Approvals Sought For 65 Acre Central Maui Park In The Master Planned Waiale Community

Approvals sought for 65 Acre Central Maui Park By Wendy Osher Article from: Mauinow.com The state Board of Land and Natural Resources will review a request this Friday for the acquisition of land for park use in  Waikapu on Maui. The park would be part of the 2550-unit master planned Waiale community, proposed for development along the  Kuihelani Highway, west of Pomaikai Elementary School, the Legends, and Na Hoku Subdivision. The 65 acre parcel is currently owned by Alexander & Baldwin and consists of unimproved fallow land. The company  has submitted a request to the State Land Use Commission for re-classification of the property from agricultural to  urban use. A $9 million appropriation was made by the 2011 State Legislature in general obligation bonds for acquisition and  development of the park. Improvements envisioned for the property include the development of a variety of playing fields, parking, restrooms, and other facilities.

Strong Growth Continues As Total Expenditures By Visitors To Maui Grew 13.1% For The First 10 Months of 2011

Strong Growth Continues in Visitor Spending and Arrivals| By Sonia Isotov Article from: MauiNow.com Total expenditures by visitors who came to Hawai’i in the first 10 months of 2011 grew 14.8%, compared to the  same period in 2010, to $10.3 billion, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism  Authority. On Maui, total expenditures by visitors in the first 10 months of 2011 grew 13.1%, compared to the same period  in 2010, to $2.5 billion. Visitors in October 2011 spent $20 more per person per day than last October. Visitors to Maui actually spent $6  less per person per day than last October. Total visitor days for all visitors increased 4.1% and total arrivals (+2.6%) continued to exceed last year at  6,034,104 visitors. On Maui, total visitor days for all visitors increased 3.6 % and total arrivals (+3.8%) also exceed  last year at 1,808,350. Total arrivals to Maui in October 2011 dropped 2% compared to a year ago. Growth in arrivals to Maui from  Canada (+3.2%) and Japan (6.9%) were offset by lower arrivals from US West (-7.1%) and US East (-1.1%). For the  first 10 months of 2011, arrivals to Maui from Canada (+17.2%), US East (+1.3%) and US West (+0.8%) increased,  but arrivals from Japan (-3.1%) declined compared to year-to-date 2010. “We are also pleased with continued growth from our international markets, including the second positive month  of arrivals from Japan since the devastating earthquake and tsunami,” said Mike McCartney, president and chief  executive officer of the Hawaii Tourism Authority today in written statement. “New and additional airlift through 2012 also demonstrates that demand for travel to the Hawaiian islands  remains high, and is a good indicator of momentum for the visitor industry in the coming year.” More detailed October and 2011 year-to-date statistics for individual islands and the state, can be found on the  Hawaii Tourism Authority website.

Hawaii Hotel Room Revenue 12.8% Better Than The Same Period Last Year

Hotels see increase in room rates Article From: The Maui Weekly The Maui News – Maui’s hotels were two-thirds full in September, not unusual for one of the dullest months of  the year in the visitor industry, but hotel operators were able to boost their rack rates by more than $15 a night. That contributed to a sizable increase in the amount of money coming in. So far this year, and despite some  slackness in arrival numbers, Hawai’i's lodging business is doing better than last year, and much better than it  was in 2009. The Hawai’i Hotel Flash Report released by Hospitality Advisors last week said that through nine months of 2011,  island hotels have reaped room revenue of $2.14 billion. That is 12.8 percent better than in 2010 and 20.9  percent better than in 2009. But it was not equal to the $2.41 achieved in the first three quarters of 2006. For the year-to-date, Maui had the highest average daily rate ($246.52), up 9.3 percent. Occupancy rates are  up about the same amount in each county so far this year, a somewhat surprising result considering the turmoil  caused by Japan’s earthquake in March and the continuing uncertainty in general economic terms. Each county is up around 3 percentage points in occupancy. Maui is up to 71.2 percent from 68.8 percent last  year.

