Doris Duke's Shangri La Goes to Museum of Art & Design in NY

Doris Duke’s Diamond Head Honolulu Home on Oahu is a beautiful place to see amazing examples of Islamic art, breathtaking views of Diamond Head and the Honolulu coastline, and luxury Honolulu real estate.

From September 7, 2012 through February 17, 2013, the Museum of Art and Design in New York City will be featuring and exhibition that “showcases objects works of Islamic art from the spectacular Honolulu home of philanthropist and art collector Doris Duke (1912-1993) and new works by six contemporary artists of Islamic background who were recently in residence there.”

This exhiition is organized specially to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Doris Duke and it is the first time that works from Doris Duke’s personal collection have been shown outside of Shangri-La. The exhibit will travel and move on to other mainland locations after its premiere in New York City.

If you are not familiar with Doris Duke and the Shangri-La Center for Islamic Arts and Cultures, in Honolulu, Hawaii, you are missing out. Read More About Shangi-La Here.

Luxury Homes in Kailua and Kaneohe with Bay Views

Yesterday was a great morning for viewing new upscale listings in Kailua and Kaneohe (both on the Windward side of Oahu).

There were quite a few which is great, as inventory has been a little low lately, and with demand up, things are moving rather quickly.

Two outstanding luxury properties for sale on Oahu, one in Kaneohe and the other in Kailua, really do need to be shared with you all.

The Kaneohe Bay view from this Kaneohe home is magnificent! As a bonus, you can park your boat right in front where it is easily accessible for outings to the Sandbar in Kaneohe Bay.

Photo Courtesy of HI Central MLS

With a spacious and open floor plan this Kaneohe luxury home for sale is a wonderful home for entertaining.

This very functional kitchen, in this Kaneohe Bay home for sale, opens up to the living area and enjoys cool ocean breezes and beautiful Kaneohe views.

Every room has a view of the gorgeous Kaneohe Bay…..even the laundry!

Laundry Room With A View!!!

The downstairs portion of this home also has two bedrooms,bathrooms and it another beautiful kitchen and living area. With a separate entrance your guests or extended family can enjoy.

The second home I want to share with you is located in Kailua on the Kawainui Canal with beautiful views of the ocean through the coconut trees. This luxury Kailua home is situated just across the canal from the estate in which President Obama has been known to vacation.

 

This large Kailua property for sale has a lot of approximately 20,000 SqFt- The home itself is unique and luxurious without being too fancy, and has plenty of room to entertain or just relax in the pool. A lovely Kailua beach house, on the canal which leads to the ocean and just minutes from the nearest beach.

This is truly a grand entrance! and a beautiful spacious home with plenty of opportunity to entertain guests and family of all ages. With its large yard and swimming pool, immaculate kitchen and five bedrooms four bathrooms everyone can stay for the whole weekend.

Hawaii Wine & Food Festival 2012 an Oahu Foodie's Delight! 9/6-9/9

The Hawai‘i Food & Wine Festival is the premier epicurean destination event in the Pacific.  Set in the lush island paradise of O‘ahu, this four-day Festival features a roster of over 50 internationally-renowned master chefs, culinary personalities, and wine and spirit producers. Co-founded by two of Hawai‘i’s own James Beard Award-winning chefs, Roy Yamaguchi and Alan Wong, the Festival in Honolulu and Ko Olina Resort will showcase wine tastings, cooking demonstrations, one-of-a-kind excursions, and exclusive dining opportunities with dishes highlighting the state of Hawaii’s bounty of local produce, seafood, beef and poultry.  

This year’s Hawaii Wine & Food Festival looks like more great fun and great tastes! The week starts out at the Modern in Waikiki with Chef Morimoto & Friends and includes the Signature Events such as the Second Annual Halekulani Master Chefs Gala Series: Chefs Who Have Cooked for Presidents and Royalty, From Farm to Table: A Makahiki Festival, and Cuisines of the Stars: A Magical Journey of Food and Culture.

