Big Island Celebrate Reading Festival

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 14, 2012

Photo By Brendan Murphy

Do you enjoy curling up in bed with a good book?  Are you the type to spend Sunday afternoon on your covered lanai with a Kindle?  Well, you may be interested in attending this year’s “Big Island Celebrate Reading Festival.”  On Saturday, April 21 from 9:30 to 2:30 you are invited to listen to several authors speak about their work at the Gates Performing Arts Center.

All are welcome to come out to the free event hosted by the Hawaii Preparatory Academy. Readings and speeches will be performed and authors will be available to meet with the audience during three half-hour sessions.  Master of ceremony, Jonathan Kamakawiwoole Osorio, will introduce each author as well as speak about the art of storytelling.

Featured writers include: Poet, Cathy Song, who will be talking about her book School Figures. Cold Magic trilogy author, Kate Elliott, will speak on science fiction/ fantasy. Non-fiction writer, Mark Panek, will discuss his book Big Happiness. Middle-grade novelist, Sue Cowing, will lecture about You Will Call Me Drog. Gail Tsukiyama will read from her book, The Street of A Thousand Blossoms. Special guest Matthew Kaopio will interview via skype about his sequel Written in the Sky.

The Hawaii Preparatory Academy is located in Waimea (Kamuela) on the Big Island. If you’d like a festival program as well as more information, contact Lorna Hershinow at hershinow@gmail.com or phone 808-239-9726.

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Stories by Moonlight

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 11, 2012

Full Moon Over Mauna Loa

Twilight at Kalahuipua’a, or “Talk Story” as the locals call it, is an ongoing event where traditional Hawaiian stories are told by the light of the moon. Every month on the Saturday closest to the full moon all are welcome to come out and hear the folklore between 5:30 and 8:30 PM. The event is free, and one of the most educational and entertaining experiences on the Big Island. It’s located in the Mauna Lani Resort not far from the luxurious KaMilo gated community. Come early and wander the paths that wind through the resort before taking a seat by the ocean to hear some old fashion yarns.

For over eight years, Twilight at Kalahuipua’a has been taking place. Each month a kupuna (honored elder) tells stories to a large audience. Often local musicians play and sometimes you’ll see hula. Storytelling has a long tradition in Hawaii and Twilight at Kalahuipua’a is a way to preserve the stories (all the events are recorded) and hand them down the younger generations. Originally created by Danny Akaka Jr., the Director of Cultural Affairs at the Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows, Twilight at Kalahuipua’a has become a local institution.

Sunset near Mauna Lani Resort, Photo by DC Ross

Make sure to bring a lawn chair or picnic blanket to sit on as well as a warm jacket. The stage sits on a narrow strip of land between the Kalahuipuaa Fishponds and the Pacific Ocean and it can get quiet chilly and windy as the evening progresses.

Also you may want to think about spending the whole day at  Mauna Lani Resort: In the morning explore the ancient Pualo Petroglyphs Field;  Make an appointment with us to see some of the homes at KaMilo in the afternoon;  And wrap of the day with Twilight at Kalahuipua’a.

If you’d like more information about the 2012 schedule, call The Mauna Lani Bay Hotel & Bungalows at (808) 885-6622, ext. 7065.

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Warhol’s “Double Elvis” Expected To Sell For Over $30 Million

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 8, 2012

Andy Warhol's "Double Elvis"

You know we sell real estate, but did you also know Sotheby’s has the fourth oldest auction house in the world.  It’s been in continuous operation since 1744 and today sells some of the rarest works of art, most sought after jewelry, and other coveted valuables.

Recently, Sotheby’s announced Andy Warhol’s “Double Elvis (Ferus Type)” would be auctioned in New York City on May 9, 2012.  It’s the first time the silver silkscreen of Presley has been on the market since 1995 and the painting is expected to fetch $30 to $50 million.  Of course Warhol’s depiction of the King isn’t the first time a Sotheby’s auction has made headlines.  In 2010 a bottle of Macallan 64-year-old scotch sold for $460,000 and a rare pink diamond went to a collector for $45 million, making it the most expensive piece of jewelry ever sold.

Sotheby's auctioneer Adrian Biddell, Photo by Financial Times

Sound like a scene from a movie?  Well, that may be because Sotheby’s auction houses have been used in quite a few films including Octopussy (James Bond bids on a Fabergé egg.)  In real life the majority of auctions are held during the day and are free and open to the public.  If you are in a major city such as London, Hong Kong, New York, or Paris you may want to attend a Sotheby’s auction.  Events can be exhilarating as the collectors escalate the bid and the auctioneer brings down his hammer and announces the winner (coming to the auction does not require you to bid.)