Foreclosures in Hawaii Down 66% Compared to a Year Ago Under New State Law

Foreclosures down 66% under new state law By Andrew Gomes Article from: Star-Advertiser A 6-month-old Hawaii law continued to constrain the flow of foreclosures statewide in October, as a relative  trickle of cases were initiated mainly through Circuit Court instead of a nonjudicial process through which  most cases had been pouring prior to the law’s enactment. Real estate research firm RealtyTrac counted 427 Hawaii foreclosure filings last month, which was 66 percent  fewer than 1,271 filings in October 2010. Last month’s count was the highest since the new law took effect May 5, but not by much. There were 414  cases in September, 413 in August, 390 in July and 344 in June. The law initially prohibited lenders from proceeding with nonjudicial foreclosure against owner-occupants  until a mediation program was available to borrowers. That program launched Oct. 3, but lenders as of  Wednesday had yet to use the new nonjudicial process administered by the state Department of Commerce  and Consumer Affairs. The new nonjudicial procedure forces lenders to participate in a mediation program with qualified borrowers  if borrowers so choose. Qualified borrowers are mainly homeowners who have resided in their homes for a  minimum 200 days. Excluded from mediation are foreclosures brought by homeowner associations or  brought against investors. Local attorneys representing lenders say the law is flawed and that the new nonjudicial process won’t be  used because it provides for punitive penalties for even the most minor infractions. The result has been more lenders — but not an overwhelming number — pursuing foreclosures in state  court. According to the state Judiciary, 338 new foreclosure cases were filed in court last month, about triple the  108 cases filed a year earlier. Judicial cases have roughly been between 200 and 300 per month since June,  up from closer to 100 in the same months last year. Historically, nonjudicial foreclosures represented an estimated 90 percent of foreclosures in Hawaii because  they were faster and cheaper. The Judiciary counts new cases filed. RealtyTrac counts new case filings as well as auction notices and lender  repossessions. But because RealtyTrac collects its data from a variety of sources, it appears to undercount  new judicial cases. Under RealtyTrac’s methodology, 31 other states had higher, or worse, foreclosure rates than Hawaii, which  had 1 filing for every 1,208 homes. The national rate was one filing for every 563 homes. Nevada had the worst rate at 1 foreclosure filing per  180 homes. Vermont had the best rate based on 1 filing per 12,570 homes. The year-over-year decline in foreclosure filings for Hawaii has conformed with a trend nationally that has  existed for about a year after major national lenders were forced to review and revise the way they were  processing cases and handling documents. James Saccacio, RealtyTrac’s chief executive officer, added that  state law changes and court rulings also have upset the pace of foreclosures. In Hawaii, there is a push for the Legislature to amend the law next year to make it more palatable to lenders  while still protecting homeowners. A task force representing the mortgage industry and consumers is  expected to release recommendations to the Legislature on ways to improve the foreclosure law by the  end of the year.

According to the Global Wealth Monitor Report 7.21 Percent of Hawaii's Households Are Millionaires

Maryland tops Hawaii for millionaires By Star-Advertiser staff Article from: Star-Advertiser You’re slightly more likely to meet a millionaire in Maryland than Hawaii, according to Phoenix Marketing  International, a global marketing services firm. The company issued its annual Global Wealth Monitor report that tracks affluent and high net worth households  in the U.S., Canada and Europe. The reports shows that about 7.22 percent of Maryland’s households are millionaires, compared to Hawaii’s  7.21 percent. Hawaii had led the rankings since 2008. Phoenix defines a millionaire household as one with  $1 million or more in investable or liquid assets (excluding sponsored retirement plans and real estate). Rounding out the top ten states in millionaires per population are New Jersey (7.19 percent), Connecticut  (7.13 percent), Massachusetts (6.41 percent), Alaska (6.39 percent), Virginia (6.26 percent), New Hampshire  (6.06 percent), California (6.01 percent), and the District of Columbia (5.88 percent). “A few things are noteworthy from this year’s millionaire rankings,” said David Thompson, Managing Director  of the Phoenix Global Wealth Monitor said in a news release. “First, this is the closest it’s ever been between the  top two states. Second, all of the top ten states increased their millionaire ratios during the past year, which  underscores that the richest states keep getting richer.” Phoenix computes its data on the size of affluent and high net worth U.S. households on a mid-year to  mid-year basis. As of the end of June, 2011, Phoenix estimates that the number of millionaires in the U.S.  grew by 6.9 percent from the previous year, numbering some 5.9 million households.

