, as well as managing the fundamental need for shelter, then home ownership does indeed still make sense. (Historically, housing has always appreciated at a greater rate than inflation and if you believe that inflation is certainly headed our way, it should act as a good hedge against it.

There is an old adage that all real estate is local. We agree. As we move forward, expect markets to fluctuate depending on the above criteria. Fear mongering does nobody any good and we hope that we will see less of this occurring as data continues to point toward improving economic conditions.

And here, on the Big Island, real estate is a most valuable commodity indeed.  Limited topography, ideal weather, and good old healthy sunshine and ocean sports to enjoy can’t be argued with.   There is only so much paradise in the world.

Whimsey. It starts the same. “What if we went on a dreamy island vacation . . .and never left?” Sometimes, on the right island, the question percolates: “What would our house look like? What about my job?” And sometimes, on the perfect island, the questions have answers. No place on the list (see July 2010 magazine edition) inspires (and answers) these questions like the Big Island of Hawaii. Just ask Tyler Mercier, who moved here with his wife in 2007: “We were planning to take a year off, and it has turned into three.” Hiking around an active volcano, tasting tropical fruit at a farmers market, finding an empty beach–this island has a knack for raising that priceless, whimsical question. And the best part: it keeps inspiring long after you’ve found the answer.
Common Sense. Moving to Hawaii is as realistic as moving to any other state. And the Big Island is equipped for a modern lifestyle. Says, Tyler, “We have great Internet service, discount stores like Target and Costco. Plus, there are wonderful local fruits, grass-fed beef and abundant fish. We have the benefits of a Pacific island along with the United States’ infrastructure.”
Houses. A Plantation-era house with a wraparound porch. An off-the grid bungalow where you grow your own food. A compact condo with turnkey luxury. Whatever you’re in the market for, chances are you’ll find it on the Big Island. And since there’s plenty of real estate on this 4,030-square-mile island– yet considerably fewer people than nearby Oahu –chances are you’ll find the right price too.
Day Jobs. Trade a fast-paced job for the slow life like Tyler: “I worked in Silicon Valley. Now I spend a lot of time snorkeling, going with the flow and writing for our blog, hiloliving.com.” Or start a new career like Katherine Patton, who moved to the Big Island from San Francisco: “My business partner and I were project managers for Bank of America. When we moved here, we used those skills to build Hilo Coffee Mill from an overgrown sugar-cane field to 24 lush acres.” No work visa to acquire, no language barrier to break through –just an island full of possibility.
Days Off. “Forget watching LOST; we have way better entertainment that’s all just around the corner,” says Jessica Ferracane, who has lived on the Big Island since 2002. “If it’s raining at our house in Mountain View, we load the stand-up paddle boards on the truck and head to Pohoiki. Or we drive three hours to Kailua and snorkel in some of the clearest waters I’ve seen. It’s like going on vacation, but never far from home. I’ve never gotten ‘rock fever’ on the Big Island.

How do we transition from the mindset of a homeowner to a home seller? Homes bring us shelter, comfort and are a place to express our individuality. But when it’s time to move on, that same home will now be the financial springboard to the next chapter in our lives.

We start by letting go of the home layer by layer.

Both buyer and seller benefit when the seller- perhaps with some judicious coaching form their skilled REALTOR® – peels away those things that made their home uniquely theirs. In essence, the serious packing begins once the decision has been made to sell; bookcases and closets should only suggest their function with a few items, rather than store seasons and years worth of books and clothes. Carefully removing prized collections and family photos is also vital. Nothing should distract the buyer from seeing the house, and seeing themselves it in.

Personal colors are just as important to remove as objects. After all, if you were serving ice cream to a few thousand people  - (that’s how many will see your house photographs online) – would you serve them mango flavor?   It’s a lot more likely you would choose vanilla. And that’s pretty much what the color of your walls should be – neutral or deep neutral tones.

The last touch is a good deep cleaning. Ask your REALTOR® if they have the name of a reputable company.

The seller can then replace those familiar objects with a fresh new welcome mat at the front door. This process allows the buyer the visual and emotional space to move in.

This process also allows the seller to move on.

by Guest Author, Kathryn Madison, a real estate broker out of Windermere Portland-Raleigh Hills.  From Windermere’s Blog Neighborly News.

