Reflections on the Holidays – from Hawaiʻi

Discipline. Over 600 articles written for the Hawaii Life website, also collected into a newsletter I send out at the end of each month for subscribers, clients and friends. Sometimes market analysis. Perhaps a new listing announcement. Essays on life in Hawaiʻi, on conservation, on being a good community member. Collections of horse or waterfall properties. Reports on pending changes to laws or regulations affecting property owners.

Occasionally I miss the mark on four monthly posts. I will this month and likely next. Sometimes it is ok to take a break (pun intended, read on!)

Fractured wrist? The show(ing) must go on! Hawaii Island Retreat – oceanfront North Kohala lodge

Take A Break For The Holidays

For those of us who sell a lot of resort, second home, future dreams property, the holidays are absolutely high season for us. This year it seemed like I also crammed a lot into our normally slower shoulder season, starting with the Native Hawaiian Convention in September.  Between prepping new listings, touring buyer clients, and closing on their purchases, I squeezed in five days of vacation in New York City, multiple meetings and site visits for Hawaii Land Trust and the stateʻs Legacy Land Conservation Commission, the usual holiday parties and donor appreciation events, and the Forbes Global Properties conference at the Four Seasons Wailea (how could I not go when it was here in Hawaiʻi Life Land?)

Agents from Hawaiʻi Life and around the world at the Forbes Global Properties conference in December 2024, Four Seasons Hotel – Wailea, Maui

Itʻs funny, I was at a community event in Hawi last weekend and someone mentioned they were going to visit a mutual friend who moved to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. On the spot we came up with four other people we knew who have second homes or moved there. Thatʻs the value of these global affiliations. I now know – and bonded with on a horseback ride – the owners of the top real estate brokerage there. Next time someone is thinking of San Miguel – or Santa Fe – or Costa Rica – or Portugal – or Australia or New York City – I know who they should call.

But a few days later, changing planes in Honolulu airport in the home stretch of the craziness, I tripped and tumbled. The very good orthopedic surgeon at the very good North Hawaii Community Hospital in Waimea is trying to bribe me. If I actually take it easy for the next three weeks, he will take the cast off at four weeks rather than six.

His idea of “taking it easy” would have me watching a Christmas movie marathon today instead of working on a counter offer and writing a blog post. So there may be fewer blog posts in the next few weeks. Honestly, if I did not tell you, you would probably not even notice! And I bet if you thought about it, there is at least one thing on your holiday to do list that no one would notice if it never happened,

Poinsettia bloom in my front yard

Whatever holiday you celebrate at this solstice time – or even if you choose to ignore them all together – wishing for all of you some time for peace, recovery, reflection and dreaming.