Condominium sales on Kauai plunged 60 percent in September, compared to last year, while sales of single-family homes on the Garden Isle fell 42 percent.

Prices also fell in both categories, according to statistics from Hawaii Information Service.

The median price of a single-family home on Kauai last month was $525,000, a 22 percent drop from September 2007, when it was $672,500. Year-to-date prices fared better, declining by about 4 percent to $632,500, down from $661,000 during the first nine months of 2007.

The median price of a Kauai condo in September was $495,000, down 16 percent from the same month last year, when it was $590,000. Condo prices remained flat for the first nine months of the year, with a median price of $560,000, which was the same as for the same period in 2007.

There were only eight condo units sold in September, a 60 percent drop from the 20 units sold in September 2007. Year-to-date sales were down by 40 percent, with just 144 units sold during the first nine months of the year, compared to 241 units sold during the same period in 2007.

Single-family home sales fell 42 percent in September, with just 21 Kauai houses sold compared to 36 houses sold during the same month last year. Sales for the first nine months of the year were down 33 percent, with 226 homes sold, compared to 335 homes sold during the same period in 2007.

(Source: Pacific Business News)

Hawaii’s gas prices continue to fall and now some gas stations on Oahu are under the 4-dollar mark. Just barely.

Several stations we went to are now selling a gallon of regular for $3.99.

Crude oil is down to about $94 a barrel now. But AAA reports that Hawaii families are still paying the second-highest prices in the nation. At an average of $4.19.

Drivers said they’re just happy that prices are dropping.

“In the mainland the prices are about 3.20, 3.25 so it’s cheaper there, and they’re complaining, well I told them about Hawaii and they’re like oh my gosh that’s ridiculous so it’s good for the people of Hawaii,” said Maui resident William Puaa.

“The good thing about it now that the gas prices went down we can actually drive, not catch the bus you know,” said Maui resident Kameron Castillon.

And here’s a look at prices statewide.

Kauai residents are paying on average $4.21 for a gallon of regular gas, it’s $4.30 on the Big Island, and $4.67 on Maui. Drivers on Molokai are still shelling out more than $5 for a gallon of gas.

(Source: KGMB 9 News)

Conservationists are expressing mixed reactions to the federal government’s proposal to add 48 species found only on the island of Kauai to the federal endangered species list and also to designate critical habitat for them. While advocates support the ecosystem approach proposed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, some say it was used during the Clinton administration but abandoned under President Bush.
The proposal, made on Tuesday by Interior Secretary Dirk Kempthorne includes 45 plants, two Kauai birds - the ‘akikiki and ‘akeke’e - and one Hawaiian picture-wing fly.

Kempthorne said the proposal applies “a newly developed, ecosystem-based approach to species conservation.”

“By addressing the common threats that occur across these ecosystems, we can more effectively focus our conservation efforts on restoring the functions of these shared habitats,” said Kempthorne. “This holistic approach will benefit the recovery of the listed species and also all the species within the native ecological community.” The species are found in six ecosystem types from rainforest mountains to moist lowlands and dry cliffs. Twenty-two separate geographic areas covering 27,674 acres are being proposed as critical habitat.

But only 1,646 acres are proposed as new critical habitat. The Service says 26,028 acres overlap existing critical habitat set aside for other species.

The majority of the proposed critical habitat is located on State of Hawaii lands, while 5,970 acres are located on private lands owned by approximately 12 different landowners.

Some conservationists say the proposal holds promise for species protection.

“We are pleased about the ecosystem approach - it makes sense. It looks like for the first time they’re combining plants and animals, and taking an ecosystem approach toward recovery,” said Marjorie Ziegler, who heads the 58 year-old Honolulu-based Conservation Council for Hawaii.

“Kauai is really hammered,” Ziegler said. “We’re really glad they’re listing the two birds. They are being pushed up to the upper elevations of the Alakai Swamp and if they don’t get protection from pigs, we’re going to lose them very quickly.”

But Mike Senatore, senior counsel with the Center for Biological Diversity, takes issue with Kempthorne’s assertion that the ecosystem approach is new.

Read more …

(Source: Environment News Service)

Hawaii’s only full-power community radio station, KKCR-FM 91.9, 90.9 and 92.7, is going into its November membership drive with a new station manager and some serious funding to raise.

The transmission facilities of sister-station KAQA-FM 91.9, which simulcasts KKCR programming, have been heavily damaged and are in need of replacement. KAQA provides crucial reach for KKCR, from Kilauea to Kapaa to the west side of Kauai, according to a coverage map on file with the Federal Communications Commission. 