Whether you are a buyer or seller Sotheby’s Auction House offers extraordinary service from their multilingual staff in more than seventy locations.  Sales are divided into over fifty categories including: Antiques, Contemporary Art, Jewelry, Wine, and many more.  If you’d like more information about Sotheby’s Auction House or would like to contact an art consultant for your personal collection, please contact me or one of our agents for more information.  Information about the auction house may be viewed at www.sothebys.com.

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Food Network Star, Phillip “Ippy” Aiona

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 6, 2012

Phillip "Ippy" Aiona

The Food Network is gearing up for the eighth season of its hit series Food Network Star. Fifteen talented chefs will fly to New York City to compete for the ultimate prize, a cooking show that will premiere on the Food Network. This year Philip “Ippy” Aiona of Kamuela, Hawaii will be one of the contenders and we’re hoping he will cook his way to the top.

Ippy was born and raised on the Big Island. His father, Max Aiona, a real estate agent at MacArthur and Company | Sotheby’s International Realty, let Ippy work in his Hawaiian restaurant when he was a kid. After finishing culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu in San Francisco, Ippy returned to the Big Island and became the executive chef at Solimene’s Italian Restaurant. Being from Hawaii, Ippy enjoys infusing traditional European dishes with local ingredients. His laid-back charm and delightful cuisine landed him a spot on Food Network Star.

Solimene's Italian Restaurant

The season will kick off with a special two hour episode on Sunday May 13 at 9PM ET/PT. All the cooks will meet with their team leaders, superstar chefs Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentiis, and Alton Brown. They will then be presented with their first challenge: Create a pop-up restaurant within a small time frame with an extremely low budget. Food Network executives Bob Tuschman and Susie Fogelson will judge the competition and decided who gets to stay and who flies home.

Before the July 22 finale, viewers can vote online for their favorite chief and decided who will win and star in their own Food Network show. You can vote for Phillip “Ippy” Aiona up to ten times a day by going to the Food Network’s website and clicking vote’’ under his name: http://www.foodnetwork.com/the-next-food-network-star-fan-vote/package/index.html

 

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Preparing for the Merrie Monarch Hula Competition

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 5, 2012

Dancer with ʻuliʻuli, Hula kahiko at 2003 Merrie Monarch, Photo CC-BY-SA Thomas Tunsch

The 2012 Merrie Monarch festival is right around the corner and many hālau are busily making last minute changes to their routines. Pressure is high because everyone wants to arrive on the Big Island with the perfect costumes and hula choreography. Even if a hālau has done well at other hula competitions during the year coming to Hilo is still a big event. This isn’t just another contest. This is the Merrie Monarch, the Olympics of hula.

From April 8-14, 2012, Hilo will be full of dancers as well as hula enthusiast. Many of the festival’s events are free to the public. However, tickets are required to view the three-day hula competition. The ho’olaule’a (celebration) kicks off on Easter Sunday at the Afook Chinen Civic Auditorium with dance performances by local hālau. During the week you won’t want to miss the Hōʻike Performances, Hula Kahiko, (presentation of ancient style dances) and the Miss Aloha Hula. The festival finishes up with Merrie Monarch Royal Parade on Saturday, April 14th.

Hālau Nāpuaokamokihanaʻohāikapolioluana

Since 1971 the Merrie Monarch hula competition has been taking place annually. Festival Executive Director, Dorothy Thompson, added the event to the already popular festival, with the idea that a hula contest would perpetuate the awareness of Hawaiian culture. Today the event has become the pinnacle of hula competitions and people visit from all over the world to participate and view the dancers.

If you’re coming out to the Big Island for the Merrie Monarch Festival you may want to have a look at some of our vacation rentals. You can peruse our rentals online at, www.letsgohawaii.com or get in touch with us for more information at,  MacArthur and Company | Sotheby’s International Realty.

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The Art of Living

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on April 3, 2012

8-133 Pukaua Pl at Champion Ridge

Some say living is an art form and the decisions we make are like movements in a dance.  The food we eat, the habitat we choose, the people we surround ourselves with all go into creating an environment we feel comfortable in.  There’s no community that better understands this than the home owners at Champion Ridge.  The 33 exquisite estates have spectacular views of the Pacific and the Big Island’s mountains, include all the amenities of the Mauna Lani Resort, and surround an 18-hole putting course with greens as smooth as velvet.

