Barbara Abe, Your Hawaii Kai Realtor

Organized by Malama Maunalua, a community group dedicated to the conservation and restoration of the part of Oahu stretching, mauka and makai, from Black Point in Kahala to Koko Head in Hawaii Kai, students are removing destructive invasive plants - leather mudweed - from Maunalua Bay. “When you walk around out here, you see it’s ...

A recent article in RisMedia explored home trends for this coming year.  They discuss several developments you may see some or all of in Hawaii Kai. 1.  Glitsy Glamour is out, Comfort is In:  home crafts and homey touches. 2.  Black walls.  Smaller rooms can look larger with a black wall.  Use crisp white trim ...

A new law effective Jan.1, 2010 mandates that new housing in Hawaii have solar water heaters.  With a solar water heater, the typical homeowner will pay 30 percent to 40 percent less on their electric bills, or about $750 a year, depending on the number of people in the household and how much water they use.  For a new house, a system ...

Residents and many who follow the news of Hawaii can't have missed learning of the state's budget woes, manifested in teacher furloughs and state library cut backs. I'm pleased to write that our Honolulu Board of Realtors has given a $10,000 grant to the Friends of the Library of Hawai'i in an effort to keep local libraries ...

Kauai-born brothers Arist and Max de Wolff returned to Hawaii a few years ago to work in the family business of asphalt paving.  Their small company, Alakona Corp, has a reputation as a specialist for commercial, government and private projects. After researching the latest industry products and trends, they invested $1 million in supplies ...

A town hall meeting was called this week by state Rep. Gene Ward (Kalama Valley, Hawaii Kai) in response to the death of 17-year-old skin diver Keahihoku Lum.  On Oct. 9, Lum was struck by a fishing boat while free diving offshore of Hawaii Kai’s Portlock Point, although he and a fellow diver had “diver-down” flags ...

About a dozen farmers lease 87 acres of ag land from Kamehameha Schools/Bishop Estate in the back of the Kamilo Nui Valley.   The valley is the largest and last parcel of open, undeveloped land in east Honolulu, and the lush productive region also serves as a watershed area to control flood waters coming down the valley to ...

A developer is trying to proceed with a long-delayed condominium project in Hawai'i Kai, Hale Alii, but an affordable housing contribution has yet to be negotiated with the city, and some cultural preservationists claim that ancient Hawaiian artifacts on the site are in danger of being destroyed.  Hale Alii Development LLC hopes to break ...

You've read in my blogs previously about the strong opposition in Hawaii Kai to the shark tours proposed earlier this year in Maunalua Bay.  After hearings around the island, with many residents opposed to any shark tours anywhere, the Honolulu City Council introduced a bill to ban shark tour operations.  Bill 67 calls for ...

There are lots of changes going on in the Aina Haina Shopping Center, not far from Hawaii Kai and an easy drive.  Foodland just announced its 59-year-old original store will be renovated over the next few months into Foodland Farm, with gourmet, organic and locally grown foods at competitive prices. Genki Sushi is putting the finishing ...