Mission House Tea Parlor is a sweet town side hideaway!
I love working in Honolulu. But come time to eat I get a little sick of concrete and outdoor cafes next to the street with cars belching exhaust on my lunch. And oh how relaxing to grab a coffee with a bazillion people rushing past you yelping into their cell phones or running into lamp posts head down while texting…
Can you believe we are in the city?
So it was delightful to discover the sweet tranquil oasis of the Café Tea Parlor at the Mission House Museum. Nestled on the grounds of the Museum this quaint hide away is a prefect spot for breakfast, lunch and a delightful Saturday High Tea! And you have to love a tea parlor that tweets as @cafeteaparlor !
Tea Time at the Cafe Tea Parlor
Lunch time and Breakfast fare is hearty and priced well. The Lunch menu features paninis, wraps, salads, Teriyaki Chicken & Steak plates, yummy desserts and a variety of drinks. The Hibiscus Iced Tea has no caffeine but I love it anyway! And you can take everything to go and eat back to your desk. (Please do, as that will free up a table for me to enjoy my meal in this piece of paradise in town!)
Scones and Clotted Cream and Lemon Curd
What I love is the afternoon tea on a beautiful Hawaii Saturday. Reservations are required so grab a bunch of friends and relax in style! Yummies are baked fresh every day featuring award-winning soft scones, delicious desserts and tea sandwiches. Be sure to try the variety of premium full leaf loose teas from around the world, encased in silken sachet bags.
They create their own delicious homemade lemon curd, clotted cream, and the scones are soft and delightful! I ♥ scones and these are some of the best in town!
The band of usual suspects got together recently for an Episode of Mix it Up Hawaii from@HawaiiIRL and were treated to the rocking Uke skills of instructor Christoffer Salvador (left) and `Ukulele Hale instructor and owner Jody Kamisato (right).
One of the things we like to do best in Hawaii is eat. A gathering of friends and family, a celebration, a contest… we can find some excuse to go for “Da Ono Kine Grinds”!
A group of Twitterers have banded together, lead by the formidable organizational skills of@HawaiiIRL and @WaikikiBeachwlk, to undertake the daunting task of finding the best Loco Moco in Waikiki.
Hula Grill view in Waikiki. Lucky we live Hawaii!
Jimmy Buffet’s Loco Moco
What is “Loco Moco” you ask? A favorite local dish that originated in Hilo on the Big Island after World War II, it consists of a heap of white rice topped with a hamburger patty and a Sunnyside-up egg, and then smothered in gravy. Down Home Regional comfort food is found all over in every country on earth. Think Chicken Fried Steak, Matzo Ball Soup, Mac & Cheese… we all have our favorites we turn to.
Some friends of mine on the Mainland think it sounds disgusting. But break the egg first then blend the burger, egg, rice, and gravy at each bite and you will know the true meaning of why people don’t care about clogged arteries.
Traditionally this has not been a high-end entrée in finer dining establishments, but rather a quick “Local Style Plate Lunch” often served out of the back of a food wagon as well as whipped up in Auntie’s kitchen for a quick breakfast, lunch or dinner. Recently some designer versions are coming on the scene featuring sirloin steak, Wagyu Beef and other better cuts of meat, good rice and eloquent styles of gravy. I have to admit that I had one Loco Moco years ago when I first came to Hawaii and thought I’d rather eat smothered shoe leather…it was NASTY! So it was with some trepidation I agreed to start on the path to Cholesterol Nirvana in Waikiki. And I’m happy to say I like the Loco Mocos I’ve tried so far; in fact each one gets better!
Plus I am getting a chance to explore really great places to eat I have previously sniffed at, turned my nose up and declared “Hmph! Tourist Trap!” I find myself now eating my words along with really superb food…
So lets cruise to some Waikiki eateries and see what’s “Fo Grindz, Brah!”
We start our adventure at Jimmy Buffet’s at the Beachcomber Hawaii. Located along the main drag of Kalakaua Ave., this funky interior design is not where you would hold an elegant candlelit dinner for two, but you are guaranteed a great time and awesome food at a reasonable price.
