Mauna Kea Resort Market Update: Rise in New Construction & Renovations

As we progress into the spring of 2019 Mauna Kea Resort is experiencing an uptick in new construction activity in addition to a few substantial remodels of existing single family homes.

Currently, there are three new homes in the Kauna’oa at Mauna Kea Community that will be breaking ground in the near future. Within the High Bluffs, there are two homes currently under construction targeted for completion toward the end of the year or within the first quarter of next year.

One of the biggest trends we are observing are large remodels and renovation projects to some of the older single family homes in the Fairways North and South at Mauna Kea Resort. These iconic residential neighborhoods were developed in the 1970s and early 1980s, by Laurance Rockefeller as part of the original Mauna Kea Beach Hotel and Resort master plan. For the first time in a long time, there is a new wave of buyers purchasing older homes in the Fairways and carrying out extensive remodels and renovations. A few existing homes and a number of Villas have already undergone remodels. Two additional large remodel projects are on the horizon, including one home in the Fairways North and one home in the Fairways South that will commence retrofitting in the near future.

As we get closer to entering a new decade look out for a progressive overhaul, and the modernization of a number of properties within the resort. Out with the old, in with the new…

• For a Complete List of Condominiums and Residential Properties Currently Available at the Mauna Kea Resort (Click Here).
• For a Complete List of Vacant Land Properties Currently Available at the Mauna Kea Resort (Click Here).

Local Trends:

PLAN TO DRIVE TOURISM TO HAWAII ISLAND ANNOUNCED – State officials are launching a new branding campaign to support Hawaiʻi Island tourism, with an emphasis on marketing to the U.S. mainland and Japan. Lawmakers stood side-by-side with tourism executives for a press conference at the State Capitol. Hawaiʻi Island State Representative Richard Onishi, who chairs the House Committee on Tourism & International Affairs, announced a $2.5 million allocation recently approved by the Hawaii Tourism Authority’s Board of Directors to support the campaign. The $2.5 million reallocated by HTA will be utilized by Hawaii Tourism United States ($1.5 million) and Hawaii Tourism Japan ($1 million) to implement a series of new branding, marketing, and publicity programs.

This funding complements the ongoing marketing and promotional programs being implemented by HTA’s Global Marketing Team in accordance with the guidance provided by the Island of Hawaii Visitors Bureau. The new branding programs in the U.S. mainland and Japan will employ a variety of communication tactics to reach travelers in prime regional areas via marketing, promotions, sales blitzes to travel trade professionals, and public relations. Among the planned programs is a high-profile bus tour that will carry island of Hawaii representatives and Hawaiian cultural practitioners, making stops in key cities on the West Coast to promote travel opportunities to the destination and showcase the vast number of attractions and activities visitors can enjoy island-wide.

BEYOND HOTELS AND BEACHES: CAN HAWAII DIVERSIFY ITS ECONOMY? – Hawaii’s economy is thoroughly dominated by tourism. But alternative energy and research-and-development offers some of the best chances for creating new, higher paying jobs. Alexander & Baldwin’s historic Bishop Street headquarters is a sepia-colored landmark of Hawaii’s old plantation economy. But the building is now filled with dozens of devices that symbolize a decidedly different economic future for Hawaii: the energy innovation business. The Carbon Lighthouse, an energy-efficiency startup, has deployed 85 sensors, each about the size of a deck of cards, all over the building to measure things like temperature, light and foot traffic. It’s like an energy efficiency audit backed by a massive database of information that Carbon Lighthouse has collected from sensors deployed at dozens of other locations. The idea is to get “more data than anyone has ever seen” and mine it to find ways for building managers to reduce their energy use, says Louis Concato, Carbon Lighthouse’s executive account manager for Hawaii. The company likens the process to oil exploration: using technology to find hidden resources, and money — in this case, 10% to 30% savings for clients. A&B, one of Hawaii’s old Big Five companies, isn’t alone in embracing new energy technology.

Gov. David Ige has made energy innovation a centerpiece of his public policies, centered on a push to adopt renewable energy resources. Some economists, meanwhile, say the industry presents one of the brightest new business opportunities for Hawaii and a chance to create alternatives to the tourism-related jobs that dominate local employment. Economists at the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization believe identifying these small but growing sectors could inform solutions to the state’s age-old dilemma: how to diversify the islands’ economy so it includes more higher-paying jobs that allow people to afford living in one of America’s priciest states.

Upcoming Local Events:

APRIL 26TH – 27, 2019 (9:00AM – 9:00PM)

BIG ISLAND CHOCOLATE FESTIVAL AT THE WESTIN HAPUNA BEACH RESORT – With the theme, “Black & White,” the eighth annual Big Island Chocolate Festival is April 26-27 with events headquartered from The Westin Hapuna Beach Resort. The two-day chocolate extravaganza includes a guided cacao plantation tour at Original Hawaiian Chocolate Factory in Keauhou-Kona, a college culinary competition and several public foodie and agriculture-themed seminars. Activities culminate 5-9 p.m. April 27 with the indoor-outdoor festival gala—enjoy a host of sweet and savory culinary stations presented by top isle chefs, chocolatiers and confectioners to benefit eight community beneficiaries. Fun includes chocolate body painting, silent auction, and dancing. General admission to the Saturday evening gala is $89, also available are overnight room packages: bigislandchocolatefestival.com/tickets/

OPEN AIR FARMERS MARKET – Make sure to visit one of my favorite local events, any of Waimea‘s 4 Farmers Markets. Open weekly, Wednesdays and Saturdays with numerous local vendors and live music. Visit lovebigisland.com for further information.