Maui organic gardening... We are so glad we started a couple of gardens this year, as the weather has been great - lots of sunshine.  We could stand a little more rain, but at least there's the hose. We went away to the mainland for a week, and when we came back the transformation was amazing.  Even this past week has shown some incredible growth.  The key is to use lots of good organic fertilizers.  The bugs don't stand a chance when the plants grow so vigorously.  I just had to brag about my great Haiku garden!  This picture only shows half of it... the other half is filled with more tomatoes and about 5 kinds of peppers, including lots of hot ones.  I want to start another garden so we always have something coming off. We are already eating: pole beans cherry tomatoes basil, dill, ci... 05/27/2008

NEW LISTING ALERT - MAUI NEW LISTINGS Do you still get excited when you get a new listing?  Do you want to tell everyone you know?  Do you bring it up in every conversation?  What do you do first?  Do you email all of your contacts and SOI, your fellow agents?  How fast can you get it into the MLS? What about pictures? Do you order the virtual tour and get pictures at different times of day?  Do you input the maximum amount of flattering pictures?  Do you print up brochures and flyers?  Will you do a mail out? Are you ready to start showing it?  Is there a Realtor Caravan where you can showcase your new listing?  Will you do any Open Houses? Are your signs ready?  Do you have nice looking frames and brochure boxes?        I still get excited when I get a new listing. I look forward to ... 05/21/2008

Haiku Maui Hawaii - it's a great place to grow things. We are blessed with an almost perfect climate here in Haiku - and this spring has been one of those years when we get early morning showers to keep everything green and fresh.  It was good timing for a veggie garden, so hubby got the tractor out and made me a nice spot right close to the house this time. Let's see, what do I have growing now.... lettuce, mesclun, cilantro, basil, dill, Vietnamese coriander, lemongrass, marigolds, cosmos, pole beans, brocolli, cauliflower, cherry tomatoes, habanero peppers, more kinds of hot peppers, kawelo tomatoes, cucumbers, and sugar peas.  And a whole 'nother garden with just corn - which the birds are already enjoying (the sprouts)!    It's all organic, with complehumus fertilizer, bone meal, ... 05/07/2008

Got a good deal on some batteries... $20 bucks each.Somebody knew somebody - they were dismantling a back up power system for a high tech facility on Haleakala, Maui, and hundreds of these perfectly good batteries were being unloaded for cheap.  My husband got 20.  He got a solar panel from another friend, and a old inverter we had kicking around, and made himself a free-standing power system - this one for the barn in Haiku.  No more starting up the generator to run the grinder or compressor!  And lights at night too.Many places on Maui rely of off grid technology for their power needs.  When it comes to off the grid systems, batteries are the weak link in the chain - you can only store so much energy - and they are usually not cheap.  When setting up an off grid system be sure to cons... 04/15/2008

    HAIKU Real Estate News    Volume 10 Laurelee Blanchard, Realtor Phone:(808) 298-8544 (Direct)  E-mail:Laurelee@MauiResidences.com REAL ESTATE MARKET REPORTHaiku Home Sales As of March 31, 2008, there were 14 single family home sales in Haiku year-to-date, compared with 15 sales this time last year.  The average price was $1,165,643, compared with $1,110,400 this time last year.  The median price for a home was $800,000 compared with $675,000 a year earlier, an increase of 19%.  On April 12, an MLS search showed 73 Haiku homes for sale.  View the list at www.MauiResidences.com!    The following is a list of recent home sales over $1 million, listed in order of price. DatePriceAddressHome S.F.Ohana S.F.Acres2/28/08$1,060,000690 E. Kuiaha Road1,131n/a1.410/10/07$1,287,000230 Door of Fa... 04/14/2008

 Previously on the WWOOFer series:I want a WWOOFer - Where Can I Find One      What's a WWOOFer?- I got a WWOOFer! PART 3 - We got our first WWOOFer, let's call her Karen, about 10 days ago.  I drove to Kahului Airport and picked her up.  She came from Taiwan!  We had each other's cell phone numbers and pictures.  It was perfect timing, she called me just as I was pulling up to the curb to meet her... right on time.  Her bags hadn't arrived yet so we had a little time to drive around Kahului and sister city Wailuku on a quick tour of "town"... or the "big city" around here on the of the Isle of Maui.  Karen has her own little cabin down in the banana patch, by an intermittent stream on our Haiku Maui farm.  The MiniPad is a cute 2 room efficiency unit with an outdoor shower, and many pe... 03/26/2008

  Welcome to Haiku on the island of Maui.  Are you looking for a nice country home on a couple of acres, with a pool?  What do you think of these fine pools? If you have to ask "how much" then you probably can't afford it. Let's just say these 6 beautiful Haiku Maui homes for sale all cost in the ball park of $2,000,000 - $5,000,000 What's in your budget?           Haiku is on the north shore of Maui, on the windward side. Average daily temperatures are in the 80's.  Summer and winter temperatures vary by about 10 degrees. These pictures are not from last summer, they are from this month and last month... this winter!  These homes and others have been featured on our Paia/Haiku Realtor Caravan.  You could learn more by signing up for the FREE EMAIL NEWSLETTERS.           I'm not going ... 03/14/2008

