Makawao/Pukalani Real Estate Newsletter     -     May 2008------------------------------------------------------------May Realtor Caravan - a lot of great homes and estates for sale upcountry this month. See if there's anything here that rings your bell. 1.    Cute "condo", Pukalani  $435,000.00- 2BD/1BA freestanding cottage that shares a driveway with its "sister" house- situated away from the street with a lovely garden, quiet street2.   A-frame, Makawao  $574,900.00- cozy 1BD/1BA private home on half acre lot with mature trees and landscaping- walking distance to Makawao's schools, shopping and restaurants3.    All Updated, Pukalani   $599,000.00- nice looking 3BD/2BA remodeled home with ocean and mountain views- central air and an auto-ventilation system in the attic4.    Half Acre,... 06/06/2008

3 bedroom 2.5 bathroom 1693 square foot living space 10156 square foot lot Views Ocean and Mountain excellent purchase negotiable. Open House Open House 5pm to 7pm 4/24/2008 Open House 5pm to 7pm 4/25/2008 Jeffery B. Griffin Realtor® ABR e-Pro Lucky We Live Hawaii 808-280-3442 cell 888-248-4015 toll free/information/message/fax Hawaii MLS LuckyComeHawaii@yahoo.com Century 21 all islands 7 E. Kaahumanu Ave. Kahului, HI 96732 04/22/2008

Maui Upcountry Realtor Caravan Here on Maui we have Realtor Caravans every week.  On Thursdays we cover the north shore and upcountry areas.  I blogged about the Haiku Caravan previously, which happens on the 2nd Thursday each month.  Fidelity National Title & Escrow of Hawaii graciously provide this valuable service for us, and coordinate the event.  We meet at Casanova's Restaurant in Makawao at 8:30 in the morning.  They give us a hand-out with the list of new upcountry properties to see, with a map on the back to help find our way to all of these new listings.Yesterday on Makawao/Pukalani Caravan there were 13 new homes to see!  Two homes were priced under $500,000.  There were some really nice looking homes.  If I was a buyer, it would be a pleasure to be shopping for a home on Mau... 03/21/2008

Pukalani Terrace Center  is the main shopping center in Pukalani Maui, what could almost pass as "downtown" Pukalani.  You can't miss it if you drive up the Haleakala Highway, and take the exit for Pukalani, along the old highway.  You'll come to it at the traffic light at Pukalani Street, and turn right into the center. Call the management office at 808 572-7900. This center has most of the important things you could need on any given day:Post OfficeMedical ClinicLaundromatStarbucksFoodland with bakery and deliRestaurantsAce HardwareBank of HawaiiNapa Auto PartsYou won't find any clothing stores, but you can find them in Kahului at the malls, or at plenty of boutiques in nearby Makawao and Paia.  There's always lots of parking.  There are some other places to shop in Pukalani, such as ... 01/20/2008

 Pukalani Country Club is located in upcountry Maui, on the slopes of Haleakala, where it's a little cooler.  If you're driving up Haleakala Highway, take the Old Haleakala Highway exit and then take a right at Pukalani Terrace Shopping Center.  Tha's Pukalani Street... drive all the way to the end and there's the golf club, at 360 Pukalani St. Pukalani HI 96768.  It's a public golf course with reasonable fees.  My dad likes to play here because he's cheap, and he doesn't want to pay the high fees at the resorts down in Wailea and Makena. That's the driving range pictured above... not bad huh?They used to have a pretty good restaurant serving local food, but the place burned down about a year ago.  They still haven't rebuilt the clubhouse, they are operating out of trailers for now.  Th... 01/18/2008

Endangered Pieces - Pukalani Maui HI    (808) 870-1112How can you drive by this place without stopping an going in?  Don't they have the best looking junk you ever laid eyes on?  And this is just the beginning.... there's 4 rooms of it right here, and when you turn around and cross the street there's warehouses more!  The owner has been collecting this stuff for years.  He gathers up treasures from Maui estates and recycles them to new owners.  This is all good stuff!  You won't believe all the weird and wonderful items in this store.... giant Buddha heads, carved horses, hand crafted gates, furniture, old bottles, statues, and so much more.  What the heck is that giant Mardi-Gras head doing here?  I bet there's plenty of stories here.You can find this unique upcountry store on Makawao ... 01/17/2008

It seems to me that the market is getting busy again, at least over here on Maui anyway.  Yesterday I was non stop, showing properties, delivering a closing gift, and countering an offer.  I even managed so do a little last minute Christmas shopping.The day started with a 9 am showing of this cute Haiku fixer home in the country.  Seller is asking only $375,000. which is a low price around here.  I have some friends interested, so they all came to have a look and see if it would be worthwhile.  While they were thinking about it, some other buyers had it tied up and opened escrow, as they had already started the process.  We can always make a back up offer.My next appointment was about an hour away, in the resort area of South Kihei and Wailea.  I met some Canadians who are here for the ... 12/24/2007

Pukalani Superette is a great little store in upcountry Maui.  It's on Makawao Avenue, at the intersection with the old Haleakala Highway.  Locals know where it is.  If you can't find what you're looking for in this grocery store, you better head down the road to the Pukalani Terrace Center.This store has the best pupus, if you're hungry and you need a snack RIGHT NOW.  The other day I stopped in with my dad, and we walked out with some fried teriyaki strips and chicken wing drummettes and we ate them in the car!  They make really good local specialties like potato macaroni salad, teriyaki beef, and chow fun.  The vegetables they sell are locally grown so you know they're fresh.  We also got some ahi to make sashimi.  This is a busy place at the end of the working day, and you can bump ... 12/23/2007

I got woken up last night by a sharp pain. 3:33 am I flat lined bite to my side and I felt a pinch. I knew what it was. Yet I have never received one. I was bitten by a Centipede. The Pede crawled up my leg and bit right through my underwear. I went to the bathroom and washed, alcohol and cleaned the bite. There it was two thin fang marks. I went back to the bed looked for the bug, the insect that woke me from my nightly slumber. I tore the bed apart I couldn't find the Centipede. Tore the blanket, pillows and the sheets form the bed. Scissors in one hand and a bug swatter in the other. Still no Vampire insect. I pulled the mattress up and nowhere was that bug. Damn the pede got away. I couldn't go back to sleep. I did the swelling watch as my hp turned red to pink to black and blue. I ... 08/20/2007