Here are some shots from some of the Twitteratzzi in attendance:
Our next stop was the big kick-off event held at the Cheeseburger Beach Walk . This was the “get ready to rumble” competition where some local celeb contestants rose to the challenge of who could eat the most Loco Moco while blindfolded! Hilarity ensued…as well as some yummy snacks for us cheerleaders!
And winning the prize for the poorest photos via the HTC G1 Phone: MOI! All those poor people that have to use the blur tool in Photoshop…I’m a contendah! (Cue “Rocky” theme song here)
Hula Grill brings it ON!
*WHEW* I’m getting full! But it is my duty as a sworn sleuth on the path to Loco Moco Enlightenment that I press on to our third (but not final!) destination: Outrigger Reef Hotel’sHula Grill. The Grill is also an avid Twitterrer so be sure to follow them @hulagrillwaiks.I was pleasantly surprised entering the restaurant; I had never been there before and was expecting the younger crowd rowdiness of their downstairs neighbor. What a great space up above Waikiki Beach, filled with beautiful Hawaiian antique furnishings and old school Waikiki memorabilia!
So here are sets from @PHOTOluluTV online here, And mine are here. I also put up some vids on my Neighbor Hood Crusin’ section of this blog. You will see why I am in Real Estate and not a professional videographer…
Well, I’m stuffed! Need to take some time off to digest all this great food and soak up the fun atmosphere of the restaurants I’ve visited so far. But the quest isn’t over yet! We still have more places to seek out the Holy Grail of Loco Moco over the next few weeks. I’ll be sure to keep y’all up to date.
So, no matter where you live, get out there and find some local home grown favorite dishes that you may normally not even think about tasting, you may be pleasantly surprised! And in the process find some new locales to eat at that you had not tried before. Let’s hear it for Loco Moco!
A group of folks I’ve met through Twitter decided to get together, have lunch and do a PhotoWalk through part of downtown Honolulu. One of the key components to Social Media that many people and companies don’t get is the word “SOCIAL”. Yes, it’s all about interacting both online and IRL. (In Real Life) It’s not about pushing information about how great you, your products and your services are… it’s about back and forth communication. And actually getting out from behind the computer and meeting people, whether you are an individual or business entity, is a great way to take it to the next level.
Downtown Honolulu PhotoWalk Tweetup
So @rickyli99 organized a Twtviteto create a Tweetup. A Twtvite is an online invitation and RSVP site to create IRL events called Tweetups. These events are key to meeting new friends, creating relationships, and exploring fun things to do. People check out the local Twtvites and chose which events they want to attend. Events can be as simple as a few folks getting together for beers or as elaborate as the Kahala Mall Holiday STOMP event.
Arriving at our Tweetup for the Photowalk, I actually had only met two of the attendees in person before. One I had chatted with on Twitter quite a bit and three of them I had never met. From all sorts of different occupations, these are people I never would have met in my ordinary day-to-day Real Estate life.
We came together to enjoy a lunch and explore Merchant Street in Downtown Honolulu on a beautiful Sunday. I’m not Downtown all that much and enjoyed hanging with some guys that knew the area well. After a good lunch at Mini Garden Noodle Housewe headed down Smith Street to Merchant, one of the main drags through the business district.
Slowing down to walk and photograph really makes you aware of little details you just pass by in the hurry and scurry of everyday life. I’ve walked by the Alexander & Baldwin building for twenty years and never looked up to see the gorgeous tiled ceiling at the main entrance!
Part of the fun was strolling and chatting, getting to know a new group of people and especially seeing the photos! Amazing what catches the eye of shutterbugs. Looking at every body else’s pics really shows how differently we all can see the same subjects.
Here’s a list of the usual suspects and a peek at some of the fun we had:
So you want to sell your home yourself and save the Commission you would pay a Realtor? Terrific!
