What is the Problem with Ahi?

8 12 2010

Okay, the problem with Ahi (Yellowfin Tuna) is….once you have eaten it fresh from the sea, and cooked to savor, you are hooked.  Of course, then the problem becomes your budget, and just how much Ahi is available.  If you are fortunate enough to live in Hawaii, and even more fortunate to live on the Big Island, you can become pretty spoiled very quickly,  because, it doesn’t get it any fresher, and most every restaurant and home knows how to prepare it well.

Although we don’t readily admit it, we are depleting the natural supply pretty quickly.  So you can imagine how my interest was peaked when my Google Alerts produced this little item about the future of my favorite fish….  http://www.staradvertiser.com/business/businessnews/20101113_ahi_farms_ocean_lease_okd.html

My first thought…..great news, I can  remove that from my list of what will be missing in my future. I don’t have to eat more than my fair share in fear that it will run out before I do…..Wok-charred ahi is here to stay…. and of course, kudos to Peter Merriman, who has it down to a science.

http://merrimanshawaii.com/recipes.php for the absolute best recipe, sauces etc…. enjoy!

Aloha

Dodie MacArthur

MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

BigIslandRealE.com

LetsGoHawaii.com

 


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Categories : Big Island residents, Hawaii Consumers, Hawaii local treats, Hawaiian culture, travel to Hawaii, Uncategorized, Waimea/Kamuela

Does Your Home Need Drama?

27 09 2010

I don’t know about your home, but mine always has drama….. of one kind or another.

Today, when you look at  real estate sites, most of them address something called staging. Staging is one person’s idea of how your house needs to look to attract a buyer. Most often stagers, …. some with experience, and some without, believe they know what the buying public wants to see.

Is this a fascinating science? art? guess? I’m not really sure which category it fits, but I do know there are a few demographics to consider when approaching this decision.  So you may want to first of all, sit with your real estate professional and determine your buyer demographics. Are they young, middle aged, retired. Is it a family or a single person? What are their lifestyle expectations?

Whatever the demographics may be, most people are attracted to drama. They prefer life to reflect a movie set, not any specific one, as every one has their own mental library of movie scenes, and they know their scene.

Next time you are wandering through an Open House and you find yourself imagining a scene……will it be  one in your library?  What scene might this fabulous Big Island entry picture bring to mind? http://www.waimeaspremierekamaainaranchestatehawaii.com

Dodie MacArthur

MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

http:www.bigislandreale.com

http:www.letsgohawaii.com


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Categories : Hawaii Hometowns, Hawaii real estate for sale, Hawaii retirement, Tips for Home Buyers, Tips for Home Sellers, Tips for Home Staging for Sale, Uncategorized, Waimea/Kamuela

Trading Places… Prefer to be in Hawaii? Now?

21 09 2010

Does trading sound too “off the chart” for you?  Believe it or not, this is happening more and more in the marketplace, and it makes perfect sense.

One of the great things about real estate is that someone typically wants what you have. The trick is finding that someone.  Most people who want to buy usually have something to sell. Sometimes they just want to move down the street, and some will fulfill their dream to move to Hawaii.

Hawaii, is a great market for trading places because Hawaii is always on the move…..the primary housing market moves from island to island, and very often to the mainland. The second home market is always moving around, looking for new experiences in new surroundings.    

This incredible home could be a potential trade for a smaller home or even a great lot in Waimea, Puako, or a resort property along the Kohala Coast. For more information there is a  24 hour free recording call this toll-free number 1-800-588-8564 ext:1507

Sound interesting? Have questions? It’s about making life work where you want to be and now……

Dodie MacArthur
MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

http://www.bigislandreale.com
http://letsgohawaii.com


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Categories : Big Island residents, Hawaii Consumers, Hawaii Hometowns, Hawaii Island Names, Hawaii real estate for sale, Tips for Home Buyers, Tips for Home Sellers, Waimea/Kamuela

Are You Living in the .065% Box?

