Featured Properties

Kai Malu Wailea 75A

Kihei, HI 96753

Spectacular ocean-view, hill-top location overlooking the Wailea Blue Course.

view property

Kihei Kai Nani

Kihei, HI 96753

Escrow Just Canceled! -Affordable, Vacation Rentable, S. Kihei.

view property

Kaanapali Shores 1119

Lahaina, HI 96761

Discover this beautifully appointed and spacious two-bedroom residence at the Mahana situated at the north end of Kaanapali’s Kahekili Beach.

view property

Maui Marches into Spring with Positive Momentum

We begin with yet another testament to the allure and beauty of Maui’s beaches. TripAdvisor has ranked West Maui’s Kāʻanapali Beach as #1 “Best Beach in the USA” (and #10 in the World!), with descriptions like “as perfect as it gets,” with “three miles of powder white sand and crystal-clear water,” and a “palm-tree lined island paradise shore, lapped by gentle waves of the Pacific Ocean.”

They also ranked our North Shore’s Ho’okipa Beach as 5th in the country, saying in part: “Turtles, seals, surfers. Picture perfect views at all levels and times. It is nice just to sit in the sand and watch the waves or sit on the cliff and soak in the views.”

Of course, I am only slightly partial since Maui is my home, and there are many other stunning island beaches to explore and enjoy, but it’s nice to see these two especially get honored. Maui No Ka Oi !

Source: https://mauinow.com/2023/02/28/mauis-ka%CA%BBanapali-beach-ranked-best-in-the-us-and-no-10-in-the-world-by-tripadvisor/

More Positive Economic News for the State

Depending upon your choice of news source, there are many, many different opinions or predictions out there (seems like everyone has one!) regarding the state of the economy and where we are headed. Personally, I like to check out Hawaii’s Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism (DBEDT), because, as Sgt. Joe Friday would say, “Just the facts, ma’am” (Google it, millennials).

DBEDT just released its first quarter 2023 Statistical and Economic Report and declared that the “STATE CONTINUES TO FORECAST A BETTER HAWAII ECONOMY THAN THE NATION IN 2023.”

Wow! Now THAT’s a bold prediction . . . and in ALL CAPS, TOO!! Let’s take a closer look at what they are seeing:

Inflation rates declining. Starting in March 2021, the Hawaii inflation rate has been consistently below the U.S. inflation rate. The Hawaii inflation rate has been declining since May 2022 while the U.S. inflation rate started to decline in July 2022. As of January 2023, the Hawaii inflation rate was at 5.2 percent and the U.S. inflation rate was at 6.4 percent.

State General Excise Tax collections continue to rise. GET is an indicator reflecting current business conditions in Hawaii. After adjusting for inflation using the Urban Hawaii consumer price index, real GET increased by 11.8 percent in calendar year 2022 from the previous calendar year. For January 2023, real GET growth was 6.7 percent over January 2022 collections.

Tourism recovery continues. In 2022, visitor arrivals recovered 89 percent from the 2019 level of 10.4 million. Those visitors spent an estimated amount of $19.3 billion which was historically the highest in nominal dollars.

Construction activity improving. The construction industry, as measured by the contracting tax base in current dollars increased by 5.6 percent during the first nine months of 2022.

Labor market becoming stable though a labor shortage still exists. The state unemployment rate will continue to improve as economic recovery continues. The rate is projected to be 3.2 percent in 2023, 2.9 percent in 2024, 2.7 percent in 2025, and 2.6 percent in 2026.

Well that all sure sounds like very encouraging news, and it makes my optimism continue to improve as I look forward to the rest of 2023.

Source: https://dbedt.hawaii.gov/blog/23-05/

A Speedbump in Maui’s Affordable Housing Goal

I have lived on Maui for 2/3 of my life, so I can confidently say that this is Paradise, but it ain’t Utopia.

Back in 2021, the “Maui County Comprehensive Affordable Housing Plan” was finalized with the intention of drawing a roadmap for creating 5,000 affordable homes for local residents below 120% Area Median Income over five years. Unfortunately, so far only 675 homes are being built and another 943 homes are approved for construction. Or put another way, if the county continues its current path, it will take about 15 years to meet its goal! OUCH!

We all know that the island needs way more affordable housing, so we will have to trust that the powers-to-be can get this important mission back on track.

Source: https://mauinow.com/2023/03/04/maui-county-behind-eight-ball-on-plan-to-create-5000-affordable-homes-in-5-years/

Funding Public Housing

Hawaii Senator Brian Schatz announced that the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority will receive $14,844,329 to improve public housing throughout the state.

“Everyone deserves an affordable and safe place to live,” said Senator Schatz, chairman of the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development. “This new funding will help make repairs and improvements to homes across Hawai‘i, providing better living conditions for local families who rely on public housing.”

This is good news, and I appreciate Senator Schatz’s efforts on this much needed funding.

In the “Things That Make You Go Hmmm” Category . . .

Maui Condos are still very much in demand, especially those that legally allow Short-Term/Vacation Rentals:

And residential home prices have not seen significant reductions:

Who is winning the Battle of the Bands? Looks like South Maui, with its strong condo sales has edged out Central Maui (King of the Single-Family Homes).

West Maui was holding its own in a close 3rd place in the February 2023 sales tally.