Written by Dennis O’Donnell

Honoring Fathers and Embracing the Hawaiian Summer

The month of June on Maui has always been one of my favorites, with ideal weather conditions and consistent trade winds blowing adding to the ideal pleasant daily temperatures. It is also the month for celebrating Fathers and marking the change of seasons.

So, let’s start off by wishing a very “Hau’oli La Makuakane” (Happy Father’s Day) to all the past, present, and future Fathers here on the island.

Traditionally, Hawaiian society was organized around the concept of extended families, where multiple generations lived together and worked collectively. The father, or "makuakāne," was responsible for providing for the family, protecting them, and passing down cultural knowledge and traditions to the younger generation.

Fathers in Hawaiian culture are also associated with the concept of "kuleana," which refers to responsibility and accountability. They are expected to fulfill their roles as providers and caregivers, as well as to act as role models for their children, teaching them important values such as respect for nature, love for their land and culture, and the importance of community.

‘Ike aku, ‘ike mai. Kōkua aku, kōkua mai. Pēlā ka nohona ‘ohana

(Watch, observe. Help others and accept help. That is the family way)

The Longest Day of the Year – Here Comes Summer!

Hawaiians refer to the summer solstice as “Ke Alanui Polohiwa a Kane,”, when the sun reaches the northern most point in the sky. These longer days encourage us to stay outside more and get in more hiking, biking, gardening, swimming, and longboard surfing on the south swells.

There are also plenty of great island entertainment events to experience, savor and enjoy thoroughly.

A personal favorite is the Maui Film Festival. A truly special island classic (23 years and counting!) this unpretentious event features a vast array of documentaries, eccentric narratives, short films and international films, all presented in unique Maui venues (this year will all films will be shown at the MACC).

King Kamehameha Day Parade. Officially, June 11 is celebrated as a State Holiday to honor and celebrate the father of the Hawaiian Kingdom. But Maui’s turn will be on June 17 in Lahaina, starting at 9am.

Head Upcountry to historical Makawao town on June 24 for a full day of paniolo (cowboy) fun at the Makawao Stampede Fest 2023 Country Concert 2023. Bring your tents, chairs, beach mats and the whole family for some great western entertainment.

Maui’s Real Estate Snapshot

The stalemate continues between Sellers and Buyers. Those property owners locked in with historically low interest rates are less willing to give those up by selling, while a sizable percentage of buyers are on the sidelines waiting to see what will happen with mortgage rates. The end result is two-fold; the median price for both Maui’s Single-Family Homes and for Condos is now at $1,271,500 and $835,000 respectively.

While the Month’s Supply of Inventory (Absorption Rate) is getting closer to being a Balanced Market, instead of the strong seller’s market we’ve experienced over the last couple of years.

Maui County Government News

The Maui County Council passed its $1.07 billion version of the fiscal year 2024 county budget and is now awaiting Mayor Bissen’s signature.

Highlights of the “fiscally responsible” budget are increased funding for affordable housing projects, as well as funding for nonprofits, including those that support agricultural promotion, watershed protection, mitigation of invasive species, social services, tourism management and travel costs for youth sports and activities.

Also passed by the Council, is a new overall water rate category for hotels and resorts, a measure that aims to get resorts to conserve more water.

That wraps up the Maui June Report and remember . . . no gloom allowed here so Oi kau ka lau, e hana I ola honua (Live your life while the sun is still shining) ― Hawaiian proverb

Aloha from all of us at Team Romvari Realty, Maui, Hawai’i