ArtAfterDark at The Honolulu Academy of Arts

ArtAfterDark last night was the best one we have been to since the "last Friday of every month" event started in 2003. Each month is a different theme. To celebrate Waikiki's makeover, Waikiki Parc Hotel is presenting "Waikiki Chic" — which was this month's installment. The event showcased food from Halekulani, Nobu Waikiki and Roy's, cocktails by Parc Chic Wines, Kai and Paradise Beverages, contemporary art by IONA Dance Company and GroundUp, music by NextDoors' DJ Mr. Nick (my personal sommelier), DeShannon Higa and gr00ve.imProV.arTiSts. There were also be exotic cars from JN Automotive and giveaways courtesy of Hotels & Resorts of Halekulani.

Next month's event: Voodoo, Friday October 26th, 6-9pm

Astrida's Fiesta

Astrida invited us over to her home in Waialae Nui for the best Mexican Fiesta (better than any Cinco De Mayo I've been to before). Everything was amazing - the decor, inclusive of chili pepper lights, pinatas, handmade tissue paper flowers and jesus candles, the food - she grilled steak and halibut which we ate with everything made from scratch...even the salsa, the company - including her brother Armand and Captain Craig of the Superferry. Craig told us about how he killed a croc with a knife...and Armand demanded "pictures please." It was really a cool time. I LOVE people that LOVE dinner parties.

Our Neighborhood - Ward Village Shops Project

Construction continues on the Ward Village Shops Project. Victoria Ward, Limited is constructing this commercial/residential development on a 6-acre block bounded by Auahi, Kamakee and Queen Streets and the Queen Street Makai Park site. The project will include a 17-story structure with 165 rental residential units, 224,000 square feet of commercial space, 34,000 square feet of open space and 1,010 parking spaces. The Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA) on December 1, 2004 approved modifications to base zone development requirements to allow the development of Victoria Ward, Limited’s (VWL) Ward Village Shops Project. Following a public hearing on the proposed project, the Authority also authorized the HCDA Executive Director to execute a joint development agreement with VWL and to issue a development permit for the project.

For more information, click here

Google SMS

Instead of calling 411, save time and money by using Google SMS. Text what you need to "GOOGL" and receive a text back with the info. Try this one:

Send "Optimum 96813" to 46645

Hint: use zip codes to break down the location

Canadian dollar equals U.S. dollar for first time since 1976

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

TORONTO -- The Canadian dollar has reached parity with the U.S. dollar for the first time since 1976. They are equal in value. The loonie has been gaining for five years while the U.S. dollar has been falling in value lately. That makes Canada a more attractive place for foreign investors to put their money, but it makes Canadian goods more expensive on the world market. The strong Canadian dollar also encourages some Canadians to go shopping in the United States.

The Lion King in Honolulu

We went to see The Lion King last night at the Blaisdell Concert Hall in Kaka'ako. It was AMAZING (even Hilton loved it). It was high energy from the get-go, full of awesome color, music and costumes. I definitely recommend orchestra seats, rows 5-10, center aisle and the matinee shows on Saturday and Sunday for younger children as the 8pm show will get you home at 11pm-ish.

The Lion King will be in Honolulu from September 15 - December 9, 2007. The Lion King is the winner of six Tony(R) Awards including Best Musical, as well as numerous other theatre awards. Director Julie Taymor become the first woman in Broadway history to win the Tony(R) Award for Best Director of a Musical. Taymor, along with Michael Curry, created hundreds of masks and puppets for The Lion King. Coreography is by Garth Fagan, scenic design is by Richard Hudson, costume design is by Julie Taymor, and lighting design is by Donaly Holder.

The book has been adapted by Roger Allers who co-directed the animated film and Irende Mecchi who co-wrote the screenplay for The Lion King. The score features Elton John and Tim Rice's music from the animated film, along with three new songs by John and Rice, additional musical material by South African Lebo M, Marck Mancina, Jay Rifkin, Julie Taymor, and Hans Zimmer.

Hotel and show ticket packages are now on sale at Outrigger 866-721-4221 or Ticketmaster.

Fed cuts short-term rates by a half point

By Holden Lewis • Bankrate.com

For the first time in more than four years, the Federal Reserve has made it cheaper to borrow, and by an unexpectedly big margin.

The central bank's rate-setting committee lowered the target for the federal funds rate by half a percentage point, to 4.75 percent. The prime rate will fall to 7.75 percent. Consumer interest rates based on the prime rate -- mainly home equity lines of credit and most variable-rate credit cards -- will fall a half-point in coming weeks.

Yields on certificates of deposit are likely to fall, too -- especially on shorter-term CDs -- even though they're not tied directly to the prime rate. As for mortgages: Don't count on mortgage rates to fall. They might, but they might not. Everyone had expected a Fed rate cut, from investors and economists to teachers and car valets. The principal uncertainty had been about the size of the upcoming cut -- would it be a quarter of a percentage point, or half a point?
Most were expecting a smaller, quarter-point cut. The Fed sprung the surprise half-point decrease with this explanation:

"Economic growth was moderate during the first half of the year, but the tightening of credit conditions has the potential to intensify the housing correction and to restrain economic growth more generally. Today's action is intended to help forestall some of the adverse effects on the broader economy that might otherwise arise from the disruptions in financial markets and to promote moderate growth over time."

For the full story click here

For the bankrate.com translation click here

Highlights of the September 5, 2007 HCDA Meeting

At the September 5, 2007 meeting of the Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA), K2 Investors LLC, the developer of the final phase of the 404 Piikoi Planned Development Project, gave an informational presentation to the Authority as it works to formulate the design of the Phase IV project. K2 presented preliminary design concepts to HCDA to generate discussion and obtain feedback from HCDA members. The development permit for the 404 Piikoi development was originally approved by HCDA in 1984. It allowed for a mixture of residential, commercial and industrial uses on 17.25 acres of land generally bounded by Waimanu Street, Piikoi Street and Ala Moana Boulevard. Over the years, the permit has been amended and modified several times and the project has also been redesigned. Three phases that have been completed include the Nauru Tower (1992), 1133 Waimanu (1996), Hawaiki Tower (1999) and Ko‘olani (2006).

For more information, click here

Epic Sunset in Town

Check out the lucky8 ;) sunset we shot last night just before the Hilton Hawaiian Village's weekly Friday night fireworks show in Waikiki.

2007 Waikiki Thunderbird Show!!

I just walked over to Ala Moana Beach Park to take some shots of the Thunderbirds,
the Air Force is celebrating their 60th birthday!! Not a bad way to spend a saturday outside in the rain!

Panama Real Estate

Join Optimum Realty this November in Panama City, Panama.
We will be traveling to the FIABCI Congress of the Americas, October 31- November 5, 2007 to network with fellow real estate associates, market current Optimum Properties and tour new luxury developments.

August 2007 Market Reports :: Now Posted

August 2007 Hawaii Market Reports are now posted online at: http://OptimumRealtyLLC.com/MarketProfileHawaii

August 2007 US Market Reports are now posted online at: http://OptimumRealtyLLC.com/MarketProfileUSA

Information on Fiji & Mexico real estate now posted online at:
http://OptimumRealtyLLC.com/MarketProfileGlobal