Median Maui Home Price Down

Aloha Kakou:

I'm sure this comes as no surprise but median Maui home prices are down for 2008. The drop is about 8% from last year. Interesting to note that the median condo price and the median home price are only about $28,000 apart. Of course, these statistics are for Maui as a whole; your experience may be different.

It Ain't Over...

Aloha Kakou:

Today's Maui News had two stories concerning the shuttering of three stores on Maui. It would seem the decline in the island's tourist business continues to have a negative effect on the local economy, even on those businesses that are not necessarily tourism-related.

http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/513394.html?nav=10
http://mauinews.com/page/content.detail/id/513395.html?nav=10

Ask And Ye Shall Receive

Aloha Kakou:

While we do not offer free upgrades at the front desk, articles like this unfortunately lead guests to believe that they just have to ask. The article does mention that smiling and being nice go a long way (that's pretty much true for any situation involving an interaction with another person, no?).

http://information.travel.aol.com/news-and-tips?ncid=AOLCOMMtravdynlprim0429

Comments From the HVCB Chair

Aloha Kakou:

Attached is an article from this week's Travel Weekly about Mark Dunkerley's take on tourism in Hawaii today. Mr. Dunkerley is the CEO of Hawaiian Airlines and Chairman of HVCB (Hawaii Visitor and Convention Bureau).

Take a look at Mr. Dunkerley's comments regarding Hawaii's competitiveness versus other destinations.

My favorite quote of the article is: " Without stepping up the level of investment to keep pace with our competition, we risk having our visitor experience fall short of the expectations created by Hawaii's strong brand." You might expect that would be my favorite quote!

Airfare Sale

Aloha Kakou:

After months of high airfares, we may be seeing a softening in the market as the airlines realize that their high prices (and fees!) have kept people from the friendly skies.

Airlines had reduced capacity with the expectation that the fewer planes they did fly would fly with greater load factors. Since those loads did not increase like they had hoped, the airlines seem to now be offering discounted rates.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28527403/
http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,477224,00.html

Time Wasting

Aloha Kakou:

Human ingenuity never ceases to amaze me.

Take a look at this blog about art cars. If you waste at least half an hour looking at all of these, don't say I didn't warn you!

http://artcar.blogspot.com

Obama Hawaii Connection

Aloha Kakou:

Regardless of your political affiliation, this article gives some interesting observations on the President Elect's Hawaii background:

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28467275/