Hawaii Lifestyle & Events Archives -

Honolulu Named Best City to Live in the US

April 30, 2018 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

US news and world report named Honolulu Hawaii #17 is one of the top places to live in the country for 2018. You wouldn’t think our crowded little city would’ve made the list but actually, our quality of life and value added a lot to the score.

Our population is just under 1 million with an average annual salary of about $51,000. On a scale of 1 to 10, our quality of life, which includes low crime rates, affordability, job growth, etc., came in at a 6.5 with our value index coming in at 4.7. Honolulu is considered the cultural and culinary hub of the Hawaiian Islands and we are proficient with shopping centers, restaurants, and of course, miles of beaches. The only downside is our cost of living, which comes in a little bit higher than the national average. But comparing that with the year-round tropical temperatures and simply the beauty of living in Hawaii, a kind of balances it out.

With our laid-back vibe, diverse blend of cultures, and close proximity to the ocean, Honolulu is regularly defined as one of the country’s happiest places on earth. The Honolulu Metro area includes the entire southeastern half of Oahu and according to our U.S. News & World Report scorecard, our desirability came in at a solid 10. The only score that was lower is our value, based on a cost of living compared to the national average.

Our job market came in at a 7.8, quality of life came in at 6.5, and net migration came in at 5.6. Honolulu has been ranked #35 as one of the best places to live in the country and #24 is one of the best places to retire.

The median home price is about $580,000 with the median monthly rent of just under $1600. This does come in at one of the priciest and most expensive places to live and rent in the country, but again, there are so many factors offsetting the high cost of living that it’s easy to see why we made the list.

Learn More About our Island:

I need to sell my house in Hawaii and move to the mainland

How you know you’re ready to leave the rental market

What’s the best time to sell a house in Hawaii?

What buyers are looking for in a Hawaiian house

Want to move here? Just do it.

How to drop everything and move to Hawaii

April Events in Mililani Town 2017

March 27, 2017 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

Easter is right around the corner as is the Spring Craft Fair in Mililani town.We have to major events going on this April.

EASTER EGG HUNT AND BUNNY

The Easter Egg Hunt. On April 8 from 8:30 AM until 11 AM in the Mililani Town Recreation Center 6 located at 95 – 1010 Konaku Street in Mililani is the annual Easter egg hunt. This event is sponsored by Hawaii State Federal Credit Union. This event is free for Mililani Town Association members and for those 12 years and under. However, tickets are required for participation. The hunts will commence at 8:30 AM, 9:00 AM, 9:30 AM, 10:00 AM, and 10:30 AM. Tickets are available at recreational center 3 and 7. There will be an Easter bunny perfect for photo opportunities, golden eggs, special prizes, games, and snacks.

SPRING FAIR

The Spring Craft Fair is also right around the corner on April 22 at the Mililani Recreation Center 5. Registration is already closed as we are full, and the event is from 4:00 PM until 9:00 PM. There will be crafts, food, vendors, shopping, and lots of arts. This is free sponsored by the Menehune Water Company.

If you’re looking for something fun to do this April, be sure to check out these two events happening April 8 and April 22. Do you have an event you’d like to feature on our website. Feel free to leave us a comment below or email us at any time. Not only do we stay on top of current events in Mililani but we specialize in homes, real estate and buyers and sellers throughout Oahu.

Mililani’s Got Talent 2017

January 12, 2017 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

It’s that time of year again – the 2017 Mililani’s Got Talent event on February 3 from 3 PM until 9 PM. In the recreational room 3 singers, dancers, magicians and all types of performers can enter the Mililani’s Got Talent competition to win prizes and take home the number one grand prize.

Prizes are awarded to the top three finalists from each division.

Division 1 is for performers ages 11 and under.
Division 2 is for performers ages 12 to 17
Division 3 is for performers ages 18 and over
the first three divisions are for individuals or couples (pairs)
Division 4 is for groups of three or more all ages.

Registration is open at Rec 3 and 7. Dress rehearsal will be on January 20 from 5 PM until 7 PM in Rec 3.

The Mililani’s Got Talent event is put on by the Mililani Town Association.

Questions? Contact Special Events at csamson@mililanitown.org or jsuzuki@mililanitown.org.

Hurricane Preparedness

September 6, 2016 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

Protecting your home during a hurricane and how to prepare for a potential hurricane or tropical storm.

Well, we dodged a bullet this last week. Hurricane Madeline and Lester were more bark than bite for our islands but you just never know when a big one might hit and it’s important to be prepared. Many forecasters predict that it’s only a matter of time before Hawaii may be directly hit by a big storm.

Here are some great tips to preparing and keeping yourself and your home safe if a large storm or hurricane ever hits.

Take pictures.

Before preparing your home in case of a large storm you want to take pictures of each room of your house and items that are irreplaceable such as a piano, jewelry, large furniture, or other items of value. You want to have proof in terms of the type of loss you sustained should something happen.

Check into your insurance policy.

You want to understand what kind of policy you have and what it actually covers. Ask questions, talk about the deductible and if it doesn’t cover what you think it covers, ask about additional insurance.

Install hurricane clips.

Hurricane connectors are steel clips and straps that of been designed for new construction to connect your roof to the wall. Only homes in Hawaii built since 1994 have these hurricane clips and they are now mandated and county codes. You want to check to see if your home has these. Not all homes with V-gable peaks and horizontal lookout beams have these clips.