Visitor Spending on Maui Continues to Grow~Momentum Is Anticipated To Continue Into 2012

Maui Visitor Spending Grows, Arrivals Flat By Sonia Isotov Article from: MauiNow.com Total expenditures by Maui visitors in the first nine months of 2011 increased by 15.1%, compared to the same  period last year, to $2,370.5 million, according to preliminary statistics released today by the Hawaii Tourism Authority. Total visitor days for Maui visitors only rose 4.2% and total arrivals (+4.5%) continued to surpass last year at 1,640,498 visitors. For the month of September 2011, total visitor expenditures for Maui grew 16.4%  ($225.9 million) from September 2010 to $194.0 million. Contributing to the increase was higher daily  spending by all visitors ($194.9 per person, up from $176.2 per person in September 2010) and a 4.7%  growth in total arrivals to 159,359 visitors. “Visitor spending grew to more than $1 billion in September, an increase of 19.7%, with visitors from every  major market area spending more and staying longer than in 2010. We are also pleased that these increases  are being seen throughout all of the four major islands, with year-to-date total visitor expenditures reaching  $9.3 billion in 2011,” said Mike McCartney, president and chief executive officer, Hawaii Tourism Authority,  in a written statement. Total visitor days for all visitors rose 4.2% and total arrivals (+2.7%) continued to surpass last year at  5,446,393 visitors. Contributing to the statewide increase was higher daily spending by all visitors ($199  per person, up from $176 per person in September 2010) and a 4% growth in total arrivals to 560,707 visitors. After six straight months of losses, Japanese arrivals grew slightly by 0.8%. Arrivals from US West (+2%) and  US East (+4.4%) also increased following three months of declines. Continued McCartney, “September’s growth included the continued increase in Japanese visitor spending,  as well as an increase in visitor arrivals, the first of such increases in six months. And we are hopeful that  the uptick in arrivals is a sign of recovery of the Japan market.” Statewide, arrivals by air only in September 2011 rose 4.7% from last September to 553,068 visitors, with  increases from all top four visitor markets. Arrivals from Canada climbed 23%, the fifteenth consecutive  month of double-digit growth. “We anticipate this momentum to continue through the fourth quarter of 2011 and into 2012, with increases  in airlift out of Japan, Canada, Korea and Australia through new and established airlines. We are excited to  welcome Asiana Airlines with direct service from Honolulu to Incheon, Korea, Strategic Airlines servicing  both Brisbane and Melbourne to Honolulu, and Allegiant Airlines servicing the US West region, into the  Hawai’i market,” said McCartney. “We are very encouraged with the increases in visitor spending, arrivals and air seats as we head towards  the end of the year. Together with Hawaii’s visitor industry partners, we will remain vigilant and focused to  reach our targets, set at $12.6 billion in visitor spending and 7.5 million visitor arrivals for 2011.”

Maui Named Best Island in the World by the Readers of Conde Nast Traveler Magazine for an Unprecedented 17th Time