At the moment there are several properties offered in Champion Ridge. Our agent Rebecca Keliihoomalu R(B) recently listed 68-133 Pukaua Pl .  This 3 bedroom/3.5 bath home designed by renowned architect Lucky Bennett.  This luxurious residence overlooks the 16th fairway and has views of the ocean from all the living areas and bedrooms.  The infinity pool and spa can be accessed from the main house as well as from two detached bedroom suits.  Designed with traditional Hawaiian living in mind the forty feet of sliding glass doors open up and allow the ocean breeze to waft through the grand room and kitchen.  This is the perfect home for those looking for resort living and lots of golf playing hours.

68-111 Pukaua Pl at Champion Ridge

Not far away, at 68-111 Pukaua Pl, there’s a 7 bedroom/ 8.5 bath estate that is perfect for those who like to entertain or who wish to invest in a vacation rental property.  Beautiful hardwood floors and mahogany cabinets can be found throughout.  From the deck you have views of the oceans as well as the mountains.  Out back you’ll find a waterfall cascading into a large resort style pool.  Also included are three home theater screens, billiard and poker table, a library, and three golf carts.  This spacious home can sleep from 14 to 18 guests and has an established rental history of marketing to large groups internationally.

Also in Champion Ridge there is a 4 bedroom/ 4.5 bath estate at 68-128 Pukaua Pl.  This custom designed residency has a dramatic entry staircase that lead up to the main living area. The upper levels have dramatic views of the Pacific and mountains. Tile floors can be found in the entry and wood in the main living area.  Spend the afternoon relaxing next to your private pool or meander down to the Champion Ridge entertainment pavilion to enjoy some local company.

If you would like more information about Champion Ridge listings or our other properties please feel free to get in touch with us at, MacArthur and Company | Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Puna Beachfront Homes

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on March 31, 2012

12-7239 Moana Kai Pali St, Kehena Beach Estate

Living in a Puna ocean-side home offers the rare opportunity to enjoy salt and pepper sand beaches visited by spinner dolphins, sea turtles and humpback whales. Heated tide pools can be found along the coast and the tropical jungle gives a refreshing lush backdrop. In the Hawaiian language Puna means “spring” and there are an abundance of natural springs in the district where cold water bubbles up from the ground. The volcanic soil offers fertile conditions for local farms and the Akebono Farmers Market has everything from macadamia nuts to papayas.

We have a variety of beachfront properties in the Puna district.  14-5036 Waiopae Rd is a 4 bedroom/ 4 bath refurbished home overlooking the Pacific. With tasteful furnishings, pool, BBQ pit, and hot tub this property is a perfect vacation rental. There is also a separate one bedroom apartment on the premises. Down the coast are some of the best swimming and snorkeling areas in Puna.

14-5036 Waiopae Rd, Puna

A short drive away you’ll come to 12-7239 Moana Kai Pali St in the Kehena Beach Estates. This 2 bedroom/ 1.5 bath home is surrounded by mature tropical plants which offers privacy and relaxation. The custom built terrace has a 180 degree view of the ocean and the wrap around lanai is a perfect place to watch dolphins swim. Only a short walk to Kehena black sand beach, this home is a perfect place to feel the calm serenity Puna is known for.

To the north, not far from Kahakai Park, you’ll find 15-2691 Welea St, a brand new 1 bedroom/ 1 bath beachfront home. Each room has a beautiful ocean view. The kitchen includes granite countertops and stainless steel fridge. Tile floors span the entirety of the home. The rocky coastline out front is a great place to watch for humpback whales.

So, what are you waiting for? Have a look at a Puna beachfront home today. If you would like more information about these listing or our other properties please feel free to get in touch with us at, MacArthur and Company / Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Island Hopping

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on March 28, 2012

Pride of America Photo By Bruce Tuten

Are you thinking about taking a vacation on Hawaii, but can’t decide which island to stay on?  Are you torn between hiking along the cliffs of the Na Pali Coast on Kauai or relaxing in a luxury resort spa on Maui?  Well, the good news is you don’t have to choose.  A variety of cruise ships now sail island to island allowing you to visit Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island all in one trip.

In the past, tourists who wanted to see more than one island during their trip used to have to fly into a location, check-in to a hotel, see the place, and then check-out of the hotel and fly to the next island.  Half their week long trip would be spent waiting in airport lounges and at hotel concierge desks.  But with many of the new affordable cruise ship packages all that has changed.  Now, you simply board the cruise ship which becomes your moving hotel for the duration of your trip.  Over the course of 3 to 15 days you get to explore many different Hawaiian towns and tropical landscapes.