Tickets to the various events can be purchased separately or in packages. For more information go to:

www.HawaiiFoodandWineFestival.com/tickets

~Aloha~

Buying An Older or Historic Oahu Home in East Oahu

Mainland home buyers are often a bit surprised at the quality and condition of real estate when they come to Hawaii to look for real estate. This is particularly true when you are looking at older homes, in the more popular areas of East Oahu (Metropolitan Honolulu, Diamondhead, & Kailua, under about $1M or even up to $2M, if within a block or so of the beach or with excellent views.

Older homes, when beautifully remodeled, are very desirable and people will pay a premium for them. I love old homes, having lived in San Francisco and Portland, OR for many years. The charm of these is unmatchable. However, even original or partially-remodeled older homes, depending upon the location, will be very expensive by most mainland standards. Here, most of the home’s value will be in the land and location will be key.

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Turn Your Home into an Oahu Investment Property

You’ve decided to build wealth with real estate, and rather than sell your property to buy a new one, you will instead convert your home into an Oahu investment property.  It’s a wise move.  Generally, the first few years of mortgage payments are equal to or greater than the monthly rent you could charge, making losses likely.  Some investors welcome the loss due to the tax effects, but as many shy away from the opportunity.  Eventually, monthly rents will exceed your monthly mortgage payment, making the prospect of converting your home into an Oahu investment property appealing, and profitable.  Here are some tips* to make the transition:

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Charles Dickey Hawaii Homes 2 - Dickey Oahu Architect - Dickey Roof

Charles Dickey Homes & Buildings - The California Years.

In 1905, Charles Dickey moved back from Honolulu, Oahu to California. This was a smart move, as the commissions in Hawaii were definitely slowing. He spent spent the next 19 years working and specializing in commercial construction (offices, schools, churches, etc.) throughout the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly in the East Bay communities of Berkeley and Oakland, where he had his office.

Perhaps the most important and prominent building that Dickey (and his then partner, Walter D. Reed) designed, during his years in California, was the prolific Claremont Hotel in the Oakland hills. This still-operational hotel is a massive wood shingled Elizabethan style structure, with Tudor and Queen Anne details, and over 300 rooms. Charles Dickey and Walter Reed beat out three other formidable competing architecture firms for this contract in 1906, the same year as the great San Francisco earthquake and fire. The hotel was finished in 1915, in time for the Panama-Pacific Exhibition. Learning from the San Francisco earthquake, Dickey went on to build many more commerical office structures that were seen to be cutting edge for the time in terms of both technical stability and their fire resistance. Many of these California buildings by Charles Dickey are still standing.

Charles Dickey designed relatively few residential structures in this time period, but those homes were in the Arts & Crafts, Tudor, Colonial Revival and other styles typical of this time period and geography. He tended toward using wood shingles, port cocheres, lanais and some other details he favored in Honolulu. His most spectacular residential accomplishment at this time was another joint venture with Walter Reed: the enormous, 43-room, $250,000 Walter Hart estate, built in the Berkeley area in 1909.

Another interesting project was Charles Dickey’s contribution to the Panama-Pacific Exhibition (a beaux-arts extravaganza) where he completed the Hawaii Building, near the Lagoon of the present day Palace of Fine Arts in the Marina District of San Francisco. Features of this structure included a low profile hipped roof, but that was the only feature that likened this building to earlier Hawaii work or anything in the Hawaiian territorial style. On the contrary, this stuccoed building had three arched doorways on the facade and doric pillasters in the interior. It is said to have represented the natural beauty of the island and its plants and animals well, however. It was strategically placed near the California building, to help ensure traffic, and was believed to have had a significant effect on Hawaii tourism over the coming years.

READ PART I - Charles Dickey’s Early Years in Hawaii - Dickey Designed Oahu Homes & Commercial Buildings

READ PART III - Charles Dickey’s Return to Hawaii - Charles Dickey Oahu Homes & Commerical Buildings

Kailua Beach House for Sale - Has Current B & B License

156C N KALAHEO AVE.  -  OPEN SUN 7/8, 2-5PM!!