Maui is No Ka Oi For 17th Time By Wendy Osher Article from: Mauinow.com For an unprecedented 17th time, Maui has been named Best Island in the World by the readers of Conde Nast Traveler  magazine.With a score of 92.1, Maui was also voted Best US Island for the 21st consecutive year in the magazine’s 24th  Annual Readers’ Choice Awards.  The award was presented to Maui Visitors and Convention Bureau executive director Terryl Vencl by veteran actor Chris Noth (Law & Order, Sex in the City and The Good Wife) in an awards ceremony held  last night in New York City. During the presentation, Noth shared his love for Maui saying he visits the island regularly. His mother, a former CBS  television reporter, has also made Maui her home.“Maui continues to capture the hearts, minds and imaginations of  visitors the world over,” said Vencl. “Recent branding studies reveal our visitors seek variety, choice and adventure, planned or spontaneous. They want to know lots of options are available, but want to have the freedom to be as active or relaxed as they choose. I believe this  coveted award speaks to that,” said Vencl. Maui County Mayor Alan Arakawa added, “Maui has so much to offer. It is an island of incredible beauty featuring unparalleled service, top-notch activities, excellent restaurants, a wide variety of  accommodations and the friendliest folks anywhere.” “This is a proud moment for the visitor industry and our people of Maui,” said Arakawa. The island of Kaua’i placed second this year with a total of 90 points, followed by Kiawah in South Carolina, which earned  third place with 86.6 points. The Big Island of Hawai’i (now being re-branded as “Hawaii Island”) earned fourth place  honors with 85.8 points. Maui’s sister island of Lana’i rounded out the top six with a score of 84.6. Other top island destinations worldwide include winners in the following geographical categories: Asia (Maldives, 87.5),  Caribbean/Atlantic (Bermuda, 87.4), Asia/Indian Ocean (Bora Bora, 87.0), Europe (Bozcaada and The Turkish Aegean  Islands, 84.2) and Canada (Vancouver Island, 81.5). Maui and Lana’i also fared well in the Top Hawai’i Resorts category, capturing top honors for various properties. Topping the list was Travassa Hana (95.0) followed by Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea (93.9). Oahu’s Trump  International Hotel Waikiki Beach Walk (93.7) placed third and Hawaii Island’s Four Seasons Resort Hualalai (93.4) ranked fourth. The island of Lanai captured fifth and sixth place respectively as Four Seasons Lanai at Manele Bay scored 93.4 and  Four Seasons Lanai, The Lodge at Koele finished with 93.1. Other Maui resorts making the Top 20 included 11th place Grand Wailea (89.3), 12th ranked Fairmont Kea Lani (89.0.) and 13th place Hyatt Regency Maui Resort and Spa (87.8). The Ritz Carlton, Kapalua (86.9), captured the 14th spot. *** Supporting information courtesy Maui Visitors Bureau.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving From Our Ohana To Yours

Happy Thanksgiving to all of our Valued Friends, Family and Clients Why do Canadians and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving on different days? One reason for Canadian Thanksgiving arriving earlier than its American counterpart is that Canada is geographically further  north than the United States, causing the Canadian harvest season to arrive earlier than the American harvest season. And  since Thanksgiving for Canadians is more about giving thanks for the harvest season than the arrival of pilgrims, it makes  sense to celebrate the holiday in October. So what are the differences between Canadian and American Thanksgiving, other  than the date? Not much! Both Canadians and Americans celebrate Thanksgiving with parades, family gatherings, pumpkin pie and a whole lot of turkey! What will you be doing to celebrate Thanksgiving this year? We’re looking forward to a great dinner with our family visiting from Vancouver and are very grateful for our valued friends, family and clients. Article excerpt from: http://www.kidzworld.com

Early First Whale Sighting in Maui Waters on Thursday

First Whale Sighting in Maui Waters By Wendy Osher Article from: Mauinow.com The first humpback whale sighting in Maui County waters this season was reported yesterday morning  off the eastern coast of Lana’i. According to the Pacific Whale Foundation, a pair of humpbacks was sighted at 8:35 a.m. on Thursday, October 6, about 2 miles off the coast by the raft, Great White.  The sighting was confirmed by the nearby Ocean Discovery vessel, operated by the Pacific Whale Foundation. Captain Bryson Oliveira confirmed the pod included one adult whale and one smaller whale that appeared to  be a yearling. The Maui sighting comes a week-and-a-half after the National Oceanic and Atmospheric  Association reported the first state sighting of the season near Honaunau Bay, Hawaii Island on September 26. “We were jumping up and down when we heard the news,” said Merrill Kaufman, Chief Operations Officer at  Pacific Whale Foundation. “It is always a cause for excitement when we discover the whales are back.” For the past two years, the first sighting off of Maui was reported on October 20. Humpback whales return to Hawai’i each year as part of their winter migration to give birth and care for their  young. An estimated 12,000 humpback whales are believed to make the journey, according to the Pacific  Whale Foundation. The agency celebrates the start of whalewatch season on Saturday, November 26, when whale sightings  are guaranteed through mid-May. *** Supporting information courtesy, Pacific Whale Foundation.