Are you aware that in April of 2010 on Oahu there were 1,956 single family homes for sale and 2,469 condos? That is a seven months supply of inventory if no new homes come on the market. And last month 520 single family homes and 669 condos joined their older buddies on the Multiple Listing Service. And only 286 homes and 390 condos sold!
Nice Signage there, Homeowner!
On top of that, 98% of homes are sold by Licensed Real Estate Agents. Do you really want to give your home only a 2% chance of getting sold?
You still want to sell it yourself? I do admire your tenacity! Let me ask you this; are you willing to do the tasks it takes?
You will need to:
1) Promote your home for sale in local media, online and maybe pay for a limited service listing just to get your home in the local Multiple Listing Service (MLS) so other agents can find your property.
2) Pay for signage.
3) Contact local agents to let them know you have a home for sale.
4) Take time off from work to be available to show the property.
5) Assess who is a legitimate buyer who has pre-approval from a lender and who is not ready, willing and able to buy.
6) Recommend lenders to buyers that need to get a loan.
7) Prepare and review contracts, negotiate contracts to a win-win acceptance of an offer. Open escrow with a Title Company and keep escrow deadlines on track.
9) Carry Errors and Omissions Insurance so if there is a screw up in the contract you are covered in mediation and arbitration or worst possible case a lawsuit in court.
Hmm…so my job isn’t really as easy as you think, Mr. & Mrs. Seller. Selling a home in today’s market is a full time job, are you willing to give up yours to do mine?
I just have earned the nationally recognized Short Sales and Foreclosure Resource certification. The National Association of REALTORS® offers the SFR certification to REALTORS® who want to help both buyers and sellers navigate these complicated transactions, as demand for professional expertise with distressed sales grows.
According to a recent NAR survey, nearly one-third of all existing homes sold recently were either short sales or foreclosures. For many real estate professionals, short sales and foreclosures are the new “traditional” transaction. REALTORS® who have earned the SFR certification know how to help sellers maneuver the complexities of short sales as well as help buyers pursue short sale and foreclosure opportunities.
“As leading advocates for homeownership, REALTORS® believe that any family that loses its home to foreclosure is one family too many, but unfortunately, there are situations in which people just cannot afford to keep their homes, and a foreclosure or a short sale results,” said 2009 NAR President Charles McMillan, a broker with Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage in Dallas-Fort Worth. “Foreclosures and short sales can offer opportunities for home buyers and benefit the larger community, as well, but it’s extremely important to have the help of a real estate professional like a REALTOR® who has earned the SFR certification for these kinds of purchases.”
The certification program includes training on how to qualify sellers for short sales, negotiate with lenders, protect buyers, and limit risk, and provides resources to help REALTORS® stay current on national and state-specific information as the market for these distressed properties evolves.
The April Residential Real Estate numbers are in and things are looking like we are on the mend here on Oahu.
The National Association of Realtors defines a healthy Market as one in which there is a six month supply of homes available. Our March numbers were 14.7 months for single family and 16.1 for condos which was a near record high amount of inventory. The great news is in April we had a 9.7 months supply for single family and a 10.1 months supply for condos, so you can see the trend is going in the right direction!
Chillin' at Sandys
These numbers were not the result of a vast increase in sales but rather quite a few listings expiring or being withdrawn from the market. Sellers with overpriced homes that did not absolutely have to sell at this time are starting to wake up and smell the Real Estate Market Coffee
The inventory of active listings for April was 1,822 single family homes and 2,514 Condos, reflecting a drop from previous months. Sales nudged up slightly with 189 SF and 257 Condos sold.
We are roughly at the sales volume we were at in 1999, according to the Honolulu Board of Realtors data. Real Estate trends here typically move in a ten year cycle. We saw a spike in the early 90′s due to foreign investment, which tanked as the Japanese Stock market bubble burst. Our spike in the mid-2000′s was due largely to the availability of domestic funds because of the loosening of mortgage requirements. And we all know where that has gotten us now…
Some people commute. I am a migrant Real Estate worker. Commuting is for amateurs! I schedule my appointments around Oahu based mostly on what time the schools get out, what time the Pearl Harbor workers get out, what time the Govt. workers get out, what time everybody else gets out and in what direction they drive.
