Kailua Real Estate | Historic Kailua Properties on Hawaii Historical Register

Anyone who knows me, knows how much I love old, historic homes. I thought I would list for you the historic Kailua real estate and other Windward historic homes that are dedicated to public interest and preservation. Except, as noted, these Kailua homes are on the State Register of Historic Places and are allowed a drastically reduced property tax, provided that the homes (exterior) are open to public viewing.  If the homes are not easily seen from the public right of way, they are subject to Alternate Visual Visitation (AVV) on the second Saturday of every month, where the owners must afford the public an opportunity for viewing the homes (i.e., open the gates, allow a drive up the private road, etc.)

PLEASE NOTE:
THESE KAILUA HISTORIC HOMES ARE NOT CURRENTLY FOR SALE
(See what IS for sale in Kailua)

1548 Mokulua Drive (AVV) (Lanikai, Kailua Real Estate)

1548 Mokulua Drive in Kailua, Home on the Historic Register

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Hawaii Legislature Overturns Special Requirements for Remodeling 50 Year Old Homes

Many Hawaii homeowners and realtors were dismayed last year when we heard about the new requirement for remodeling or tearing down properties 50 or more years old. Under this law, Act 228 of the 2008 Legislative Session, owners wishing to tear down or remodel such a structure, had to provide photographs of their property to the State Historic Preservation Division prior to being issued a building permit. There was no distinction made as to the condition or stuctural integrity of the building, or any other factor, other than age. On the East side of Oahu, this affected many, many people, as most homes here are at or rapidly approaching the age that would be covered under the law.

As you can imagine, many problems and criticisms arose from the law, including imposing an unfair burden on homeowners in getting and paying for these pictures and, of course, further delays in getting permits. This law was not meant to create a bottleneck, or even prevent destruction of historical properties, but rather just a way to preserve history through pictures. However, it made an already cumbersome permit process a bit more cumbersome.

Governor Lingle, has apparently agreed with the critics of Act 228, and effective April 14, 2009, repealed this law. She stated,” Act 228 further impeded the issuance of building permits at a time when we should be doing all we can to facilitate construction activity in order to stimulate the economy and create jobs.” Thank you, Governor Lingle, but I have to wonder — why do some of these laws get passed in the first place?