The Kahului real estate market, a portion of the larger Maui county housing market, seemed to be rallying despite a weakness in the rest of the island economy. A May 20, 2010 article from the Lahaina News stated that, “The market is starting to turn, indicated by the increase in unit sales. While the Homebuyer Tax Credit program has ended, the resulting sales (closings) through May and June will show in the next two months’ statistics.” The piece went on to state that “Anecdotal evidence from agents, lenders and escrow personnel indicate that a good portion of the transactions in process (not yet closed) are outside of the tax credit program, and that there is strong buyer-showing activity that should result in future sales. Condo median prices are showing some small upticks…Interest rates have started to rise from historic record lows, which may also motivate would-be buyers to go ahead and buy.”

However, the overall economy of Kahului and Maui faced uncertainty in the first quarter of the year. According to a June 8, 2010 article from Hawaii News Now, “The latest state report on tax revenues and building permits shows a decidedly slower economic recovery on neighbor islands than on Oahu.” The piece, written by Howard Dicus, continued to state that “Excise taxes were down 2% on Oahu, down 8% on Kauai, down 16% in Maui County, and down 18% on the Big Island, compared to the first quarter of 2009. A parallel indicator is a comparison of revenue trends in the first quarter for the transient accommodations tax, commonly known as the hotel tax. Those revenues were up 37% on Oahu, down 6% on Kauai, down 47% in Maui County, and down 66% on the Big Island, compared to the first quarter of last year.”

One example of a drastic fall in value on the island, which may bode poorly for the Kahului real estate market, was reported in a May 27, 2010 article in the Wall Street Journal. The piece by James R. Hagerty stated that “Some buyers are getting huge price cuts. In April, a home on the Hawaiian island of Maui sold for $19.9 million, down from the original asking price of $38 million.”

For many visitors who choose to stay in a Hawaii vacation home instead of a hotel, they are looking into having an authentic local experience in hopes of vacationing Hawaiian style. While there are many complex facets that can make for a Hawaiian style vacation, most tourists can agree that food is a major part of vacationing Hawaii style. Traditional Hawaiian food, Pacific rim fusion food, Asian food, and Local food are all important to understanding the culture and atmosphere of the local community today. Another essential part of a Hawaii style vacation is the lack of electronics. Moving on the basis of “Hawaiian time,” or being consistently laid back and lenient, visitors look forward to turning off their cellular phones, laptops, and other personal digital assistants for the duration of their trip.

In order to vacation Hawaii style, many hit the beaches. Experiencing the different beach hotspots can make or break a vacation. Provided good weather is bound to come about during every person’s stay, being able to see the crowded beaches of Waikiki and the secluded beaches of the North Shore is an eye-opening and intriguing experience. Vacationing Hawaii style can also be accomplished by learning how to surf.

Although all of Hawaii offers a great atmosphere for relaxing in paradise as you enjoy your vacation, Waikiki is often the most popular destination for tourists. Located minutes away from downtown Honolulu, Waikiki is primarily a tourist center overflowing with excellent dining, shopping, and entertainment opportunities, as well as beautiful, pristine beaches. Over the past decade, Waikiki has experienced much development, making it look even more beautiful and accessible to tourists. In Waikiki you will not only find all things Hawaii, but also brand name designers and products, as well as well known restaurants owned by world-renowned chefs.

Although great shops, restaurants, and activities can be found all throughout Waikiki, there are some major establishments that you may want to check out. Recently named Luxury Row, the street on 2100 Kalakaua Avenue is home to a collection of shops with designer names including Tiffany & Co., Coach, Gucci, Yves saint Laurent, Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Tod’s, and Hugo Boss. The Waikiki Beach Walk is a newly renovated strip that offers unique and genuine Hawaiian keepsakes and authentic local arts and crafts. The International Marketplace is an open-air establishment home to over 130 carts offering various types of local products. The Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center is one of the more popular shopping establishments in Waikiki, with over 100 shops and restaurants in the four-tiered structure made up of three buildings.

Do you like to shop?  Honolulu is one of the best places to shop in the world because of the dozens of shopping centers throughout the city.  Hoards of tourists fly into Honolulu from places near and far.  Thousands of Japanese tourists arrive daily along side a number of travelers from South Korea, Taiwan, and Japan.  Australians also love flying to Honolulu for a good week of resting, relaxing, and shopping.  Besides these foreign visitors, tourists from the U.S. mainland, especially the west coast, make the short five- hour hop from places like California, Oregon, and Washington to shop at Honolulu’s finest retail centers.  Some people enjoy shopping in Honolulu so much that they decide to purchase a home or apartment in the city and invest in real estate Hawaii.  Ala Moana Center is the largest mall in the state and is the largest open air shopping mall in the world with over 250 stores, a food court, and a great diversity of sellers, ranging from small local boutiques to high-end fashion design stores. Royal Hawaiian Shopping Center and the DFS Galleria are located in the heart of Waikiki and offer a similar selection of high-end retailers and brand-name sellers.  In fact, Apple’s flagship store is located on the Waikiki promenade.  The timeless Aloha Tower Marketplace is yet another one of Honolulu’s enjoyable shopping areas.