If you are looking for a charming, classic beach house in Kailua, you should see this adorable beach house for sale. In the upscale Beachside neighborhood of Kailua, this beach house is only 3 houses away from the “sweet spot” on sandy, white Kailua Beach. This beach house has a coveted current B&B license. It boasts 4 bedrooms and 2 full bathrooms, as well as an attached studio with kitchenette and own bath. At only $1,200,000, this value priced Kailua Beach house will go fast. Please call for more information.

Listor Home Shoppe Hawaii, Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, Esq. (B) 808-721-8088. ~ Aloha ~

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Honolulu Real Property Tax Rates on Oahu Remain Stable for 2012-2013

2012-2013 Hawaii real property tax rates for Honolulu County/ island of Oahu remain at $3.50 per $1000 of assessed value. Oahu has a very low 2012-2013 tax rate when compared with many other places,  

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Hawaii Architect Charles Dickey - Dickey Homes Oahu - Dickey Roof

Who is Hawaiian Architect Charles Dickey?

Charles W. Dickey was a prolific Honolulu architect, who designed both commercial and residential buildings. Charles Dickey’s multi-faceted career in architecture on Oahu and in Claifornia spanned over 5 decades from the 1890’s to the late 1940’s.

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Ka Malanai Kailua Condos FAQ from the Developer

Updated on Sun, March 30, 2014 by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker

Ka Malanai in Kailua FAQs - More Information

Q:

Where will Ka Malanai be located?

A:
Located along Kailua Road, Lanikai direction from Macy’s and Starbuck’s in downtown Kailua, and opposite the Kailua District Park.

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Hawaiian Tradition of Giving a Lei

Almost eveyone knows the Hawaiian custom of giving a lei on a special occasion, right?

But did you know that lei are not just for special occasions? They are a traditional Polynesian accessory, worn like jewelry. They can be worn any time and any place, are a method of adornment and distinction, and can be made of not only flowers, but seeds, leaves, feathers, bone, shell, etc.

Lei were brought to Hawaii first by early Polynesian settlers from Tahiti. Some sacred and cermonial uses are to signify peace. For example, the Maile lei agreement was traditionally used for a peace agreement between chiefs.

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Annual "I Love Kailua" Town Party - 4/22/2012

Today is the annual “I Love Kailua” Kailua Town Party and here are the details:

• Sponsored by the Lani-Kailua Outdoor Circle, an organization that helps keep Kailua beautiful by planting, landscaping and maintaining many public areas in Kailua.
• On Kailua Road between Whole Foods and down to Fat Boys. Street will be closed off. Try to ride or walk, if possible.
• Lots of food: including Bob’s Pizzeria, Buzz’s Original Steakhouse, Moke’s Bread & Breakfast, Formaggio Grill, Whole Foods, Pinky’s, Cup of Tea, Agnes’ Portuguese Bake Shop and more …
• Lots of fun (including keiki activities, sponsored by Kama’aina Kids) and entertainment!
• Also, crafts, original art, and unique plants for sale.
• Community health information and FREE health screenings by Castle Medical Center.
• For $3 you can purchase the “I Love Kailua” donation button. Also available are “I Love Kailua” t-shirts.
• Goes until 4:00 pm

(c) Copyright, 2007-2012. Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn. Reuse with permission only.

Living in Lanikai - As Told to Me by One Lanikai Kailua Resident

Saturday morning in Lanikai:  I’m sure its safe to say that most, if not all people look forward to the weekend! I am no exception. I love the weekends! And for the past 2 years we have been extremely blessed with the opportunity to be spending our weekends at our family home in Lanikai, Kailua.

We wake at 6am every morning. My alarm clock is my 2 year old daughter. But I really don’t mind at all. She makes her way to my bed in the dark to let me know “the sun’s coming up, I wake up! mommy, I’m HUNGRY, lets go downstairs.” It’s the same every morning. 

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New Whole Foods in Kailua - Opening 4/18/2012!