Casino Night Fundraiser for the J. Walter Cameron Center on Saturday October 15th

Casino Night: Gamble and Win Big for A Cause

By Kristin Hashimoto
Article from: Mauinow.com

Do your fingers itch for the gambling tables and die of Las Vegas? From 5 p.m., on Saturday October 15 at the King Kamehameha Clubhouse, legal gambling tables such as: black jack, roulette, craps, bingo, and poker tables will set the scene for a night of fundraising fun for the J. Walter Cameron Center.

Anyone with an affinity for architecture might want to check out the clubhouse, as it is a design from the renowned American architect, Frank Lloyd Wright. From 5:30 p.m., a no-host cocktail bar and auction will open. Pupus will be served and door prizes and live entertainment will keep the energy up throughout the night.

Tickets are $125 each and will go to a worthy community cause. The Cameron Center is home to 20 of Maui’s profit and non-profit health education, rehabilitation, day care, and human service agencies. This benefit will help the center in their continued provision of meeting spaces for hundreds of Maui’s community groups, clubs, social services and local businesses for nominal fees, throughout the year.

For more information on the J. Cameron Center and their casino night fundraiser, visit www.jwcameroncenter.org, or call 244-5546. The King Kamehameha Clubhouse is located at the King Kamehameha golf course at 2500 Honoapiilani Highway in Wailuku.

The Buzz~Compliments of Old Republic Title & Escrow of Hawaii

THE BUZZ
Compliments of Anne Diola
Old Republic Title & Escrow of Hawaii

There’s good news in real estate to report as we enter the fall season. In August, sales of existing homes rose 8.5 percent to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of 4.47 million in August. What’s important to note is that this rate is 20.2 percent above the 3.72 million pace of August 2010. Also, U.S. home prices were up for the fourth month in a row, according to the latest Standard & Poor’s/Case-Shiller Home Price Indices.
Existing home sales increased from July to August in all regions:
Northeast – increased 2.7 percent
Midwest – increased 3.8 percent
South – increased 5.4 percent
West – increased 18.3 percent
Ron Phipps, President of the National Association of Realtors, reports that currently we are experiencing the best housing affordability conditions in a generation. Clearly, buyers are enjoying the benefits of today’s market and historically low interest rates.

JUST ASK
Q: I’m hearing about something called a “conforming loan limit” and how it’s changing. Can you tell me more about this?

A: The conforming loan limit determines the maximum size of a mortgage that the U.S. – specifically, the Federal Housing Administration, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac – will guarantee. Before the housing bust in 2008, the government-insured loan limit was $417,000. This limit still applies across most of the country. But in areas with high home values — 250 counties, in all — the government increased those limits to bolster the confidence of cautious lenders.

Since 2008 the limit in affected counties has been $729,750. But as of October 1, the new limit has been reduced to $625,500. Home buyers in these counties can obtain non-conforming home loans (known as “Jumbo” loans), but the interest rates are typically higher and require a larger down payment. In a nutshell, the lowering of the loan limit can mean fewer loan options for buyers in affected counties.

MY TOWN
As the nights grow longer and days a bit cooler, you probably find yourself shifting from thoughts of barbeques and swimming pools to pumpkins, harvest festivals and trick-or-treating. As you get ready for October festivities, consider turning your pumpkin carving tradition into a family activity. Whether you’re 2, 22, or 102, carving pumpkins lets you express your creative self.
Disney’s FamilyFun.com site has lots of tips on pumpkin carving and buying (Hint: Visit your local pumpkin patch!). Check out their slide show of creative pumpkin carving and decorating ideas too for some inspiration. Kraft.com includes pumpkin carving stencils you can print and loads of Halloween-themed recipes. About.com is also a good source for carving tips and recipes. Did you know, for example, that you can use your Jack O’ Lantern as an air freshener? Just sprinkle some cinnamon, nutmeg or cloves on the bottom of the lid.
Spread out your newspapers, get a carving knife and pumpkin, and get ready to have some fun celebrating fall. Happy carving!