The stations require multiple frequencies because terrain shielding doesn’t allow one signal to go islandwide.

Simply paying for electricity to keep multiple signals powered up and pouring out programming is heady enough for any radio station, but most keep things going by selling commercial time.

However, KKCR and KAQA are noncommercial stations run by the nonprofit Kekahu Foundation Inc. and are listener- and grant-supported. Of a volunteer base of about 100 people, nearly 70 do on-air work.

The foundation’s radio mission includes preservation of the Hawaiian culture, as well as reflecting the diversity of the local and global communities.

Most programming is locally originated.

KAQA is operating at reduced power to keep its transmitter from overheating, which it did in late August.

In an FCC filing seeking authorization for reduced-power operation, consulting engineer Don Mussell wrote that damage to the transmitter building atop Mt. Kahili caused a water intrusion that, in turn, caused the transmitter to overheat.

Power was reduced remotely to allow for a safe operating temperature.

“A subsequent inspection showed extensive damage to the transmitter and building,” Mussell wrote. Temporary repairs were made to prevent further damage.

To say the transmitter building is in a remote spot is an understatement. It is accessible only by helicopter, as weather permits.

Rainfall at Mt. Kahili is typically 300 inches per year.

You do the math.

Or, simply visit Mussell’s Web page showing the transmitter site, to gain an appreciation for the hardiness required of broadcast engineers.

“The building is falling apart and the transmitter needs to be replaced,” said John H. Gordon, Kekahu board president.

Resolving the situation will be a sort of baptism by fire for new station manager Jerry Brocklehurst, who joined the station Wednesday.

Outgoing station manager Gwen Palagi will stay on through the Nov. 6 through 17 fundraising membership drive to ensure a smooth transition.

(Source: Erika Engle, Honolulu Star-Bulletin)

About 50 people packed a Kaua’i-Ni’ihau Island Burial Council meeting yesterday, urging the advisory body to not allow construction of a house over an ancient Hawaiian graveyard.

After hearing five hours of testimony, the eight-member panel adjourned without making a decision on what to do about a house Joseph Brescia is building on a 15,600-square-foot beachfront lot that contains at least 30 burials.

Several Native Hawaiian groups yesterday said they want to be parties to deliberations that the council is expected to make at its November meeting, which has not been scheduled.

“I hope they follow the letter of the law and preserve the burials in place and stop the building of the house,” said Kai’ulani Huff, who camped on the beach by the property for 16 weeks starting April 3 in an effort to protect the burials.

Although Huff and others are accused in a lawsuit by Brescia of trespassing on his property, Huff said she camped on the public beach.

On April 3, the council voted 4-2 (with several members absent) to preserve the burials in place. Since then, at least two council members have said they didn’t believe that vote would allow the landowner to build.

Brescia proceeded with building the foundation of the house over the summer, based on state Historic Preservation Division approval of a burial treatment plan for the site.

Read more …

(Source: Honolulu Advertiser)

A Kauai company has been awarded a $229-million contract to take over the government-owned sewer systems on U.S. Army bases on Oahu and run them for the next 50 years.

Under a contract signed this week, Aqua Engineers, Inc. of Kalaheo will take over wastewater installations at Fort Shafter, Aliamanu Military Reservation, Fort DeRussy, Tripler Army Medical Center, Red Hill Coast Guard, Hickam Air Force Base, Pililaau Army Recreation Center, and Schofield Barracks.

The company will run the systems and be responsible for upgrades, repairs and improvements.

Aqua Engineers has been working with the Army to repair and upgrade the wastewater systems used at Schofield Barracks since 2006. With its resources and budgets stretched, the Army and other military branches have been working to turn over non-military functions like housing, utilities and even base security to private companies.

Aqua Engineers said it expects to save the Army $18 million by its use of new technology and immediate upgrades to the aging sewer systems.

“Our team is excited about the opportunity to team with the U.S. Army in assuming the ownership of the Oahu-wide wastewater utility,” Eassie Miller, president and CEO of Aqua Engineers said in a statement. “Our experience in the wastewater industry and high company standards, combined with our Schofield Barracks wastewater treatment plant ownership experience, enables our team to provide cost effective, efficient, and reliable services.”

Aqua Engineers said its improvements to the Schofield treatment plant enabled it to use fewer chemicals and to produce recycled water to irrigate lawns, golf courses and parks on base.

Founded in 1981, Aqua Engineers runs 28 wastewater systems, more than 75 pumping stations and 11 water stations throughout Hawaii. The company and its subsidiaries, Kauai Precast, A-Vac and Briant Construction, Inc. have nearly 100 employees.

(Source: Pacific Business News)