Kauai Real Estate and Local News Update

*****Want to buy a beachfront “fixer upper” for $80 Million?*****

Once a vacation haven to Jacqueline Kennedy and Bob Hope this seaside 5.5 acre estate is up for sale and it need some serious TLC after being vacant for 2 decades.  Henry Kaiser originally bought the property in 1959 for 1 million and it was once considered the largest residence in the United States.  It is now being offered for sale in three different parcels or a bulk purchase at $80 million. 

If this is out of your budget I have listed a list of the new properties that came on the market last week and the closed transactions.  Some of these are “fixer uppers” and don’t carry such a hefty price tag.  Call me for information on any of these properties that you see on this list: CLICK HERE

*****Massive Power Outage Shuts Oahu Down*****

Oahu’s 900,000 resident and thousands of visitors were left “in the dark” when a power outage hit Oahu Friday evening bringing the island to a standstill.  Emergency generators at Honolulu International allowed planes to land but all take offs were suspended.  800 traffic lights were out which resulted in fender benders all across Oahu.  Ala Moana Center, which was bustling with after Christmas shopping, was blacked out and hundreds of shoppers were left to slowly inch their way out the parking lot.  President elect Barack Obama is vacationing here with his family for the holidays on a private estate on the Eastside was okay and in a very secure place.

As of Sunday it was still unknown what caused the outage, there was a storm but lightening was ruled out as a cause.  Power was not returned to the island for about 24 hours and the people of Oahu were being advised “when in doubt; throw it out!” when it came time for them to survey their food supplies.  Stores were selling food but no perishables.

In another power related story 5 US passenger flights were redirected from Maui when their runway lights failed on Wednesday.  The flights landed safely in Oahu and returned to Maui that night after the electrical shortage in the runway lights was fixed.

*****Governor Lingle Proposes Pay Raise Freezes*****

The proposed pay raise freeze could save our State $4 million by suspending pay raises that had been approved for our legislature in 2007.  Citing different economic times and setting an example for those who are losing their jobs or facing serious cut backs themselves Governor Linda Lingle proposed to freeze legislators pay raises.  Opponents said that Lingle should look in other areas first and that this move on her part is “irresponsible and political”