FYI
On October 15th, from 5:00pm to 9:00pm, drop by the Shops at Wailea for an amazing charity event called: “Sharing, Shopping, and Symphony”. This is sponsored by the Windermere Foundation and all funds raised will stay on Maui! There will be Live Entertainment, Silent Auction, Fashion Show, and more. Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Anne Diola’s Contact Info:
Anne Diola
Account Executive
Old Republic Title & Escrow of Hawaii
33 Lono Ave, Ste 195
Kahului, HI 96732
W: (808) 281-8430
M: (808) 281-8430
adiola@ortc.com

  shareshare

Kihei Community Association Meeting~Community Explores Maui Island Plan

Community Explores Maui Island Plan

Public discusses important policy document under review by Maui County Council.

Written By:Tom Blackburn-Rodriguez
Article from: The MauiWeekly

The Kīhei Community Association (KCA) meeting held on Tuesday, Sept. 20, was billed as a review of smart planning for South Maui.
The meeting began with an announcement by state Rep. George Fontaine, who said he was meeting with Maui Electric Company (MECO) President Ed Reinhardt to try and stop the utility’s plan to install 70-foot power poles along the mauka side of Pi‘ilani Highway as part of an effort to increase the supply of electricity for growth planned in South Maui.

Subsequently, the Maui Weekly recently learned that Rep. Fontaine appears to have been successful, stating that the MECO plan will be modified.

Rep. Fontaine disclosed additional information in a Thursday, Sept. 22, Facebook posting: “After meeting with MECO and hearing my suggestion of moving the lines further mauka above any view-plane and development, they agreed.”

“The route will now go from some midway point on Mokulele Highway, across A&B and ranch lands,” he added. “They need to work [out] what the new cost will be and easements. Once they complete it, they will present the new plan to the community. The president [Reinhart] also apologized to the community on how this was initially handled.”

Following Fontaine, the group discussed the potential impact of the proposed Maui Island Plan currently under review by the Maui County Council.

Among the guest speakers for the evening were environmental activist and former General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) member Lucienne de Naie and Kathleen Kern from the county Planning Department’s Long Range Planning Division.

De Naie said that much is at stake for South Maui, depending on the final form of the Maui Island Plan that is approved by the council.

She said the important issues affecting the area include: Hawaiian cultural heritage; shorelines, oceans and reefs; watersheds and wild lands; livable, walkable communities; housing opportunities; food and energy self-sufficiency; economic diversity; and adaptation to climate change.

De Naie is concerned that the council is engaged in softening the language of the proposed plan by removing words like “shall” and “must,” and replacing them with words such as “may” and “encourage” in areas relating to environmental and building practices, to name a few.

She also criticized the council for removing or placing in the index section maps tied to policy statements regarding topics such as preservation of the shorelines and hazard areas.

“Good maps equal good plans,” de Naie said. “We need to advocate that our maps connect to our Maui Island Plan.”

A panel moderated by KCA President John Miller brought de Naie together with Kern.

Miller reiterated his concerns to Kern. “The community has spoken about what we want and don’t want in South Maui, and what we want our community to look like. But, after all that, why do we get these monster plans that are so shocking, instead of what the community vision is asking for. What mechanism are we going to put in place to get the community we want?”

Kern replied that the Maui Island Plan is a policy document that is open to interpretation. “There is a difference between a policy plan and regulation such as zoning, etc.,” she said. “Ultimately, what governs things are the regulations.”

She recommended that as the community moves forward from the Maui Island Plan to the development of community plans that will put policy recommendation into effect, they correctly identify the zoning they want with specific design guidelines.

Kern, an architect who has previously worked on planning issues in Seattle, Wash., suggested that Maui might want to look at the Seattle planning model.

“In Seattle, after doing neighborhood plans, they began to develop neighborhood design guidelines,” said Kern. “Any large project has to go to the community design review board.”

Next month’s KCA meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, Oct. 18, will examine commercial development in North Kīhei. KCA meetings are held the third Tuesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Kīhei Charter Middle School Campus, 41 E. Līpoa St. For information, call 879-5390 or visit www.gokihei.org.

