Just a Reminder….
Na Hale O Maui Homebuyer Seminar
When: Tomorrow, Saturday December 3, 2011 from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m.
Where: Good Shepherd Church Parish Hall, Wailuku
This is a great opportunity to learn some of the basics of getting the right mortgage for you and you family. `

Strong Growth Continues in Visitor Spending and Arrivals|

By Sonia Isotov
Article from: MauiNow.com

Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawai’i in the first 10 months of 2011 grew 14.8%, compared to the same period in 2010, to $10.3 billion, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority.

On Maui, total expenditures by visitors in the first 10 months of 2011 grew 13.1%, compared to the same period in 2010, to $2.5 billion.

Visitors in October 2011 spent $20 more per person per day than last October. Visitors to Maui actually spent $6 less per person per day than last October.

Total visitor days for all visitors increased 4.1% and total arrivals (+2.6%) continued to exceed last year at 6,034,104 visitors. On Maui, total visitor days for all visitors increased 3.6 % and total arrivals (+3.8%) also exceed last year at 1,808,350.

Total arrivals to Maui in October 2011 dropped 2% compared to a year ago. Growth in arrivals to Maui from Canada (+3.2%) and Japan (6.9%) were offset by lower arrivals from US West (-7.1%) and US East (-1.1%). For the first 10 months of 2011, arrivals to Maui from Canada (+17.2%), US East (+1.3%) and US West (+0.8%) increased, but arrivals from Japan (-3.1%) declined compared to year-to-date 2010.

“We are also pleased with continued growth from our international markets, including the second positive month of arrivals from Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami,” said Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority today in written statement.

“New and additional airlift through 2012 also demonstrates that demand for travel to the Hawaiian islands remains high, and is a good indicator of momentum for the visitor industry in the coming year.”

More detailed October and 2011 year-to-date statistics for individual islands and the state, can be found on the Hawaii Tourism Authority website.

Developer Plans Downtown Kihei

Article From: The Maui Weekly
Article By:Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez

Imagine South Maui developers getting applause at a community meeting when they proposed a 150-room hotel, a state-of-the-art HD movie theater, restaurants, retail shops and a pedestrian plaza.

In what may have been a unique moment in the history of development in Kihei, that is exactly what happened at the conclusion of a presentation at a Kihei Community Association (KCA) meeting by Jay E. Krigsman, executive vice president of Krausz Companies Inc., after he provided an update on the company’s proposed Downtown Kihei project makai of the existing Pi’ilani Village Shopping Center, which is also owned by Krausz.

He said the goal of the company was to “Create a fun and exciting place to work, shop and play.”

The Downtown Kihei project will be located on both side of Pi’ikea Street, bordered by South Kihei Road and Lipoa Drive.

The anchors for Downtown Kihei will include a “Cinetopia” movie theater, where all screens will be digital with living room La-Z-Boy-style theater seating, a sit-down restaurant, wine bar, live music, local musicians and local art displays.

In addition, the project is planned to incorporate a hotel that will serve both locals and the businessperson who may be in town for a few days. Because the hotel is incorporated into the Downtown Kihei design, hotel guests will be able to walk to the shops, theater and restaurants.

When it comes to traffic and streets, Krigsman said that Downtown Kihei will consist of a series of streets and a plaza to create a place where one can spend family time. The design offers wide sidewalks, seating areas, a stage and a few vertical streets not necessary for traffic flow, which can be closed off for farmers’ markets, health fairs and other community functions.

Parking is primarily in the back of the buildings in shaded areas not visible or prominent from the street.

The goal, said Krigsman, is “to create streets where people can walk.”

Following Krigsman’s presentation, KCA President Jon Miller moderated and participated in a panel with the developer and South Maui County Councilmember Don Couch.

Couch reported that he supports legislation that would give the Urban Design Review Board (UDRB) expanded authority in reviewing development projects, including Special Management Area (SMA) permits.

Currently, the requirement for an SMA permit for development makai of Pi’ilani Highway gives groups like the KCA more opportunity to weigh in, because projects are proposed in the SMA area.

The same clout does not apply for projects mauka of the highway, unless zoning changes are requested. Couch would end that distinction and require all projects to receive UDRB approval.

Miller agreed, saying, “The issue now is there is very little protection above the SMA project area.”

When questioned about opportunities for locally owned businesses to locate shops in Downtown Kihei, Krigsman said that costs for the project continue to grow as delays in the permit and approval process drag on.

“The intent is to have an eclectic mix of national and local stores,” he said. “The county is making it so expensive to turn a shovel of dirt, that we have to reflect it in the rent.”

With a solid audience turnout, the KCA moved briskly to provide an opportunity for state Rep. George Fontaine to present an overview of activities he has been involved with since the last month’s meeting.

These included a meeting with Ed Reinhart, president of Maui Electric Company (MECO), to advocate for an alternate plan for the utility’s proposed 70-foot metal poles along the mauka side of Pi’ilani Highway from the new power substation near the intersection of Ke Ali’i Alanui Road.

Fontaine reported that MECO is now reconsidering that plan and will hold a community meeting in Kihei in the near future to discuss potential alternatives.

At this last meeting of the year held on the Lipoa Street campus of the Kihei Charter School, the KCA also unanimously elected its new board of directors for 2012. Those elected were Andrew Beerer, Steve Cordova, Michael Di Bella, Daniel Kanehele, Jon Miller, Mike Moran, Bob Richardson, Patricia Stillwell, Greg Straton and Jorge Tioga.

For more information about future KCA meetings and activities, visit gokihei.org.

Tuesday was a very special day for Clint Hansen as the Maui Planning Department gave unanimous approval granting his special use permit for Maui Paintball.

Click here http://www.mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/555590/Planning-commission-approves-permit-for-paintball-facility.html?nav=10 for the article published in yesterday’s Maui News.

Mahalo Nui Loa to everyone for their ongoing support.

Happy Thanksgiving from our Ohana to Yours.

Hotels see increase in room rates

Article From: The Maui Weekly

The Maui News – Maui’s hotels were two-thirds full in September, not unusual for one of the dullest months of the year in the visitor industry, but hotel operators were able to boost their rack rates by more than $15 a night.

That contributed to a sizable increase in the amount of money coming in. So far this year, and despite some slackness in arrival numbers, Hawai’i’s lodging business is doing better than last year, and much better than it was in 2009.

The Hawai’i Hotel Flash Report released by Hospitality Advisors last week said that through nine months of 2011, island hotels have reaped room revenue of $2.14 billion. That is 12.8 percent better than in 2010 and 20.9 percent better than in 2009.

But it was not equal to the $2.41 achieved in the first three quarters of 2006.

For the year-to-date, Maui had the highest average daily rate ($246.52), up 9.3 percent. Occupancy rates are up about the same amount in each county so far this year, a somewhat surprising result considering the turmoil caused by Japan’s earthquake in March and the continuing uncertainty in general economic terms.

Each county is up around 3 percentage points in occupancy. Maui is up to 71.2 percent from 68.8 percent last year.