 

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Ironwoods in Kailua - Ka Malanai Condominiums - New Construction in Kailua

 

Ground has broken for Ka Malanai, the long-awaited new condominium project in Kailua, Oahu, Hawaii! This is the largest new construction condominium project in at least 20 years in Kailua. This project was previously known as The Ironwoods Kailua and is on Kailua Road in the center of Kailua Town, about 14 miles from Honolulu. Other condominiums such as Windward Passage and Gardenia Manor are nearby.  The developer of this project is well-known D.R. Horton-Schuler.

This new construction condominium development in Kailua, is situated ideally in the heart of Kailua, where residents will be able to walk to stores such as Target (coming soon), Macy’s, Whole Foods and Pier One Imports. Many restaurants and other shopping is also nearby, including the Thursday night Farmer’s Market across from Long’s Drugs. Picturesque Kailua Beach Park is less than a mile away, as well and the development is on “The Bus” line. These new Ka Malanai condominiums in Kailua are set to change the landscape of Kailua.

The new Ka Malanai condominiums in Kailua will consist of six 4-story buildings built around lovely open-air courtyards, with grass and Hawaiian plantings, which will be seen from Kailua Road. The lower level will consist of retail and business space, and living space will be above.

The residences in the Ka Malanai condo development in Kailua will be one, two and three bedrooms units. There will be mostly 2 bedroom units, with a total of 153 homes. All units in Ka Malanai in Kailua will be single level, making this development ideal for many.

When called the Ironwoods, the developers of Ka Malanai Kailua had stated that the new Kailua condo development would have minimal amenities, to keep the monthly maintenance fees down. This would probably mean no pool, tennis courts and the like. It is estimated that prices will range from somewhere in the $400K’s for one bedrooms units, to the $800Ks for larger units. Square footage will be approximately 700-1,800 square feet. Sales of Ka Malanai Kailua are targeted to begin in late 2012.

For more information on Malanai Kai in Kailua (previously the Ironwoods in Kailua) or other new construction projects or Kailua condominiums that may be available, please email yvonne@HomeShoppeHawaii.com

Update on Sun, March 30, 2014 by By Yvonne Ahearn (B), Realtor-Broker

READ MORE ABOUT KA MALANAI IN KAILUA

Kailua Real Estate | Lakefront Kailua Home for Sale on Large Gracious Lot

Yay!! It’s here. A great new listing and with inventory so low in Kailua, this should go fast.

This view home in Enchanted Lake Kailua is lakefront & move-in ready with the best position on the lake to capture tradewinds. This Kailua home also features a large kitchen, full dining room & family room. This Kailua home for sale has views of Enchanted Lake from entire back of house including the Master Bedroom & Master office nook. There are two Giant walk-through closets in the 2 master suites. This Kailua home on Enchanted Lake also features a large covered lanai w/ sparkling pool. The front and back yard are fully landscaped. The 2d master has huge closets & separate entrance (with rental possibility?). This Kailua home features wood parquet floors, along with ceramic tile and carpet in the bedroom areas.

When you feel the breezes & flow of this house, you will know you are HOME.

Open tomorrow 2/16/2012 9:30-1130

Also, Saturday 2/18, 2-4:30 pm and Sunday 2/19, 2-5pm

Kailua Real Estate sold by Home Shoppe Hawaii in Hillcrest Kailua

Please call me at 808-721-8088 for a personal showing of this lovely home listed by Home Shoppe Hawaii, Principal Broker, Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, 

Lanikai Oceanfront Home in Kailua w/ "Green" Remodel is Sure to Please!

Today’s broker’s open held a pleasant suprise. A new listing from the lovely ladies of Choi, which was on the even side of Mokulua Drive in Kailua, meaning Oceanfront or Beachfront in Lanikai. This particular Lanikai home for sale is oceanfront and not beachfront, as it is not a section of Lanikai where there is no sandy beach. However, the sandy part of Lankai Beach is just a short walk away.

This 6 bedroom 4 bath home near Lanikai Beach is Mediterranean-style, with white stucco, and a beautiful landscaped entrance. A half-moon drive greets you upon entering the gates which ensure privacy from Mokulua Drive in Lanikai.

