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| Hawaiian Christmas | New Year's Eve Tradition | Escrow Fraud |
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| Aloha Friends and Family,
As 2024 comes to a close, I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all our clients, family, and friends who made this year exceptional. Emil and I are proud to have surpassed our achievements from 2023, thanks to your trust and support. I’m also thrilled to share that Compass was once again recognized as the #1 real estate company nationwide—and here on the Big Island—for the third consecutive year.
With Christmas and New Year's Day falling on Wednesdays this year, many of you might be taking extended holidays! Here on the Big Island, we’re entering peak real estate season, which typically runs through April. I am here to assist. Please give me a call if you are in town. I love to catch up!
Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year!
Mahalo,
Kai
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| | Compass Hawaii's Holiday celebration was magical, held at the oceanfront Lava Java with a cruise ship backdrop in Kailua Bay. Compass Big Island was voted Best Brokerage on the west side of Big Island for three consecutive years. We were only established four years ago. Incredible! Watch our festive gathering in this month's video above! |
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Until I moved to Hawaii, I thought warm Christmases were strange and even felt sorry for Australians. Now, I wouldn’t have it any other way. T-shirts, grilling steak on the beach—it’s perfect. Last week’s party at Honaunau National Park captured the essence of a Hawaiian Christmas. And believe me, Santa in summer attire? Not bad at all! I bet Santa loves it too. |
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Big Island 2024 Annual Review & 2025 Outlook |
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2024 Highlights: The West Side of the Big Island, including Kona and the Kohala Coast, experienced steady growth in 2024. Every neighborhood posted steady year-over-year price increases ranging from 7% to 15%. The single-family home market remained robust, showcasing strong buyer interest and limited inventory. However, the condo market faced headwinds, with inventory surging due to ongoing challenges tied to the insurance crisis.
2025 Outlook: Looking ahead, we expect price appreciation to continue. This trend will be driven by the ongoing inventory constraints and consistent demand, which together should support a balanced market. However, the appreciation is expected to decelerate to a more moderate range. The condo market, in particular, warrants close attention as it navigates inventory challenges and adjusts to new conditions. Both the single-family and condo markets are poised to shift toward greater stability, creating a favorable climate for buyers and sellers alike. |
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A New Era of Healthcare for Kona: Queen’s Health Systems Announces New Hospital |
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| Queen’s Health Systems announced plans for an 80-bed hospital with a helipad, estimated at $450–$500 million, on their West Hawai‘i Business Park property. This facility will feature comprehensive inpatient and emergency care, alongside an ambulatory care center and affordable housing for healthcare workers. The shortage of doctors is a well-known issue in Hawai‘i, especially on neighboring islands. As my older daughter begins medical school and as we grow older, the state of the medical system is becoming a more pressing concern. One contributing factors to the lack of medical professionals are the high cost of living and high real estate prices. As a real estate professional, I see this as a critical area that impacts healthcare access. The new Queen’s Hospital may help address some of the challenges facing West Hawai‘i, offering hope for improved healthcare infrastructure and services. |
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Discover the Newly Transformed Mauna Kea Golf Course |
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| | Reimagined with Robert Trent Jones Jr.'s masterful design, the updated course features newly reshaped fairways, enhanced greens, and strategically placed bunkers that elevate both the challenge and beauty of this stunning layout. These thoughtful updates honor and reinvigorate his father, Robert Trent Jones Sr.’s original vision, bringing new life to this legendary course. Commitment to sustainability was a driving force in this transformation. Watch the video above to learn how the course redesign reflects a dedication to preserving Hawai‘i’s natural beauty while creating an exceptional golfing experience.
