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I first heard about RV's Surf Shop from my brother.  He told me how he had some dings on his surfboard repaired and the price was very reasonable.  At that time I was mainly surfing Canoes (a surf break) in Waikiki.  It's a crowded surf spot with a mix of beginners and experienced regulars - the kind of place where boards get dinged.  I decided to have my dings repaired at RV's.

I took my board to RV's and an employee carefully noted every ding that could potentially let water in.  About a week later, I went back to pick it up.  The owner, Roy Vierra was at the shop and he gave me a friendly greeting.  Roy described the repairs to the board, then talked story for awhile about the funny dings he's seen on surfboards.  Owners sometimes make up weird… Read Full Post

The Shanghai Circus returned to Oahu this past weekend.  We were there to see their stunning show for the third year in a row.

The Hawaii Theatre

The Circus' venue in Honolulu is the Hawaii Theatre, located downtown.   It's a beautiful theatre, which first opened in 1922.  Originally used for silent movies, vaudeville shows and plays, the theatre suffered from deferred maintenance as the years passed.  In 1984, Consolidated Amusement, the theatre's operator, terminated its lease of the property. 

Two years later, a nonprofit group was formed with the intent of restoring the theatre.  They collected donations, hired contractors and managed to reopen the theatre in 1996.

Back to the Shanghai Circus

The performers are simply amazing.  Some of the feats…

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This year's Sony Open got started at 8 a.m. this morning.  This year's contestants get to start off with strong winds, whipped up from the south.  Friday is expected to have more heavy winds, which should taper off on Saturday and Sunday.

Some of the world's top golfers will be in attendance.  Ernie Els, Paul Azinger, Davis Love III, Brad Faxon, Corey Pavin to name a few.  Last year's defending champion, K.J. Choi is back too.

Oahu newspapers are focusing on one of Hawaii's rising stars, Parker McLaughlin. The 29-year old got a job at Waialae Golf Course in the late 1990's doing janitorial work, taking out trash and cleaning bathrooms.  The pay was good but more importantly, he had the opportunity to play golf at one of Hawaii's most desireable private…

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Town Restaurant, at the corner of Waialae and 9th Avenues is a great place for dinner and drinks in Kaimuki.  This kamaaina owned business serves delicious food and strives to use locally grown produce whenever possible.

The photo above was taken in the morning, before the restaurant opened.  Evening photos do not show the establishment well because it does not have a lighted sign.

Town has indoor and outdoor seating.  Outdoor tables start near the entrance (under the "Town" sign) and proceed to the left, around the corner of the building.  It's great to have dinner outside on a cool night, watching pedestrians and cars pass by.

The menu is American-style food with Italian influence.  Some of our favorite dishes include the gnocchi (dumplings), hand…

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The last month of 2008 was surprisingly steady for homeowners on Oahu.  Sales volume of homes and condos was way down from 2007.  Oahu's median sales prices held steady though. 

It seems like prices throughout the U.S. have plunged, how can Hawaii's prices be holding steady?  Part of the answer is- location, location, location. Affluent people are still buying homes, resulting in price stability and even price increases in certain neighborhoods!  Yes, the number of properties sold has decreased significantly, but owners of the more expensive properties are selling at good prices or hanging onto their homes until better times return.

On the other hand, neighborhoods such as Ewa Beach, Wahiawa and Kapolei are taking big hits.  Why is the market picking on…

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Most Oahu residents saw a decrease in their tax assessed values for 2009.  Some homeowners here and there have higher assessments this year.  A friend called me yesterday to talk about her assessment, which has been climbing year after year.

This Kaneohe homeowner has been living in her home for years.  Despite the overall decrease in assessed values on the windward side of Oahu, her assessment is up again, possibly higher than the actual market value of her home.

We ran a comparative market analysis (CMA) report of homes sold in her neighborhood.  She's going to file an appeal and attach the CMA report to justify her estimated value of the home.

The deadline for filing appeals is approaching quickly.  Tax assessment forms include instructions for…

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We've been getting a good amount of rain in Honolulu lately.  Visitors to Hawaii might be disappointed when the sun isn't out, however we do need the rain to recharge our aqufiers and water our lawns.

Yesterday I was driving home from real estate showings and saw this unusual rainbow in Palolo Valley.  The left side of the rainbow is standing around Carlos Long Street and the right side is planted on 10th Avenue.

Have a healthy and prosperous new year!

Aloha, Mike

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On the night after Christmas, when all through the house, we were all in the dark.

We were enjoying a family dinner with my mom and stepdad in Hawaii Kai.  As we finished up, the lights flickered a few times.  We ignored the flickering and continued talking.  Then, around 6:45 p.m. we lost electricity.

Hawaii Kai and the surrounding neighborhoods were almost pitch black.  Cars driving along Kalanianaole Highway illuminated the coastline.  Some buildings had backup power to light their stairways and grounds.

We looked around in the dark (not easy to do) and found the candles and flashlights.   We also had a hand-crank radio/flashlight.  It doesn't require batteries, which can come in handy.  Thank you to uncle Wally for that gift!

Most cell phones were…

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