All photos courtesy of HiCentral MLS. Listing by Choi International.

This entire Lanikai oceanfront home, designed by Jeff Long, has been tastefully remodeled in 2010 with a slightly European flavor. It also has a very clean, minimalist appeal, with its white walls and colorful, artful decor. Built in 1990, it spans over 3,800 comfortable square feet.

The lanikai home for sale has a kitchen (below) that is outstanding, with its clean lines and view out to the ocean Lanikai oceanfront. But what makes this home even more fabulous is that they used green, environmentally-friendly finishes throughout the remodel.

 

Please call 808-721-8088 if you are a prequalified buyer interested in a showing. Aloha, Yvonne

Kahala Avenue Homes with Statue Garden & Museum - Part 2 of Kawamoto's Mission

Japanese billionaire Genshiro Kawamoto, aged 79, is making headlines yet again, and causing quite a stir on Oahu, particularly in the prestigious luxury home neighborhood of Kahala on Oahu. Kawamoto is known to be a little eccentric, bizarre even, and is not favored by many Kahala residents. Kawamoto has been the subject of a lot of negative media coverage over the years with communities and neighborhood boards registering complaints and even individual lawsuits against the real estate tycoon.

Kawamoto first hit the Hawaii real estate scene in the late 80’s during what is known as the “Japanese bubble.” At this time, the US dollar was down and many foreign investors, especially the Japanese, were buying up high-end luxury Oahu real estate in a frenzy. Kawamoto aquired many properties in the period 2002-2006, and now owns more than 20 luxury homes on Kahala Avenue, most purchased for between $2 and $10 million. Kawamoto went on to purchase, in September 2010, an impressive acre and a half beachfront estate at 4653 Kahala Avenue with a price tag of $22 Million. He had already brought the property next door and also another just down the road. In 2010, he also put several of his Kahala homes for sale on the market. Currently, only one of his Kahala luxury homes is listed, 4767 Kahala Avenue, for $3,200,000. Kawamoto is said to own approximately 200 single family homes and condominiums in Hawaii.

You may recall, Kawamoto was frequently in the news in 2007 when Kawamoto announced that he would provide low income Hawaiian families with the opportunity to live in five of the luxury Kahala homes that he owns on Kahala Avenue. Ultimately, he moved three local families into these Kahala Avenue homes, for very low ($150/mo) or no rent, with a 10 year lease. He tore down fences on these homes to enhance the sense of community and filled in swimming pools to make the homes safer for children. All this was supposedly part of his plan called the “Kahala Avenue Mission.” Kawamoto has said that he wanted to bring more people to Kahala Avenue and that he wanted more native Hawaiian families to visit the area, to make Kahala “more fun.” The rest of his homes appear to have remained vacant and many have fallen into disrepair and were graffitti-ed, which has angered his neighbors in this multi-million dollar luxury neighborhood of Kahala.

Now, apparently, the next phase of Kawamoto’s “Kahala Avenue Mission” is to turn clusters of his properties into a statue garden, Japanese tea house and a museum to hold a European Art collection.  Again, his plans are causing great upset with the Kahala neighborhood board who oppose his plan and are again accusing Kawamoto of disrupting the community. In August 2010, Kawamoto was interviewed by Hawaii media and stated he would be making improvements to many of his properties and asked for the community to “wait a little longer, there will be more improvements.” I wonder what else is in store??

Kahala Beach. Picture Courtesy of HiCentral MLS.

One of Kawamoto’s luxury homes in Kahala. Picture Courtesy of HiCentral MLS.

Hillcrest Kailua Home with Panoramic Views

Kailua real estate sold by Home Shoppe Hawaii. 1442 Aunauna Street in Hillcrest. This home has the ocean views in Kailua, Hawaii that many have been waiting for. Not only are there ocean views over Kailua Bay, but also Enchanted Lake and Koolau Mountain range views from almost evey room. This Kailua View Home was listed at only $1,249,000, & sold for $1,225,000. This Kailua home for sale also offers its owners a beautifully landscaped terraced yard recently featued in Hawaii Home and Remodeling Magazine.