89th Annual Maui Fair Starts Today

89th Annual Maui Fair Starts Thursday The 89th Annual Maui Fair will begin Thursday, September 29th at the War Memorial Complex Fairgrounds in Wailuku. By Madeline Ziecker Article from: www.Mauinow.com The fair will begin on Thursday at 4:30 p.m. with the 89th Maui Fair Parade. At 5 p.m., fair gates will open and guests can  begin to enjoy the array of food and festivities planned for this year. Gates will close at 11 p.m. ‘Aloha’ Friday is when the action increases. In the morning visitors can attend the Special Fair, beginning at 10 a.m. with a  performance by Zenshin Daiko, the children’s Japanese style taiko (drum) group. Following Zenshin Daiko, Mayor Alan  Arakawa will give a brief welcome. Musical entertainment will continue throughout the day until gates close at midnight. On Saturday fairgoers can look forward to several musical talents, including Kihei Cowboys, Conscious Roots, and Nuff  Sedd. The Meadow Gold Healthy Baby Contest begins at 10:30 a.m., which gives proud parents the opportunity to s howcase their healthy keiki in a setting that promotes health and nutrition. Gates will close at midnight. The fair will conclude on Sunday, beginning with the 2011 Cheer Spirit Showcase at 11 a.m. All pop warner, high school,  and all star teams will get the chance to showcase their team spirit through a routine. A Best in Team Spirit Award along  with other participation awards will be handed out at the showcase. The rest of the day will include performances by  Homestead, Kendra, Kalapana, and hypnotist James Kellogg Jr., but the schedule is reportedly subject to change without  notice. Gates will close at 11 p.m. At least 17 rides will be open during fair hours including this year’s newest ride, The Dragon Coaster, along with classic  favorites such as the Castle Bounce, Century Wheel, and Wave Swinger. In addition to the rides and entertainment, many flock to the fair for the endless variety of decadent foods offered.  Everything from Ahi Bowls to Malasadas will be available for purchase. There is nowhere else on Maui where you have  40 options of places to eat in one day, within a block. Proceeds from the sale of these meals will go to many nonprofit  & civic organizations to help boost their yearly operating costs. The 7th Annual Maui County Department of Fire and Public Safety Chili Cook-off Fundraiser will be held on Saturday,  October 1 from 10 a.m. – noon. This year’s cook off will feature some of Maui’s top chefs including Executive Chefs  Tylun Pang from The Fairmont Kea Lani Maui, Ryan Luckey from Pineapple Grill at Kapalua Resort, and Chef Riko  Bartolome. The chefs will showcase their best chili recipes alongside teams of Maui Fire Department. The public is  invited to sample the chili for $1 a bowl. Proceeds will benefit the Shriner’s Children’s Hospital Patient Transportation  Fund for children afflicted with injuries related to fires. HOURS & PRICES Thursday, September 29 — 5 p.m. to 11 p.m. Friday, September 30 — 5 p.m. to midnight Saturday, October 1 — 10 a.m. to midnight Sunday, October 2 — 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. General Admission: Adults $7 Keiki (5-11) $3 Discount Sunday: Adults $5 Keiki (5-11) $2 Rides: Single Coupons $1 Sheet of 10 Coupons – $10 See www.mauifair.com for questions or for more details.   shareshare

Total Airline Seats For Maui Have Increased Dramatically So Far In 2011 Notes Local Economist Dr. Leroy Laney

