1. Check the liability coverage offered on your car from your insurance carrier as well as the company shipping it,
2. Your vehicle will be inspected upon departure for damage including windshield/window cracks. Make sure the vehicle exterior is clean & repair such damage prior to shipping or difficulties may arise,
3. Do not leave personal items in the vehicle. Anything that is not “original equipment” should be removed for safekeeping,
4. Ship your vehicle with ¼ tank or less of fuel.

More information about transfer vehicle registration.
Obtaining Your Driver’s license.
Free shipping quotes (auto and household goods).

Every entry has an English translation of the Hawaiian name (when possible) as well as background information. It is invaluable reference book for any Hawaiian language student, but “Place Names” should also be in the library or book collection of everyone who lives in Hawai’i that has a library or book collection.

The value to newcomers to the islands is immeasurable!

• Find on Amazon.com

The Honolulu Board of REALTORS® released the following resale figures for October 2010. According to the analysis conducted by the Board, using data collected from its computerized Multiple Listing Service (MLS) system, the statistics are:

During October, sales of 221 single-family homes and 310 condominiums were reported through the Board’s MLS, a decrease of 16.9 percent and 21.3 percent, respectively, from October 2009. The median price paid for island properties was $595,750 for single-family homes and $300,000 for condominiums, a decrease of 1.4 percent for single-family homes and no change for condos, compared to the same month last year.

According to the Days on Market indicator, sales also closed faster in October with single-family homes listing for 35 days, down from 52 days, and condominiums down to 34 days from 54 days over prior year.

This report reflects information about resales of existing properties only and does not include new home sales. All of the MLS information is compiled from sales reported during the cited months; this data is known only after closing of escrow. The time delay between the signing of a sales contract and the closing of escrow is usually between one and three months.

Click HERE to download the complete statistical report.

Neighborhood Focus:
Kailua – Waimanalo

In the news…
Honolulu – 3rd safest city according to Forbes
Conde Nast Travelers Love Hawaii
Honolulu among top 10 income growth markets
Plan drawn for Kakaako land
State gives final OK to Koa Ridge project
State jobless rate edged down to 6.3% in Sept.
Obama returning to Honolulu for third straight Christmas
‘Resilient’ tourism lifts outlook

Along with nine other U.S. states, Hawaii ranked among the top ten because it exempts Social Security benefits as well as military, federal, state and local pensions, and some private pensions from state income taxes.

One way to learn more about your new island home is Yelp. Yelp is a user review site that helps to connect people with great local businesses like dentists, hair stylists and mechanics. More than 38 million people visited Yelp in August of 2010, writing over 12 million local reviews. In addition to reviews, you can use Yelp to find events, special offers, lists and to talk with other Yelpers.

You can Yelp on your phone at http://m.yelp.com, or use Yelp for iPhone and Blackberry. Learn more @ http://www.yelp.com/yelpmobile.

The Weekly Yelp is available in 42 city editions, including Honolulu (http://www.yelp.com/honolulu) to bring you the latest business openings & other happenings.

Some of the different groups in the directory include Newcomers Club , New Neighbors, Welcome Friends, Friends & Families, Welcome Wagon Club, MOMS Club, Mothers and More, Dad-to-Dad, and more.

http://www.newcomersclub.com/hi.html

During August, sales of 224 single-family homes and 289 condominiums were reported through the Board’s MLS, decreases of 6.3 percent and 17.0 percent, respectively, from August 2009. The median price paid for island properties was $645,239 for single-family homes and $307,500 for condominiums, an increase of 15.2 percent for single-family homes and 6.0 percent for condos, compared to the same month last year.

According to the Days on Market indicator, sales also closed faster in August with single-family homes listing for 32 days, down from 49 days, and condominiums down to 33 days from 53.

This report reflects information about resales of existing properties only and does not include new home sales. All of the MLS information is compiled from sales reported during the cited months; this data is known only after closing of escrow. The time delay between the signing of a sales contract and the closing of escrow is usually between one and three months.

Click HERE to download the complete statistical report.		Neighborhood Focus: Ewa Plain

In the news…

Lingle planning China trip to foster ties, tourism

Tourism outlook optimistic

30-year mortgage rate lowest since 1971

2010 event expands cultural offerings

China tops Japan as No. 2 economy

Hawaii’s jobless rate steady at 6.3%

Obama winter vacation home sells for $6.9M

Hawaii Tourism Authority: Visitor traffic up 9% in July

InsideOut magazine is O’ahu’s newest source for keeping up-to-date on Hawaii’s dining, travel and entertainment scene; the islands’ finest restaurants, travel features, the latest stage productions, concerts, festivals and nightlife.  Check out the premiere issue online.

Next, the team that formerly produced the Metromix Honolulu website for the Advertiser have launched Nonstop Honolulu, a locally produced entertainment website that covers eating, events and nightlife on Oahu.  The site features five primary channels: Eating, Events, Nightlife, Blogs and Video.

Great new opportunities for the fine folks who have been providing entertainment and dining news for many years and two new excellent choices to help you decide how to have fun and enjoy yourself on O’ahu.

Kahala Associates presents the Oahu Real Estate Market Report – Q2 2010. Kahala Associates is a wholly agent-owned, luxury real estate brokerage firm located in Honolulu, Hawaii. The firm was selected to be a member of the Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® as well as a charter member of The Luxury Portfolio Fine Property Collection®. (www.kahalaassociates.com)

The U.S. Post Office is seeking submissions for a new “Aloha from Hawaii” logo design for their Hawaii Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Boxes. They’re looking for an image that should remain recognizably, “Hawaii” and include the words “Aloha from Hawaii”.

Rather than a traditional design contest, U.S.P.S Hawaii launched the contest on Prova.fm, the online crowdsource design agency.

The deadline for Submissions is Sep 28, 2010.