15 09 2010

So yesterday I stopped by my local bank and there on the counter was a little goldenrod paper with updated CD rates……the range from .065 for a minimum term to 2 percent for a 60 month term definitely made me question, whether  my next stop should be the local wine store.  After all good wines  can be enjoyed, appreciated and do appreciate.  Of course being a firm believer in tangible investments and definitely things greater in size than a wine bottle, I returned to my computer to see what the best deals in today’s real estate market might be.

Guess what I found?  Buyers and sellers are very willing to make deals.   No matter what the banks may think, the public knows that it’s time to make moves, especially when the alternative is your bank offering .065% return on your money. Whether your need is for a better investment opportunity, a new location, a change in lifestyle,there are moves to be made… things to do and places to go…..

Looking for a great deal……today the price dropped on this great family home on the dryside of Waimea (Big Island of Hawaii) on one acre from $699,000 to $599,000…..14.3 percent……

Don’t ‘box’ yourself in.

Dodie MacArthur

MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

http://www.bigislandreale.com

http://www.letsgohawaii.com


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Categories : Hawaii Consumers, Hawaii Hometowns, Hawaii real estate for sale, Tips for Home Buyers, Uncategorized, Waimea/Kamuela

Mr. President, Hope You Will Find A Big Island Getaway Now!

31 08 2010

I read that the Weinbergs would love to have you continue using their newly acquired Kailua Beach (Oahu)home for your Hawaii visits.Kailua has  a nice beach,(although I don’t believe it was ever voted one of the top 10 beaches) it’s close to all your high school friends, but the Big Island is a short hop and who wouldn’t want to stop by to see you.

You might enjoy looking at a couple of options, maybe check out Big Island Real Estate for the future.  Sometimes the Big Island, especially the Kona- Kohala Coast, appears to be a second home to Californians, from north of San Jose,  in reality, the Big Island represents the best of Hawaii, yesterday and today .

Take a four-part tour at this site, http://www.bigislandreale.com/Blog/tour-the-big-islands-hawaii-belt-road from the untouched town of Hilo on the bay, along the winding roads of the Hamakua Coast, through the quaint and charming plantation villages of Hakalau, Honomu, Paauilo, Honokaa and up the slopes to Waimea, then down the hill to Mauna Kea Beach (always one of the top 10 beaches)  and to the once barren coastline, now a golfing paradise, assuming it’s true that “obama plays golf”…now go to http://www.hawaiioceanfrontestate.net to see more of this Big Island Getaway…..

For more on the Obama’s Kailua Beach Getaway …..  http://www.iqrealestate.com/ShowNews.cfm/NEWS/68554

Dodie MacArthur

MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

http://www.bigislandreale.com

http://www.letsgohawaii.com


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Categories : Hawaii Consumers, Hawaii Golfers Paradise, Hawaii Hometowns, Hawaii real estate for sale, Uncategorized

Who Gets Confused About Hawaii Names?

25 08 2010

Do you know about our little town, Waimea (Island of Hawaii)? Waimea means “reddish”water, and there is a bit of water tainted with red dirt in the State of Hawaii, so needless to say, there are several towns named “Waimea”, on Oahu and Kauai and possibly more. Until my move to the Big Island, my only reference point was Honolulu, where everyone referred to the Big Island community of Waimea (Island of Hawaii) as”Kamuela”. Imagine my confusion and actual embarrassment moving to a town, knowing it only as Kamuela, and finding out it is truly, “Waimea”.  

I loved the first time I made the outrageous mistake of calling it Kamuela and was abruptly told by a long time resident, (of several generations or more), that I must be living in the post office…because Kamuela is the designation assigned to this community by the U.S. Postal Service to eliminate their confusion (pre-zip codes, no doubt).

Hot off the press this week from Yahoo and Pacific Business News:

http://pacific.bizjournals.com/pacific/stories/2010/08/23/focus6.html  http://travel.yahoo.com/p-travelguide-475406-waimea vacations

Waimea (Big Island) Treats for the palette, not to be  missed….

Dodie MacArthur

MacArthur and Company/Sotheby’s International Realty

http://www.bigislandreale.com

http://www.letsgohawaii.com


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Categories : Hawaii Island Names, Hawaii local treats, Uncategorized, Waimea/Kamuela


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