 JADE FLOWER LEI At the Haiku Ho'olaulea 2008 at the Haiku Community Center last weekend, we ran into someone making leis from JADE flowers.   These incredible looking flower garlands are a traditional Hawaiian custom.  A lei is worn around the neck.        The flowers grow in long bunches from a climbing vine that entwines through a tree branches.  These ones are growing in the Waipio area along the north shore of Maui Hawaii - in the Haiku district.  That's the real color of the flowerets.       Are you thinking of moving to Haiku Maui?    HAIKU GOODLE MAPPlease contact a Maui Realtor when you need more local info - Georgina M. Hunter R(S)  808 283-0635 SEARCH MAUI LISTINGS ~ EMAIL ~ http://www.eastmaui.com/  HAIKU MAUI homes for sale  ~  HAIKU LAND for sale 03/10/2008

Last week I mentioned this upcoming event in Haiku Maui Hawaii ... the annual Flower Festival....Haiku Ho'olaulea 2008 - was a resounding success this past weekend.  This year the weather cooperated and it was the most beautiful sunny day you could imagine on Maui - so you know it was GREAT!  I think the past few years the rain kind of dampened spirits somewhat, but not this year.  We actually were up and at the fair just in time to catch the opening blessing, and the booths and vendors were just putting the finishing touches on their displays.  We brought our visitors, Steve and Sue with us, as they were on their way to the airport to go back home to Canada (reluctantly).Bought some trinkets and a nice tote bag locally made, some plants, some organic jams and jellies... lilikoi butter,... 03/10/2008

 So you want to move to Haiku Maui HI - Here are some good things to think about when getting started. Of course there is so much more to know before you come here to Maui, so doing your own research is essential.  Haiku is mostly an agricultural area, with many small and large farms, and 2 acre AG subdivisions.  Along the north coast of Maui are some spectacular homes and lots that appeal to the windsurfing crowd.  Pauwela, Peahi, Honopou, Huelo - these are all areas within the Haiku district.  I've posted plenty of Haiku Maui pictures on Pinterest Arriving at the Kahului Airport - how to find your way to HAIKU from the airport Haiku Map - use this map to find your way around while surfing these links Downtown Haiku Maui HI - pictures and info about our area Pauwela Cannery - a commerc... 03/03/2008

Attention Maui residents - be sure to mark your calendar for the Haiku Ho'olaulea Flower Festival coming up.Read the whole story from the Maui NewsPreview some tropical flowers from Maui.WHEN - March 8, 2008 - morning - get there early!WHERE - Haiku Community Center on the Hana Highway, and the Haiku Elementary School grounds - in Haiku Maui HI 96708WHAT - An outdoor/indoor annual event to promote community and have fun... a chance for residents to come together and support each other.Some of the highlights include:Food booths - all kinds! Keiki fun zoneCommunity information boothsEntertainmentSilent AuctionArts and crafts saleHistorical exhibitLei makingFlower and plant saleFarmers marketBook swap HAIKU GOOGLE MAP Come on by for a fun day - all proceeds go to help Haiku Elementary Scho... 03/02/2008

 Wave generated energy is coming to MauiIn a news release from the Hawaiian Electric Company, Oceanlinx Limited, an Australia-based high-tech company, formally announced plans to provide electric power from Hawaii's first wave based energy project.  The proposed project aims to provide up to 2.7 megawatts from 2 or 3 floating platforms located half a mile off Pauwela Point on the north shore of Maui. The platforms measure about 65 by 100 feet and 15-25 feet high and will not likely affect the views from shore.  On board the platforms, rising and falling seas push and pull air past turbines, creating electricity which is then brought ashore through an undersea cable to a substation tied to the electrical grid.  The $20 million ocean power generator would produce enough to power about 500... 02/14/2008

Okay I have been meaning to do this post for a long time, and it got away from me.  Today I talked story with someone who called on my post about Maui organic beef  (he works at the local community college, the AG department).  So I revisited my post from back in October, and there it was, all set up to link to this post, as planned.  So here is the rest of the story now....Meat Processors on MauiIf you've raised yourself a nice steer or pig to eat, and you really don't want to "do it yourself" when it's time for slaughter, what are you going to do?  Here on Maui we take our beef up to: A. DeCoite Packing House3103 Kalili Road, Haiku Maui HI 96708808 572-8570I really think of this location more as being in Makawao than Haiku - it's closer to Polli's Mexican Restaurant than to downtown H... 01/31/2008