Secure the doors.

Regardless of whether your home has a double or single entry door, you want to secure it. If it is solid wood or hollow metal it can properly resist when pressures and hurricane debris. If you do not have this type of door you want to install head and foot bolts on the inactive door of double-entry doors and make sure your doors have at least three hinges and a deadbolt security lock.

Bracing garage doors.

Not many homes in Hawaii have garage doors but those who do can be more susceptible to wind damage than the rest of the house due to the large door. You want to check with your local building code to see if there are requirements for garage doors in your area and ask about the garage door retrofit kit for hurricane safety.

Read more: More about Bad Weather on Oahu

Trim all trees.

Take a look if there are any major trees surrounding your home but could fall and damage the house. Try not to let trees get too large and if they have shallow roots that are more likely to uproot.

Secure windows and doors.

Broken windows can lead a lot of wind and rain in and can damage your home also increasing the pressure under the roof. You want to install storm shutters for the best protection but boarding up windows when a storm is on the way can also be helpful. Taking windows will not help.

Stock up.

Try to stock up on water, essentials, drygoods and other items to sustain you and your family for about 10 days. Make careful note on what you can use if you are unable to heat up food and actually cook it. Keep water bottles, first aid kits, and flashlights with batteries handy at all times.

Stay safe out there and check back to my blog for more safety tips and home buying and selling advice for Oahu.

Honolulu is the Least Stressed City

August 24, 2016 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

In a recent article by MSN Money, Honolulu boasted the lowest health and safety related stress in the nation. Of course, even in paradise, people have a typical work and money stresses but when you are looking out to a beautiful view of the ocean and white sandy beaches are just minutes away, it can certainly relieve a lot of work and money related stress.

Stress is an inevitable feeling. Just about every life situation could give you some form of stress whether it’s work, school, kids or family. However, some stress is good and gives us the push and drive we need to succeed, persevere and break through certain obstacles. According to the American Psychological Association, stress is generally trending downward in the United States since 2007. In the recent article originally from Wallet Hub.com, Honolulu came in at 148 of the least stressful cities in the US. It also came in as one of the highest credit scores overall in general but had one of the highest housing costs. This is to be expected since housing in Honolulu is higher than the national average.

One of the biggest things that lead to stress for Oahu residences is traffic. There’s always construction going on somewhere but we also have a more laid-back mentality. That, added to stressful situations makes them a little bit more bearable.

Reasons to live in Hawaii:

We have a lot of reasons people move to Hawaii but relieving stress is certainly at the top of the list. Our temperatures are perfect as it never gets over 100°F colder than about 45° and we have constant trade winds that keep fresh air blowing across the island. This disperses whatever pollution we may incur and keeps the temperature at a comfortable rate. There are a variety of things to do including shopping, sightseeing and beautiful historical attractions like Pearl Harbor. There are over 12 mountain ridge hikes on Oahu alone with peaks of over 4000 feet. And Hawaii is extremely diverse. The way of life, things to do and culture all add to the charm, peacefulness, and tranquility of the Hawaiian Islands.

Related: How to Buy a House on Ohau

If you’re planning on moving from the mainland it’s important to know that Hawaii is like any other big city; there are jobs available if you have the skills and experience. To comfortably move to the Hawaiian Islands it’s a good idea to have about $10,000 in savings. This will help all transportation costs, living arrangements once you arrive and any personal belonging shipment.

For more information about living in Honolulu or anywhere on the Oahu Island contact our office today.

Duke’s Oceanfest in Waikiki 2016

July 28, 2016 by Maureen Fukumoto Leave a Comment

August 20 through the 28th in Waikiki is this summer’s Oceanfest which honors Hawaiian legend Duke Kahanamoku, fondly remembered as the greatest watermen who ever lived. This event is held at various venues sites throughout Waikiki and features ocean sports, surfing, paddleboard racing, swimming and more.

Duke Paoa Kahinu Mokoe Hulikohola Kahanamoku was an incredible Hawaiian waterman, and has been credited with spreading the sport of surfing. He was a natural of virtually all water related activities including boarding, surfing, body surfing, sailing and diving. At the age of 20 he broke the American 50 yard record by more than a second and beat the 100 yard world record by more than four seconds in 1911. He’s known as being one of the greatest waterman to have ever lived. He graciously welcomed waves of visitors to the Hawaiian Islands during his lifetime and was regarded as a symbol of all that was good in the islands.

There’s a Outrigger Duke Kahanamoku foundation which is dedicated to serving Hawaii’s water sports community. They are his legacy by raising support for youth athletes and scholars of Hawaii.

The event starts on Saturday, August 20 with a surfing fast at Queens Beach and Kuhio Beach. This is followed by volleyball tournaments, a canoe regatta and the Oceanfest’s opening ceremony at Dukes Statue at 4:00 PM.

Activities spill into Sunday through the next Sunday with water polo activities, surfing competitions, fantastic music, delicious food, tandem contests, beach volleyball and much, much more. There is stuff happening throughout Waikiki in venues and on the beaches. Visit the calendar of events for more information and a schedule of everything that’s happening.

Stay tuned to our blog for more local events and things to do on Oahu.

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