Hawaii-Real-Estate

Hawaii Gas Prices Dip While Other States Rise

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:31:00 GMT

Hawaii's gas prices are dropping while prices are rising across the rest of the nation.
The national average for gas climbed a penny Thursday after 20 days of decreases, AAA Hawaii said.
Meanwhile, the price of gas in the islands continues to fall. Gas dipped below the $4 mark in two counties.

Publication: KITV
Date of Publication: June 2, 2011
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Laie Inn Redevelopment Moves Forward

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:40:00 GMT

A redevelopment project in Laie had many North Shore residents talking. Not just to each other, but also to the Honolulu City Council's zoning committee, which held a special meeting Wednesday night in Kahuku, before taking a critical vote on the plans.

Publication: KITV
Date of Publication: June 1, 2011
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Rand: Defense worth $12B to Hawaii econom

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:39:00 GMT

The Department of Defense generated $12.2 billion for the Hawaii economy in 2009 and was responsible for 16.5 percent of the state’s employment, according to a study released Wednesday.
The report, “How Much Does Military Spending Add to Hawaii’s Economy,” was conducted by the Rand Corp. for the Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii and the Hawaii Institute for Public Affairs. The results were released at a breakfast meeting Wednesday at the Hilton Hawaiian Village Beach Resort & Spa.

Publication: Pacific Business News
Date of Publication: June 1, 2011
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Tourism optimism growing

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:39:00 GMT

Strong arrivals and spending from markets outside of Japan have buoyed Hawaii tourism and offset losses from the state's No. 3 visitor market.
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"No one is whistling Dixie," said Jerry Gibson, area vice president of Hilton Hawaii. "It's nice to see things going in the right direction, but we are going in the right direction very slowly. That's a function of our economy and what's happening in Japan."

Publication: Star Advertiser
Date of Publication: June 1, 2011
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Tax appeals rise 35 Percent for 2011

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:23:00 GMT

Most Kaua‘i homeowners believe their county property tax assessments this year are acceptable, if the volume of appeals is any indication.
Though the number of tax appeals rose this year, the majority were in the hotel and resort class, said County Real Property Officer Steve Hunt. Homesteaders, those who reside in the home they own, filed just 17 appeals.

Publication: The Garden Island
Date of Publication: May 29, 2011
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Hawaii unemployment falls almost to 6 Percent

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:28:00 GMT

Hawaii unemployment falls almost to 6% - but inside that number are a lot of stories. Liesl Bernard is with the Honolulu office of the employment firm Robert Half International. Check out the video!

Publication: Hawaii News Now
Date of Publication: May 23, 2011
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Hawaii hotel occupancy improves

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 23:27:00 GMT

Waikiki hotels remain fairly full as vacation season nears, while neighbor island hotel occupancy is improving only incrementally so far.

For May 8-14, a period after Golden Week visitors had flown here to Japan, Oahu occupancy fell one tenth to 72 percent full, still one point better than the same time last year. Room rates averaged 13 percent better than year-before levels.

Publication: Hawaii News Now
Date of Publication: May 20, 2011
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Council puts rein on rail spending

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:45:00 GMT

The City Council gave preliminary approval yesterday to the operating and construction project budgets for city's rail transit authority but not before adding a provision that gives the Council greater oversight of the spending.

Council members advanced an $18 million operating budget for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, known as HART, along with a $355 million capital improvement program budget.

Publication: Star Advrtiser
Date of Publication: May 12, 2011
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Home prices tick up on Oahu

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:43:00 GMT

The median price for previously owned single-family homes sold on Oahu rose for the first time this year with a slight gain in April, though the number of sales fell sharply.

Homes sold for a median $585,000 last month, up 3.5 percent from $565,000 in the same month last year, according to data released yesterday by the Honolulu Board of Realtors.

April's gain was small but followed three consecutive year-over-year declines for median prices in January, February and March.

Publication: Star Advertiser
Date of Publication: May 10, 2011
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Isle foreclosures fell for fifth month straight

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:41:00 GMT

Home foreclosures continued to fall in April, marking the fifth consecutive month filings in Hawaii have been below the same month in the previous year.

Experts, however, said the decline continues to be an artificial depression due to several major lenders holding back on new filings after their loan documentation practices were called into question.

Publication: Star Advertiser
Date of Publication: May 12, 2011
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Obama: Homeowners Need More Help

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:37:00 GMT

President Barack Obama said that struggling homeowners need even more help from the banks, in a CBS town hall that aired Thursday.
Calling housing "the biggest headwind on the economy right now," Obama broached two relatively new ideas for the White House: Longer-term mortgage modifications and principal reductions "in some cases."
Both ideas would require Congress to pass laws to force the banks to cooperate.

Publication: KITV4
Date of Publication: May 12, 2011
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Matson Hikes Fuel Surcharge Hits Record

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:35:00 GMT

Matson Navigation Co. Wednesday announced a new fuel surcharge hike that raises it to another record high.
The fuel surcharge is going up 4 percentage points from 43.5 to 47.5 percent for Hawaii service beginning June 12.
So far this year, the shipping company increased its fuel surcharge by 21.75 percentage points in three previous hikes.

Publication: KITV4
Date of Publication: May 11, 2011
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City Wants To Sell Affordable Housing Projects

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:39:00 GMT

After years of talking about it, the city of Honolulu is working to put all its affordable housing projects up for sale.
That would affect thousands of residents in over 1200 units.
Some of those residents worry after the deals go down, rents could be going up.

Publication: KITV4
Date of Publication: May 10, 2011
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Golden Week traffic was way down

Thu, 12 May 2011 19:32:00 GMT

Japan Airlines reports Golden Week traffic on its full international network was down 26 percent from last year, and traffic to Hawaii was down 42 percent.

JAL Group said Monday it hauled more than 26,000 passengers to Hawaii last week, running a 78 percent load factor, and considered the volumes better than expected for all that it was down from 2010.

Publication: Hawaii News Now
Date of Publication: May 9, 2011
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Hawaii Hotels Gain Visitors Despite Tsunami

Thu, 05 May 2011 23:18:00 GMT

Hawaii's hotel industry saw gains in occupancy in March despite a substantial loss in Japanese visitors.
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The report said that while there was a sharp decline in Japanese visitors after the March 11 Japan earthquake the overall market improved because of strong gains from the U.S. mainland and Canada for the remainder of the month.
All islands saw gains in hotel occupancy and revenue. Oahu hotels had the highest occupancy while Kauai reported the lowest.

Publication: KITV4
Date of Publication: May 4, 2011
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