Maui Makawao Paniolo Parade

The Fourth of July Makawao Paniolo Parade is a great way to start the day on this fun holiday. For those of you who have never seen it, this is something you should experience! The parade lasts from 9-10a.m. This is the 44th annual Paniolo Parade and it's a great opportunity to see the community spirit and involvement of various groups, individuals and organizations.

Prior years have feaured everything from floats to Scottish marching bands and unicyclists! The parade follows Makawao town up from Baldwin Ave to Makawao Ave. Maui's Paniolo (Hawaiian cowboy) traditions are deeply rooted in upcountry culture. There is a rich history of ranching in the grassy uplands of Maui, from Ulupalakua to Haiku. This makes the Paniolo Parade a local favorite, along with the rodeo.

Of course you will also find a great diversity in parade participants, as these images from last year should demonstrate. So pack a chair and some sunscreen, pick a nice spot, and take advantage of this colorful opportunity to see who is putting out the effort to be recognized by the community for their businesses or services. Of course there will be many individuals who just want to show off their stunning antique cars...or miniature ones as the case may be.

This is also a great chance to get a feel for upcountry and North Shore if you are considering a move and are trying to get more familiar with the tone of these areas. Since the parade takes place in Makawao, you may be interested to have a look at real estate in that area. Historic Makawao town is like a snapshot of the old West. With all the fun dining experiences, art galleries and unique shops you'll find here, it's easy to see why it's a local favorite. We can point you to listings of Makawao homes for sale that may interest you, or if you prefer something a little more remote, there are many Haiku homes for sale which offer more space and privacy but still lie a short drive away from Makawao town.

Of course there are always some good buys among the North Shore homes for sale as well. We'll let you explore and decided what suits you best. If you need any assistance with this at all, please email us at info@jimsandersrealty.com or call (808) 579-8255. Mahalo for reading and have a great weekend!

First Annual Paia Fest

Get ready for Maui's first annual Paia Fest! This is a very exciting new event for Maui residents, especially those in upcountry and the North Shore. The date is set for June 28th, on Sunday from 12-10p.m. 

The entertainment lineup looks pretty spectacular, including over twenty music acts. Dozens of vendors and local artists will work to benefit the Maui Food Bank, the Dharma Center, Mana'o Ranch and the Maui Breast Cancer Fund.

There are a couple of noteworthy fundraising efforts. Mana Foods will be selling plate lunches with the proceeds going to the Maui Breast Cancer Fund. Charlie's resturant will host the Mana'o Radio Fundraiser.

As for the music, there will be a live Ukulele brunch at Jacques Northshore Bistro. Marty Dread, Teomon and BuBZ, and other special guests can be found at Be Happy. Soundwave will perform outsite the Green Banana. The Upcountry Celtics will play at the Maui Crafts Guild and the Haiku Hillbillies can be found at Flatbread.

These are just a few of the great festivities. Go to www.paiamaui.com to get the times of these performances and any other details that interest you about the fest. We hope to see you there!

If you appreciate the greener parts of Maui, have a look at our stunning collection of Haiku homes for sale. There are some good buys among the North Shore homes for sale as well. If you need any real estate assistance, please email us at info@jimsandersrealty.com or call (808) 579-8255. Mahalo for reading and have a great weekend!

Art Maui Exhibition 2009

Art Maui is back at the MACC with its 2009 exhibits featuring 326 artists with 519 pieces submitted. Based on prior years, this should be a fantastic experience for art enthusiasts. The Maui art community is one of the most renowned in the world, thanks to the inspirational magnetism that seems to be generated by the island in all its natural beauty.

Exhibition dates are June 7th through July 5th and it is free to attend. You will find the exhibits at the Schaefer International Gallery at the Maui Arts and Cultural Center, open between 11a.m. and 5p.m. daily before Castle Theater events and during intermission. There is an online gallery that you can peruse in the meantime.

The 2009 juror will be Lisa Yoshihara. She received an MFA in sculpture from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa in 1992. She has been working as an assistant professor and the Director of the University of Hawai'i Art Gallery at the Department of Art & Art History, University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, where she has also been teaching Exhibition Design and Gallery Management since 2006.

Be sure not to miss this, the 31st Art Maui exhibition. Check out the Art Maui 2009 website for more information.

If you appreciate the greener parts of Maui, have a look at our stunning collection of Haiku homes for sale. There are some good buys among the North Shore homes for sale as well. If you need any real estate assistance, please email us at info@jimsandersrealty.com or call (808) 579-8255. Mahalo for reading and have a great weekend!

Maui Real Estate Sales Increased

Maui real estate sales were higher in May than April this year. Levels were still just over half what they were in May of 2008, but they are starting to move in the right direction. According to RAM's Multiple Listing Service report released on Monday, the sales of 47 condominiums and 56 single-family homes closed last month. In May of last year, sales included 84 condos and 97 homes.

April's sales came out to 48 houses and 29 condos, so the increase in May is encouraging. Prices haven't changed much since April, but cumulatively the cost of a home on Maui was 19% lower in the first five months of this year than last. For condos, the cost was 31% lower.

Condo prices have fallen in all areas but Kaanapali. In fact, there were 39 condo sales there this year while there were only 26 last year. Kaanapali home prices on the other hand, have fallen by $800,000 to $1.4 million. In Kapalua, homes dropped by $2.9 million to $2.1 million. In fact, home prices were only slightly up in Kihei and Central Maui, but down mostly everywhere else so far this year. It looks as though the steapest percentage drops are taking place in the most expensive neighborhoods. Maui Meadows, for example, dropped 61% and Wailea/Makena areas by 21%. Kula and Ulupalakua dropped by 58%.

When evaluating the percentage changes in sales for any given area on Maui, one should keep in mind that with small numbers, just a few sales can swing the percentages greatly. Each and every sale holds a lot of weight in the overall reports.

For prospective buyers, if you appreciate the greener parts of Maui, have a look at our stunning collection of Haiku homes for sale. The North Shore homes for sale are definitely worth exploring as well. If you need any real estate assistance, please email us at info@jimsandersrealty.com or call (808) 579-8255. Mahalo for reading and have a great weekend!