Weddings in Hawaii

Since a trip to Hawaii is, in itself, a remarkable once in a lifetime opportunity, many couples choose to make their visit to Hawaii even more special by holding their wedding in the Aloha State. A Hawaiian wedding can range considerably in price, depending on the desired complexity and elaborateness of the ceremony, but one thing is clear. Hawaii is one of the best places on the entire planet to hold a wedding. The picture perfect scenery, consistently beautiful weather, and multifarious options all combine to create a romantic synergy. The bottom line is, if you can afford to travel to the Aloha State for your wedding ceremony, it is without a doubt the best choice for your special day. Airfare and lodging are probably the largest financial obstacles for any trip to Hawaii, but compared to those two the fees of a Hawaii wedding are not extraordinarily high, although this of course depends on the venue and options which you choose.

The most popular wedding destination in Hawaii is almost certainly Waikiki Beach, located between Diamond Head and Ala Moana. This is most likely because of the immediate association that most people create between Hawaii and arguably the most famous beach in the world. Local high schoolers are often confused with newlywed couples after their high school proms, leading to a certain degree of hilarity. The students usually just go along with the tourist mistake, have a little laugh, and then continue enjoying their nighttime adventure on Waikiki Beach. Waikiki is home to most of the high class hotels of Hawaii, including several variations on the Hyatt, Marriott, and Sheraton, as well as many wedding chapels and churches. It should be noted here that the wedding chapels and churches of Waikiki specifically and Hawaii in general are by no means comparable to the seedy establishments of Las Vegas – in Hawaii weddings are taken very seriously.

The most romantic and arguably most popular option for a Hawaiian wedding is an outdoor, beach front ceremony. This is obviously less expensive than a big church wedding in Saint Augustine’s Church, and allows the celebrants to enjoy the beautiful natural setting of the islands. In addition to Waikiki Beach, there are a number of other beaches that are popular for wedding ceremonies. A number of these are found on the neighbor islands, especially the Big Island (also known as Hawaii), Maui (the Valley Isle), and Kauai (the Garden Isle). Other locales are found on Oahu, including the Kailua-Kaneohe coastline, Waimanalo, and even the North Shore. There are a number of local companies that specialize in providing all of the services needed for a Hawaiian wedding, ranging from video recording and catering to hall rentals and transportation. At the end of the day, there really is no way to compare any other location to Hawaii. The stunning, picturesque sunsets above the Pacific Ocean, the balmy trade winds, and warm temperatures throughout the year make it impossible to top Hawaii as a destination for weddings specifically and for romance in general.
Romantic Hotels

For many couples, the trip of a lifetime is a honeymoon or a similar romantic vacation, often taken immediately after a wedding. Some of the most romantic destinations in the world are made even better through the presence of a luxury hotel, while other times ordinary sites are made quite romantic via the same mechanism. Creating a romantic hotel requires the successful combination and synergy of dozens of components, all of which mesh to form a perfect atmosphere for love. The most important elements that go into creating a romantic hotel are location, design, and services.

The location of a hotel is often key in determining how romantic the accommodation is. Many of the world’s most romantic hotels and destinations are found in world class cities such as Paris and Honolulu as well as locations such the Italian Riviera and the Bahamas. Paris is the home to a number of local hotel chains in addition to international chains such as the Marriott, all of which benefit from the phenomenal location and offerings of Paris. After all, it is not especially difficult to create a romantic hotel in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower along the River Seine. The same is true for Honolulu, which boasts tiki lanterns along Waikiki Beach in addition to Diamond Head and Ala Moana. Any hotel in these two cities, as well as near the Italian lakes, rivers, and countryside or the beaches of the Bahamas.

The design of a hotel also goes a long way in deciding whether or not the structure has that special touch of romance. Generally speaking, architects in search of creating a romantic hotel eschew the more traditional “boxy” shapes in favor of open air designs for the sake of avoiding a sense of confinement or claustrophobia. Romantic hotels often favor large courtyards filled with flowers, waterfalls, and other relaxing design elements in order to promote romance and love. One essential aspect of the design of any romantic hotel is a hot tub or jacuzzi, if necessary close to the pool, but preferably in a private suite. Balconies are a great place to enjoy a sunrise or sunset, especially when the sun sinks into the ocean in a blaze of glory, while screen porches are outstanding for enjoying a drink and a chat.

Of course, the biggest difference between a hotel and an apartment or condominium is the array of services offered by the former in comparison to the latter. The hotel concierge is an absolute necessity for couples planning a night out on the town, since that talented individual can direct couples to the best restaurants, bars, and clubs in the region. Room service is also a classic romantic option popularized by television shows and movies, and offers everything from musical compact discs and chocolate strawberries to lobsters and champagne. Most romantic hotels also offer guides to the best things to see and do for couples in the cities in question, making the ideal honeymoon, second honeymoon, or romantic vacation that much easier to attain.

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