Local Economy a ‘Mixed Bag’ Economists share analyses and predictions at economic outlook forum. “…the recession served to pull the scab off the  long-term wound of our economy—that wound is debt.” Sarah Ruppenthal Article From: Maui Weekly Dr. Jack Suyderhoud, professor of business economics at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Shidler College of Business,  and Dr. Leroy Laney, First Hawaiian Bank economic advisor and professor of economics and finance at Hawai‘i Pacific  University, presented their economic analyses during the 37th Annual First Hawaiian Bank Economic Outlook on Friday,  Sept. 16.  For many, it may have been uncertain if the analysis presented at this year’s First Hawaiian Bank Economic  Outlook Forum was good news or bad news. But after taking a look at the big financial picture, one thing seemed certain:  Maui County is creeping along the road to recovery. More than 200 residents filled the Elleair Ballroom of the Maui Beach  Hotel on Friday, Sept. 16, for coffee, breakfast and the 37th Annual First Hawaiian Bank Economic Outlook Forum featuring  local economists Dr. Leroy Laney and Dr. Jack Suyderhoud. “Overall, Maui’s economy this year is a mixed bag,” said Laney,  First Hawaiian Bank economic advisor and professor of economics and finance at Hawaii Pacific University. “Maui’s visitor  industry is doing extremely well, thanks to its resilient upscale image… with resulting higher room  rates and a welcome  growth in airlift, including flights from secondary Mainland cities.” Total airline seats for Maui “have increased dramatically  so far in 2011,” with far stronger growth than anywhere else in Hawai‘i—an increase of more than 11 percent this year, Laney reported.  “A big reason is the fact that Maui has been picking up direct flights by Hawaiian and Alaska Airlines from  secondary cities in the U.S. and Canada. That, combined with aggressive marketing in those cities, has paid off,” he said. As a result, hotels have been able to raise their room rates, and Maui now has the highest average daily room rate in the state. “So reputation does pay off,” said Laney. With its unique juxtaposition of small town charm and big city sophistication, Maui offers “a combination that’s hard to top.”  But while tourism may be a boon for Maui County, it isn’t an economic panacea. “Tourism alone cannot be relied upon  to bring Maui back to better times,” said Laney. “The job total continues to struggle to return to pre-recession levels [and]  unfortunately, other sectors of  Maui’s economy, especially the construction industry, continue to lag significantly. Residential construction is down practically everywhere now,but anyprogress to resuscitate overall construction-public  or private—would result in a more balanced and sustained recovery for Maui.  ”The anemic construction industry is contributing to the lag in job creation and the uptick in unemployment  across Maui County, Laney said. “Maui continues to lose jobs, the only county in the state for which that’s consistently the  case,” he pointed out. “Even though the official end to the recession occurred some time ago… although the visitor industry is doing quite well, weakness in other sectors of Maui’s economy simply overwhelms that strength.” Laney predicted that gradual declines in Maui’s unemployment rate “will likely continue in the future. But there remains a  stark contrast between the current jobless rate and the 2 percent number that prevailed in the peak year of 2007.” However, he said, “Help may be on the way,” citing several projects slated for construction, such as Alexander & Baldwin’s Maui Business Park Phase II in Kahului and the 138-room Courtyard by Marriott around the corner from the Kahului Airport. In addition, economic growth is evident on the campus of University of Hawai‘i Maui College, which has seen a significant  increase in enrollment—nearly 33 percent in two years. “One growth area in the Maui economy, which also helps to diversify  it, is the recently renamed UH Maui College,” said Laney. “The name change reflects the addition of four-year degrees to its  curriculum, the first UH community college to grant such degrees.  ”Taking a look at the bigger picture—the U.S. and global economies—Dr. Jack Suyderhoud, professor of business economics at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa Shidler College of Business, described an invaluable opportunity to mold the future by  ooking at the past—and the present. “A few years down the road, when historians and economists look back on the Great Recession of 2007-09, it will not be regarded so much as a painful transitory period, but rather as the moment when the  long-term weaknesses of the U.S. economy became glaringly exposed,” he said. “In that sense, the recession served to  pull the scab off the long-term wound of our economy—that wound is debt.  ”Debt is the most formidable obstacle to financial recovery, he said, and the longer we take to deal with it, the longer it  will  take to see adequate economic growth.  “I’m hoping that the limited progress made on debt reduction will help stabilize short-term expectations,” said Suyderhoud.  However, he said, if capital markets believe that the U.S. is not serious about reducing its structural deficits, “this may spook  consumers and business investments. ”The result?  “That could indeed push us into the second dip,” Suyderhoud said.  “But I’m deeply hopeful that will not be the case… how we handle debt reduction and rebalancing the economy in the next few months will tell us a lot about our long-term prospects." For more information about the 2011-12 Economic Forecast for Maui County, visit the First Hawaiian Bank Website at  www.fhb.com.