Na Pali Coast, Kauai Hawaii

Imagine enjoying a traditional Hawaiian dinner of Kalua pig and poi at a luau in Honolulu and then the next morning, after a restful night sleeping in your cruise ship cabin, you wake up pulling into port on the Big Island.  You spend the day hiking through the Volcano National Park, and then in the evening you come back to the ship where you dine at one of the on-board gourmet restaurants.  Not only do you get plenty of time to see the islands, but you also have time to relax and enjoy the cruise ship’s many restaurants, bars, pools, and entertainment areas, all while alongside the scenic Hawaiian coast line.

There are many different cruise ships to choose from with various packages catering to different needs.  Just make sure you choose one that includes the Big Island.  And if you pull into port and feel the need to see some of our properties don’t hesitate to get in touch with us at MacArthur and Company / Sotheby’s International Realty.

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KaMilo: Living with History

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on March 24, 2012

Start of Malama Petroglyph Trail in Mauna Lani Resort, Photo by David Prasad

In Italy there are modern apartment that use the same arches as the ancient ruins of the Roman Forum.  In Paris you can rent an apartment overlooking the Notre Dame Cathedral.  And on the Big Island you can own a home by the ancient Pualo Petroglyphs Field.

Living next to history is a privilege that not many of us in the US ever experience.  Even on the Big Island many historical sites have been destroyed by development or lava flow.  However, when Mauna Lani Resort was built extra time and care was taken to preserve the Pualo Petroglyphs Field, one of the largest historical areas in Hawaii.  Today, you can stroll out of your KaMilo home down a stone path and view the petroglyphs of centuries past.

Ancient Petroglyphs, Photo by Kevin Oliver

In the Hawaiian language k’i’i pohaku means imagine in stone.  At Pualo Petroglyphs Fields you will find over a thousand stone carvings.  Metal tools were not used to create these ancient images and there is no historical evidence of the origins of this art.  Still, the serene fields can be breath-taking and offer a glimpse into a mysterious past.  The earlier petroglyophs show stick-figure like drawings while the later ones reveal domesticated animals such as cattle and horses.  While walking along the trail be sure to look inside the lava tube cave.

If you are coming out to Mauna Lani Resort to explore the  Pualo Petroglyphs Fields, why not have a look at some of the homes at KaMilo, a private community of single-family and paired houses within the luxurious Mauna Lani Resort.  For more information feel free to get in touch with us at, MacArthur and Company / Sotheby’s International Realty.

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Big Towns on the Big Island

by Dodie MacArthur, R(B) CEO and Owner on March 21, 2012

Hilo Marina

For centuries the Big Island has been the heart of Hawaiian Civilization.  King Kamehamea the Great made it his home and ruled over the Kingdom of Hawaii from Keahou Bay.  While there are over 4,000 square miles of spectacular scenery to explore including volcanoes and beaches there are also cities on our island with all the modern amenities brought to you with traditional Hawaiian charm.

Hilo is the largest city on the Big Island and offers everything you’ll need from organic markets in the downtown area to larger retail stores in the Prince Kuhio Plaza.  Throughout the year the streets become lively with the various festivals such as the Merrie Monarch Festival and with the University of Hawaii campus nearby there are many cultural events going on.  Tasty cuisine from island-style fare to pizza to fusion sushi can be found around the city.  And don’t miss out on the locally-made ice cream.  Hilo is famous for flavors like ginger, macadamia nut, and poha berry

Royal Kona Resort Bar Photo By Dav Yaginuma

On the west coast the main town is Kailua-Kona.  Known as the deep sea fishing capital of the US, this city has grown over the year yet stayed true to its fishing village origins. Its many luxury hotels, boutique shops, and fine eating establishments make it a destination people come to from all over the world.  During the annual Iron-man Triathlon the streets become a race track and spectators line the sides of the road cheering their favorites on.  Still, even though Kailua-Kona can be a lively town it’s still small enough to offer the relaxed atmosphere Hawaii is known for.

Whether you’re coming to the Big Island for your honey moon, family vacation, or just to take a break by yourself, you’re sure to enjoy both the secluded tropical areas as well as the city centers.  And don’t forget we have vacation rentals on both the west and east side of the Big Island.  You can easily book online at, www.letsgohawaii.com.  If you need to get in touch with us feel free to contact us at MacArthur and Company / Sotheby’s International Realty.

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