Pacific Resource Partnership, an organization that tracks constructions projects in Hawaii, reports that the construction permit value in 2014 hit an 8 year high at $2.89B. The construction permit value is commonly used as an indicator for a growth in the construction industry. As such, the 2014 permit value would indicate that industry is extremely healthy in Hawaii. If the trend continues then we may see an even higher value in 2015.
Students at Hanalei Elementary learn about Hawaiian culture at Hawaiiana Day 2015. Each year the school hosts a number of local cultural organizations for a fun filled day of learning. Some of the activities included outrigger canoeing, Hawaiian throw net, surfing instruction, Kalo tasting/Poi pounding (Kalo is Hawaiian Taro), and Hula dancing instruction.
Trees damaged in a 2012 forest fire at Kauai's Kokee State Park are to be logged and sent to a biomass plant. The Garden Island reports that the state is "cutting down trees on 300 acres of Kauai forest reserve" which will produce about 15K tons of eucalyptus and pine logs. All of the trees will be sold and sent to a local biomass-to-energy plant and be recycled into Kauai's electricity grid. The logs will account for 17 percent of the plant's production needs for a year and will meet 11 percent of Kauai's energy needs.
The state will receive $300K - $500K from the sale of the trees and plans to reinvest the money into replanting the area damaged in the 2012 forest fire with native and non-invasive plant species.
Biomass is an energy source that is created using organic materials and converting that energy using thermal, chemical, and biochemical methods. Using wood as a source is thought to be much cleaner than some other sources of biomass and produces ash as a waste. The Division of Forestry and Wildlife plans to use the ash to fertilize the new trees being planted.
Below is a diagram of a typical Biomass plant.
Redevelopment of the Coco Palms is now delayed due to concerns regarding the traffic and the number guests traveling across the road to access the beach. The Garden Island reports that there are several ways to mitigate traffic along the highway adjacent to the Coco Palms. Some include:
1. Plans are already in place to add an additional highway lane to the mauka side.
2. Coco Palms Hui, LLC is planning to run a shuttle that will run guests from the Sea Shell Restaurant across the highway to a hotel property.
3. The developer plans to have five entry and exit points.
4. Working with the Department of Transportation to tune the traffic signalization for different times of the day where traffic would be heavy.
5. Building a pedestrian walkway of the the highway.
A meeting conducted by the Seven-Member Kauai Planning Commission on March 10th will address some of these concerns.
Team Cane Fire is a local softball team from East Kaua`i. Reside Kauai made a donation to the team to help towards paying their entry-fee for the recent Waimea Town Celebration Softball Tournament.
Team Captain, Wyatt Kamoku, gives us a little history about the team:
"Good friend and classmate Kela Alapai grew up watching his father’s team, Home Grown, play. He loved the game so much that after high-school Kela started his own team, Home Grown II, named after his father’s team. Members of Kela’s team consisted of family, friends, and classmates. The team was formed in 1990 and for more than a decade the team played and won numerous tournaments and leagues. In 2000 Kela inherited his father’s team name, the team’s current name “Cane Fire”. It was an exciting and fun time for the team. In 2009 Kela passed away from cancer. It was his last wishes the team stay together. This year marks 6 years since his passing and the team has been reborn and ready to play!"
The team finished 5th out of 20 teams, pretty good for a first year back! Congratulations!
What a great bunch of players, see you next year!
If you have traversed the Wainiha double bridges lately you have noticed a small floating barge with a drill on top. Work is currently underway to determine the density of the ground below the area to help determine how a temporary bridge will be installed. The bridge is on a Historic Highway and will be rebuilt as close to the original structure as possible with a few added safety features. The current bridge is temporary and was installed overnight with only a 24 hour closure to traffic. Rebuilding the original bridge will take time as it will be built in place and will require more man hours than laying a pre built temporary bridge.
Randy Reider first visited Kauai in August of 2007, where he married his wife Cindi. Like many others they fell in love with the islands culture, people, beauty, and lifestyle instantly. They would return to Kauai frequently and with each trip it became harder and more painful to leave. In February of 2013 they received the news that they were pregnant. With their love of Kauai growing, Randy and Cindi thought “Wouldn’t it be great to raise our daughter on Kauai?” and made the move in September of 2013 with four dogs. Their daughter Riley was born on Kauai November 10th.
Randy’s real estate career began in Georgia as an Appraiser in 2005. He received his sales license in 2006. He has worked and succeeded in all types of market conditions and is able to quickly adapt and change strategies when needed. One of Randy’s island strengths is that he has recently succeeded in what you are looking to accomplish, make moving to Kauai a reality. He did all the research and planning on his own. Including shipping vehicles and household goods and qualifying their four dogs for direct-release at the airport on Kauai.
As Randy states on his website, “What I can offer you is my experience. Not just 8 years of experience in real estate, but my experience in making your dream of living in Kauai come true. I understand all of the challenges and fears of moving to Kauai. I have spent a great amount of time learning the island and have an amazing group of colleagues at my side. We work as a team and believe our clients come first.”
Randy transferred his real estate sales license to Hawaii soon after he moved and joined Reside Kauai in early 2015. He made his dream of living on Kauai come true, and would love to be a part of making your dream a reality as well!
randy@livingkauai.com
808.652.3722
Lucky we live Hawaii
PBN reported back in January that the public records show that Facebook CEO, Mark Zuckerburg, paid more that $200M for the hundred of acres he acquired last year. The initial purchase of the Kahuaina plantation was followed by the purchase of the adjacent property from James Pflueger. The 80 home permission on Kahuaina was withdrawn when Larry Bowman sold to Zuckerberg. Additional purchases have been made of smaller, independent properties located within the Pflueger property.
See Reside Kauai blog article we regarding Pilaa
See earlier Reside Kauai blog article regarding the Kahu'aina Estate.