(This is my contribution to the Back to Nature contest that Christina Williams came up with.  I don't expect it to be an entry that will compete with the others, but wanted to participate for the points!  Good luck to all the other entries!)Twin Falls MauiOne Sunday my 86 year old dad said to me..."I want to go up to that Twin Falls place and go for a walk, how far is it up to the falls?"  I thought about it for a minute and imagined him up there slipping in some mud and falling, with nobody around to help him or call, and said "I don't know, but why don't I go with you and we'll find out?"  So we got in the car and drove there, all of about a mile away if that.  It was a beautiful sunny day in Haiku, the only one we had had in a couple of weeks.  The ground was starting to dry out, so... 01/29/2008

 Wind Power for Maui HomeownersOff Grid SystemsIt's REALLY windy outside right now.  The wind generator is cranking out power and the inverter is humming.  I've got the clothes dryer running at night!  That's a luxury when you're off the grid, you just don't do it unless you have power to burn.  The batteries are topped up and there's more power coming in.  We have a Bergey wind turbine mounted on a 60 foot pole, in our horse pasture.  It produces 1,000 watts at full capacity.  It's not mounted on that shed in the picture, it's behind it, held up with guy wires.  Our home is in Haiku, on the north shore of Maui, where the tradewinds blow throughout the year.  Most days there is a 10-15 mph "breeze", with a lot of days much windier than that.  It's one of the reasons why Maui is famous f... 01/25/2008

I signed up to be an e-Pro!This week we had a free workshop with Joeann Fossland, a certified coach and e-Pro, at our Realtors Association of Maui.  After she spoke, everyone was quite excited to sign up for the course.  I did too, even though everyone tells me..."but you already know all that stuff don't you?".  Well do I?  How will I know until I find out?I look at it this way.... if I DO already know all that stuff, then shouldn't I have the e-Pro designation to let consumers know that I know?  If I DON'T know it already, they I should take the course and learn it, and still let consumers know that I know.  Either way it just makes sense to pay the money, take the course, and get the e-Pro designation.  If I can learn just 10% more, it would be worth it, wouldn't it?  I'm willing to ... 01/24/2008

Haiku Real Estate for Sale On Maui's north shore, ten minutes down Hana Highway from Paia, sits Haiku, a lush green countryside filled with idyllic pastures and tropical foliage. Haiku was once a pineapple-plantation village. Now, former pineapple canneries house shops and restaurants. Haiku also has a post office, pharmacy, fitness center, video store, market, veterinary clinic, doctor's office, auto shop and gas station. The towns of Makawao and Paia are just a short drive away for more dining and shopping.  The Haiku real estate market offers a substantial inventory of homes for sale, ranging from small cottages to luxurious estates.  To search for Haiku homes, condos and land, click on the Maui Multiple Listing Service property search engine. http://websearch.ramaui.com/smartframe/s... 01/12/2008

10 Questions to Ask Your Lender1. What are the most popular mortgage loans you make? Why?2. Which type of mortgage plan do you think would best for us? Why?3. Are your rates, terms, fees, and closing costs negotiable?4. Will I have to buy private mortgage insurance? If so how much will it cost and how long will it be required? NOTE: Private mortgage insurance is usually required if you make less than a 20-percent down-payment, but most lenders will let you discontinue the policy when you've acquired a certain amount of equity by paying down the loan. 5. Who will service the loan? 6. What escrow requirements do you have?7. How long is your loan lock-in period (the time that the quoted interest rate will be honored)? Will I be able to obtain a lower rate if they drop during this period?8.... 01/12/2008

HAIKU MAUI 96708 Haiku is a small town on the north shore of Maui, east of the airport and main city of Kahului along Highway 36, the Hana Highway. Haiku is mostly agricultural with many small farms and agricultural subdivisions.  Some crops that are grown are bananas and other fruits, tropical flowers, orchids, palms, and pasture land for cattle, horses and goats. There is a small Haiku town center with commercial activity at the corner of Haiku Road and Kokomo Road.  Two old canneries have been converted to mixed commercial and light industrial use. If you're looking for some vacant land listings in Haiku: Great Deals in Large Parcels Peahi Farms Oceanfront Lots Honopou Valley - Off Grid One of the Haiku highlights is Twin Falls, on the Hana Highway.  It's an easy hike through the ju... 01/09/2008

Who's Brad Pitt?The other night Larry King was interviewing Brad Pitt and I turned on the TV and said, "we have to watch this program with Brad Pitt in New Orleans."  My dad said "who's Brad Pitt?"  I explained to him that Brad Pitt was the actor in the Jesse James film that he recently saw, and he looked hard and said... "so it is!".  Well at least that got his attention, so we were able to watch most of the show without too much channel surfing during the commercials.You have to applaud Brad Pitt for taking on such a monumental project, and getting the ball rolling with a $5 Million contribution.  His heart is in the right place, and he is leading by example.  I can understand why the former residents of the Lower 9th Ward want to come back to their home.  There is no other place quit... 12/18/2007