Below is the famous 3rd hole. |
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35 Popular New Year's Eve Traditions to Start 2025 Off on the Right Foot |
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| In Hawaii, New Year’s Eve offers the joy of celebrating three countdowns—East, Central, and Pacific—before our midnight arrives. Around the world, traditions abound to welcome fresh beginnings. From New York’s iconic ball drop to eating grapes in Spain for luck or jumping into icy waters, each culture adds its own flair. My family embraces traditions that bridge both Japan and US cultures. One of these is to have Toshikoshi Soba noodles before midnight or New Year—a dish with long noodles symbolizing longevity. In Japan, New Year’s Eve is a time of quiet reflection, marked by the resonant tolling of Joya no Kane, 108 bells symbolizing purification and a fresh start. Whatever your tradition, may 2025 bring you joy, health, and exciting new opportunities. Happy New Year! |
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HOME INSPIRATION Meet the Interior Designers on the AD100 2025 List |
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| The AD100 2025 list is here, spotlighting designers and studios pushing the boundaries of interior design. This year’s honorees weave innovation with heritage, creating spaces that inspire and connect. For those of us in Hawaii, this resonates deeply. Here, design is rooted in harmony with nature and culture - lava rock meets modern lines, and open lanais welcome ocean breezes. The AD100 visionaries share this ethos, transforming interiors into reflections of life, beauty, and place. Let their creativity inspire you to reimagine your home, blending timeless Hawaiian elements with bold design to craft a space uniquely yours. |
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Escrow company plays integoral part of real estate transaction. We love to team up is Title Guaranty Escrow, one of the best in business. They are also the oldest and largest escrow company in State of Hawaii. Earlier this year, we encountered a fraudulent seller situation—our first involving impersonation. Thanks to the vigilance of our team and escrow company, the scheme was detected and stopped before entering escrow. This experience taught us the importance of understanding the trend of such fraud to protect our clients. To gain deeper insights, we asked for guidance from the Title Guaranty Escrow team, Matt Takata/Senior VP, Devon Kikukawa/Kona Branch Manager, and Rhett Thomas/Account Manager. It was fascinating to learn not only the latest fraud trend in Hawaii but also how to safeguard the transactions. So much to learn in this business! |
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MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CHAMPIONSHIP at Hualalai When: January 16-18, 2025 Where: Four Seasons Hualalai |
| One of our favorite annual events is just around the corner! Imagine strolling along the scenic 15th–18th fairways with breathtaking ocean views—it’s the ultimate relaxation. Tickets are now available for the 2025 Mitsubishi Electric Championship at Hualalai. Don’t miss the PGA TOUR Champions’ exciting season opener! Visit MECgolf.com to secure your tickets. See you on the course! |
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| HAWAI'I WOOD GUILD 39th INVITATIONAL MASTERS SHOW - WAIMEA When: January 12- March 28, 9:00–5:00 PM Where: Isaacs Art Center at HPA, Wimea |
| The cream of Hawaiian woodworkers will be presenting their work at Isaacs Art Center at Hawai'i Preparatory Academy, Mon.-Fri., from 9am-5pm. Free and open to the public. 👉 Learn more here |
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| 44th ANNUAL MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. CELEBRATION When: January 19, 1:15 pm Where: Maka'eo Pavillion, Kona |
| Free lunch will be served for the celebrants at 12:00 PM. The program will start at 1:15PM with music, songs, and dance, and artwork from local school children. This is a free annual celebration that is open to the public to mark the anniversary of Dr. King's birthday and to honor his life, work, and legacy. Daifukuji Taiko Group will perform! 👉 Learn more here |
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New Listing Successful Vacation Rental |
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| | 77-212 Ke Alohi Kai Place |
| 4 BD 7 BA 4,035 SF $4,595,000 |
| Welcome to your Hawaiian paradise! This luxurious 4-bedroom, 7-bathroom (4 full, 3 half) custom home is nestled in the exclusive "resort zone" oceanfront gated community of Ke Alohi Kai, Kailua Kona. |
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| | | 3 BD 3 BA 2276 SF $1,399,950 |
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| | | | 82-6115 Hawaiʻi Belt Road |
| 0 BD 0 BA 0 SF $1,995,000 |
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| "We first met Kai and Emil six years ago when searching for a home in Kona. We wanted to transition from condo living to a single family home. Kai and Emil gave us the personal service that made us feel that our needs would always be met, and they came through…finding us the perfect home in Keauhou. Not only were they very responsive to our questions and concerns, but they also helped us navigate many things after the sale was complete, and they did so with patience and perseverance. They also helped us market and sell a condo in Kona. We have so much faith and trust in both of them…frankly, we would never consider using anyone else here in Kona. And now they are wonderful and true friends too!"
Kenny and Jayne W.
By the way, We never too busy for any of your referrals. |
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Compass is a licensed real estate broker and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. All material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only. Information is compiled from sources deemed reliable but is subject to errors, omissions, changes in price, condition, sale, or withdrawal without notice. No statement is made as to the accuracy of any description. All measurements and square footages are approximate. This is not intended to solicit property already listed. Nothing herein shall be construed as legal, accounting or other professional advice outside the realm of real estate brokerage. Photos may be virtually staged or digitally enhanced and may not reflect actual property conditions. |
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