A Pacific Business News article of April 23, 2010 quotes RealtyTrac statistics which indicate the number of homes taken back by banks through foreclosure in Hawaii soared six-fold during the first quarter of 2010 and those numbers may grow this year as more homes move through the foreclosure process.

Kailua-Kona had more than 100 bank-owned properties in the first quarter of 2010, nearly eight times the number there were in 2009.  Some sources believe that first-quarter number is higher than expected because there was a hold on starting new foreclosures during the fourth quarter of 2009 because of the holidays.

The Big Island is seeing bank-owned properties increasingly have an effect on traditional home sales prices as banks continue to lower prices to get the asset sold. However,  some homeowners are beginning to fight back against foreclosures and two new federal programs may help reduce the number of homes being repossessed by the banks.   The Home Affordable Modification Program and the Home Affordable Foreclosure Alternatives Program may be the way some sellers are able to slow down and take some control of the process.

Predictions are that the number of bank-owned properties is unlikely to go down before the general real estate market and economy come back again because REO’s tend to be a lagging indicator.   But as the market starts to shoot up again, they should begin to taper off.   (Source:  J. L. Magin – Pacific Business News)

Locals say ” Lucky I Live Hawaii.” I am lucky I live Kona. Kona draws people that say ‘hello” and wave to each other. A vision of small-town living (Beaver Clever style) comes to mind. Kona! This is not Big City living. It’s Home Town living. A place you feel comfortable and secure while the rest of the world whirls around on some distant shore. Kona is still a place where:

- you recognize familiar faces as you pass them in the grocery store
- you know the name of the guy behind the counter at the post office
- you will get a call from the boutique when your favorite brand of dress comes in (and before your size is sold)
- you know your neighbors by FIRST names
- you barbecue with your friends at a moment’s notice.

That’s the PEOPLE.

But there is more. It’s about the LIFESTYLE.

- you can take an ocean swim in the morning before work sometime with a dolphin escort
- you can watch the sunset from your lanai, or
- you can watch the sunset with a mai tai in hand from your favorite ocean-front “drinkin’ hole” — usually with a plate of freshly caught sashimi
- you can hike the trail that King Kamehameha himself created to travel the island
- you can explore parrot caves
- you can jump on a bike and do the Ironman ride to Hawi and back. All 112 miles of it! (Or, for my style, jump on a bike and go to the coffee shop for a Kona Coffee cappuccino!)
- you can… you can… you can…

That’s the LIFESTYLE!

That’s why I’m lucky. You can be “Lucky you Live Hawaii” too.

Yes, you CAN!     Author:  Tanya T. Power

So often those of us who are lucky enough to live in Kona all the time don’t take advantage of the fun things that the Big Island has to offer. We see tons of flyers, brochures and other promotional items but it takes a visit from an adventurous mainland friend to get us out of our comfort zone! I recently had a visit from an old pal from Newport Beach who had never visited our lovely island before. In the past we have gone on many trips and escapades together, so I was prepared for shopping, dining out and fun. And we did it all.

Did you know that vanilla is grown on our island? I didn’t, but my friend did. She also pointed out that there is a sea horse farm here – I knew that and was interested in it but never got around to actually visiting. Those were our first scheduled events.

Ocean Rider is the first and only seahorse farm dedicated to preserving the endangered seahorse. After an antibacterial scrub down of arms and hands, we were admitted to the tour which was very interesting, informative and very well presented. We saw not only seahorses in various stages of development; we also saw their food growing. Finally we got to the fun part where we actually got to hold our own seahorse! More accurately, the seahorse curls its tail around your finger as it would hold on to something in its natural reef habitat. But that was not the end – the grand finale was a visit to their aquarium where there is a magnificent collection of different varieties of seahorses. And now time to head on up north for lunch.

Hawaiian Vanilla Company is located in Pa’auilo on the Hamakua coastline. Reservations are required for this is excellent gourmet luncheon dining, served by their extended family. Our very tasty lunch was accompanied by a short talk by the owner about vanilla’s place in the world, their learning experiences in starting their business, and the products that they are now manufacturing. A short walk took us to the growing sheds – all in all a delightful experience!

Of course we had to do the helicopter tour with Blue Hawaiian Helicopters. So much has been written about these tours that I’m not going to say anything other than that it is always worth the time and money, and one always sees something new.