Let’s take a closer look!

Kailua Real Estate sold by Home Shoppe Hawaii in Hillcrest Kailua

Kailua Real Estate sold by Home Shoppe Hawaii in Hillcrest Kailua
The panoramic view spans the Koolaus, Enchanted Lake and the Ocean at Kailua Bay

These photos really do not do the property justice. The ocean views are more dramatic in person.

Everything about this home is immaculate, including the garden.

The home has four bedrooms and three bathrooms, including a master suite loft with a craft/office area and a suite below with a seprate entrance. There is also a basement “gym” area, a potting shed and a separate garage. Features include, koa and teak doors, Kitchenaid and Gaggenau appliances, teak parquet floors and an open floor plan. Sold by Home Shoppe Hawaii, Yvonne Jaramillo Ahearn, Principal Broker.

Call me if you are interested in seeing more Oahu view homes like this one …. 808-721-8088

Beachfront Kailua Home: Luxury Homes on Oahu - Owner is Motivated!

This gorgeous Kailua Hawaii Beach House was sold to the current owners in 2005 for $10,400,000 and the previous owners purchased it for $11,500,000 in 2004, when it was a brand new home.  Theis Kailua Hawaii Beach residence has now been on the market since March of 2010, listed at $9,800,000.

I recently received an email from the listing broker (Gold Coast Realty) of this Kailua Beach House for sale. The owners are motivated! They want to sell and would likely be willing to take significantly less than the asking price of $9,800,000. Now is the time for savvy luxury home buyers to purchase that trophy home on Kailua Beach.

Here is a sampling of what you could enjoy as the owner of this fine Kailua Hawaii Beachfront Home -Photos Courtesty of HiCentral MLS and Gold Coast Realty:

 
Kailua Hawaii Beach Home with Pool, Jacuzzi and Waterfall. Kailua Hawaii Beach House with Spiral Staircase.

This exclusive Hawaii beach home is situated on a gorgeous white sandy beach in Kailua Oahu, only 12 short miles from bustling Honolulu. Kailua, Oahu is a suburban community of Honolulu known for its pristine beaches, friendly and relaxed way of living, low crime and friendly people. This Kailua, Oahu beachfront residence offers spectacular views, unsurpassed craftsmanship, and extensive use of natural materials. This is quite possibly the finest beachfront home on Oahu right now, and in one of the best locations on Kailua Beach. This pristine estate features an open floor plan with dramatic spiral staircase and a resort-like lava rock pool and jaccuzzi with a waterfall in a protected and private courtyard. Mahogany glass doors that pocket on both sides create a true indoor-outdoor living style and reveal both the beach and the lush courtyard and pool area.  There is a caretaker cottage, as well. The amenities go on … so this home must be seen to fully appreciate its understated luxury and the truly comfortable grandeur you experience in this home.

Ocean view Kailua Beach House in Hawaii with Spacious Living Area.

This home has 6 bedrooms and 8 bathrooms in total. It is fully landscaped, sprinklered and fabulously laid out. Roofed living area is stated as 6,802 sq ft. Roofed other area, inlcuding lanias, is stated as 1719 sq ft and Open lanai area is stated as 1723 sq ft. The garage is 895 sq ft. This is a very private home and sits on nearly 1/2 acre.

Kailua Hawaii Beach House with Gourmet Kitchen

Spectacular Ocean Views from Every level of this Kailua Hawaii Beach Home.

Kailua Hawaii Beach Home, Bedroom with Ocean Views

Master Bedroom with Ocean Views in this Beachfront Hawaii Home (Kailua Beach, Oahu)

Kailua Hawaii Beach House with Ocean Views from the Jetted Bathtub of Master Suite

Kailua Beach House ground Floor Bedroom Overlooks Pool with Waterfall

 
Kailua Hawaii Beachfront Home with Fireplace

There’s so much more to see! Prequalified buyers, please call me at 808-721-8088 and I will schedule a private viewing of this home. Aloha.