That’s enough of a challenge; beyond that it is the other drivers who should not be on the road given their ADHD to actually driving. Put on that mascara, you in the white Lexus! Keep that slobbering lap dog between you and the steering wheel, you blue Honda you! Hey Mister Garbage truck! How about a tarp over all that stuff flying out the back into my windshield! Minivan Mom! Stop backing up into me, hello? Use a rear view mirror much? Oh yea, to put on your makeup…And you! Cell Phone Guy! Quit taking both hands off the steering wheel to gesticulate while you’re talking!
Have no fear; my days of fuming and plotting revenge on the H1 parking lot are over, thanks to a great new site: Zapatag! At Zapatag you can post the bad drivers plate number and boneheaded moves for all to see! And not just for us Hawaii folks; any state is fair game. Well, maybe that’s not revenge in the purest sense, but we Zapataggers know who you are! And now so does the rest of the Internet!
The comments are great, sarcasm is the preferred flavor of the day, and it’s really entertaining reading the posts! For example, HeatherLynn80 posts an Oregon Plate: “ Dear stupid boys, I understand that you feel the need to show off in your super cool ford fusion with the sweet ass Raiders sticker on the back, but please; riding my ass, flashing your ligh…” *sigh* I’ll never know the rest of her thought process. NctrnlBst zapatags a Hawaii plate; “Illegally parked! Stay within the lines… The Lines are our friends!” And I LOVE kilinahe ‘s comment “I know ‘right of way’ is a difficult concept for someone driving a condo on wheels, but there’s a reason why we were all stopped at the crosswalk. Wait your damn turn.”
Of course, the challenge is to Zapatag while driving and retain concentration on the traffic around us, but we Zapataggers are great multi-taskers. Or like me, a delayed zapatagger, I’ll voice record it into my G1 and do it later. Unless I forget…
So relax,commute chill, keep an eye on how you are driving. Somebody might just Zapatag you!
Originally published on my worpdpress.com site on 12/12/2008.
November showed fewer sales than October but with a lesser months supply of homes on the market. I’d like to think that the overpriced stuff is starting to trickle off the market, but it may just be the “Homes Don’t Sell during the Holidays” Myth. I’ll play “Real Estate Mythbuster” after I give you the numbers.
In November there were 4,751 active residential listings on Oahu, which was an 8.6 month supply of homes if no new properties came on the market. 833 new homes came on and only 371 of the total inventory sold…OUCH!
I’m seeing fewer listings and more “Temporarily Withdrawn” or “Withdrawn” properties in the Multiple Listing Service so far this first week in December. Did you know that lazy agents convince their sellers not to market their properties over the holidays on the misguided concept that “Homes don’t sell from Thanksgiving until after the New Year”. That is not true.
What these agents are actually doing is making sure they have vacation time for themselves and not doing their sellers any favors. In fact: fewer homes on the market over the Holidays means motivated Sellers have less competition. Buyers who HAVE to buy before the end of the year, for tax or job relocation reasons, are out there actively looking. Homes show better during the Holidays because sellers typically keep up appearances for guests dropping in. Lots more reasons to buy and sell this time of year, contact me for more info.
I’m working on putting up the Quarterly Honolulu Board of Realtors Activity Report. It’s a monster PDF File that right now is bogging down my WordPress account until I can figure out a fix. If you want a copy of the report emailed to you let me know.
In closing: as I write this post I’m looking out my window and I am seeing the mountain passes where 67 years ago on December 7, 1941 the Japanese flew through to Pearl Harbor propelling America into World War II. Very humbling. I am extremely grateful to all our military, past and present. I truly believe that their sacrifices over the generations have allowed me to be sitting here living the life of freedom in America. Agree with me or disagree with me: that is the beauty of the whole thing.
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