Of all of our adventures there are two that really stand out: A swim with the spinner dolphins and the zipline trip. Check-in for Dolphins Hawaii’s excursion is at 6:30am at Honokohau Harbor. We boarded a 14 passenger boat with Captain Veto, and took off to see the dolphins. Since it is still “whale season” here, we saw lots and lots of them, plus a few spinners playing – a photographer’s delight. Then we arrived at our destination as the sun was coming up over Hualalai, put on our fins and snorkel gear, and slid overboard to see literally hundreds of dolphins! As long as we stayed still and quiet in the water, they swam alongside us as though we were part of their family. Much has been written about people disturbing and exploiting these wonderful creatures, however Captain Veto, as a certified Marine Mammal Naturalist, was very careful that we observed all the rules, did not touch, threaten or disturb these creatures as they went about their routine. What an unbelievable treat to be able to share their habitat in such close proximity – and we could even hear the whales singing in the distance!

Our grand finale was a zipline adventure that begins with sign-in and gear-up in Hawi, on the northern tip of the island. My friend had ziplined in Costa Rica so was an old hand, but I approached this endeavor with some trepidation since I had been told that there was a suspension bridge involved. Well, as a long-time skier I have taken off on some pretty scary steep inclines, but anything similar to a suspension bridge is another issue entirely. Hmmm…. The six-wheel drive trip to the venue was great fun – particularly because our two guides, caretakers, instructors, whatevahs, were both happy-go-lucky local boys, born and raised in the Hawi area. When we got to the first zipline, which was short and not very high, we got a feeling for the process and learned about our gear. We then walked through the forest to increasingly longer, faster, higher ziplines and were feeling very proud of ourselves.

In the back of my mind all of this time was the suspension bridge. We did a couple more zips – such fun you cannot imagine, zooming over the treetops and being caught by one of our trusty “keepers”! Then we came to the suspension bridge. To make a long story short, I did it, but I was plastered to Kenika’s back like a second shirt, and he probably still has bruises on his right shoulder where I was hanging on. Of course they save the best for last and the final zip was just a serious thriller. This one involved a running start and a drop off a cliff and it was a FAST ride! Obviously by then we had learned to trust our harnesses and just enjoy the ride, so we did – yelling and cheering all the way! What a day! You guys are da bomb!

There is so much to do on our island and we only scratched the surface. We also missed a lot of superb shopping and tons of restaurants, so my friend will just have to return soon.

We hope YOU come and enjoy these treats too! Author, Jean M. Gray

Recent newspaper and television reports have disclosed that nearly 12 percent of Hawai’i homes are in foreclosure or threatened by foreclosure statewide. These foreclosures represented 1 percent of the market where the national average was 1.14 percent. Compared with other states and the District of Columbia, Hawai’i had the 14th highest percentage of foreclosures starts during the fourth quarter of 2009.

The state with the highest rate of foreclosure starts was Nevada, at 3 percent of the market.

Some economists suggest that the nation’s wave of foreclosures may be starting to end as evidenced by the percentage of loans that are 30 days past due. The figure fell from 3.79 percent in the third quarter of 2009 to 3.63 percent in the fourth. Which, statiscally, represents a big decline. That’s the bright side.

Buyers are finding well-priced real estate at the high end and low end of the market. The middle of the market still remains slow. Investor buyers are coming back as they are able to free up equity from properties that are selling in other parts of the nation.

It is a great time to be buy Hawai’i real estate.

In the grocery store aisle, at the Super Bowl party, over lunch, at the Post Office the first thing people ask me is “How’s the Market?”

Well, it’s BETTER.   Much better, in fact.  Especially if you are a Buyer.   Many of those potential Buyers that spent 2009 eyeing the market are now seriously shopping and making purchases with cash.  Yes, cash.  This in an environment where interest rates on good, safe, fixed rate loans are really low.

The second question, of course, is, “Do you think prices will go down more?”   Maybe.  In certain locations.  But the thing that drives prices up is already happening.  That is a reduction in inventory.   As the deals are grabbed, the inventory shrinks.  Eventually that tips to the benefit of potential Sellers.   All about supply and demand.

We at Windermere/ C and H Properties want to be available to answer your questions.  And here is the forum for you to tell us what you want to know about real estate on the island of Hawaii.    Let us know what you want to hear about and we’ll send it your way.

Mahalo.