The Oahu real estate market continues to be volatile, with some indicators pointing towards a recovery along with the rest of the economy and others showing more negative news. According to a May 13, 2010 article in the Honolulu Star Bulletin, “Oahu remained well below the national rate of foreclosures in April, but the Big Island and Maui markets took large hits. There were 1,474 Hawaii properties that received foreclosure notices last month, according to RealtyTrac, an online foreclosure marketplace.” The article by Gene Park went on to say that “Hawaii’s April foreclosures, which equated to one in every 348 households, added up to a higher rate of foreclosures, which was one in every 387. Oahu fared the best, with one in every 580 homes. But Maui and the Big Island saw a high rate, with one in every 187 and one in every 179 homes, respectively.”

This conflicted information regarding Oahu homes for sale was also reported in a May 6, 2010 article from the Honolulu Advertiser. This piece found that “Buyers continued to rush back into O’ahu’s housing market in April, but median prices fell a bit and ended a three-month run of price gains for single-family homes and a two-month rise for condominiums.” The article went on to say that “The Honolulu Board of Realtors announced that the median price for single-family homes sold last month was down 6.2 percent to $563,000 from $600,000 in the same month last year. The decline occurred despite sales surging 52.9 percent to 286 last month from 187 a year earlier. For condos, the median price slipped 2.2 percent to $308,000 from $314,950. There were 390 condo sales in April, a 48.3 percent gain over 263 a year earlier.”

One instance of the conflicted information in the Oahu real estate market was reported in a May 26, 2010 article from the Honolulu Advertiser. This article said that “A federal report suggests that O’ahu home values aren’t as positive as indicated by local sales data, though the market appears to be on a path of improvement. The Federal Housing Finance Agency yesterday reported that O’ahu single-family home values in the first quarter were down 4.5 percent compared with the same quarter last year.”

Waikiki is well-known for sparkling blue ocean waters and white sand beaches, and is frequented by tourists even after summer.  What truly makes Waikiki unique as a premiere tourist destination is the city’s regular list of events throughout the year, all of which are tourist-friendly.  Besides sunbathing and swimming, a lot of tourists also visit this place for events such as surfing competitions, canoe races and of course, Hawaii’s ever famous hula dancing.  Because of these very interesting events, Waikiki is able to attract a great number of “week-enders” and guests, and also the reason why condominiums here are quite expensive as compared to the stereotype beaches in the United States mainland.

Since Waikiki condominiums have excellent location in almost every aspect, they have very commanding price tags.  Here you can find the most luxurious and world-renowned beach destinations in the United States, which easily explains the exorbitant prices of accommodations.  Try getting a place that is directly in front of the Waikiki beach and you’ll find out that the accommodations are priced even higher!  Waikiki condo owners/tenants have a very convenient access to the best dining places, shopping outposts, fashion centers, local entertainment and other tourist attractions as well.  Not only that, owners/tenants also enjoy exclusive access to luxurious amenities like penthouse swimming pools, cable TV, private parking spaces and top-notch recreational facility and so much more.

Other places worthwhile of your time are Pacific Monarch, Waikiki Sunset, Waikiki Shore, Waikiki Beach Tower, Waikiki Banyan and 444 Nahua Street Condominium Suites.

Part of every tourists’ experience in Honolulu, the Waikiki International Marketplace gas been an island tradition for decades.  Sporting the slogan “get lost on a shopping safari under canopies of banyan and palm trees,” the marketplace is a collection of over 130 carts, shops, and artisan workshops in an ambient open-air setting that is located at the heart of Waikiki.  Nestled in between a number of Waikiki condos for sale, the International Marketplace is the must-see place for special gifts, souvenirs, and hard-to- find gadgets and gizmos unique to Hawaii.  A number of merchants sell handmade items like jewelry, wood carvings, and tapestries that tourists often take home with them as a memory of their vacation in the islands.

Besides being a cornerstone of small merchant shopping in Waikiki, the International Marketplace also serves as a place of communication and trade.  A number of local craftspeople enjoy talking about their crafts and tourists enjoy taking pictures and learning more about Hawaiian culture through the art and gifts on sale from each seller. The marketplace also includes an international food court that offers a variety of local and international cuisine and usually free Hawaiian music and entertainment during the week.

If you’re looking for the perfect holiday destination, then Hawaii is the place.

Hawaii is a group of islands, where each island has something special to offer. Hawaiian Islands are surrounded by the clear blue ocean, which is perfectly warm and suitable for all kinds of water activities. The Hawaiian weather also doesn’t disappoint. The warm trade winds come in from the north east leaving a rainier side of the island while the other side is dryer and calmer. The result of this is a right mix of temperature that is not too hot or too cold.

Since weather is not an issue, there are a lot of things tourists can do in this paradise. Water sports enthusiast can go snorkeling, kayaking and diving. Because of the islanders understanding of their environment, they are careful to nurture the extensive coral reefs, which provide homes for the exotic marine life.

This, in turn, brings a perfect experience for divers, whether they are experienced of novice. Snorkeling beginners are lucky that their first snorkeling experience will be nowhere other than in the beautiful oceans of Hawaii. If you’re interested in availing of snorkeling classes, these can be booked before or during your stay through your hotel.

For those who are not keen on water sports or activities, there are also land activities available for you to experience. There a number of hiking trails, which you can explore on your own or tour with one of the islands’ tour operators. Hiking is one great way to see the island.

If hiking isn’t your forte and sight seeing is all you want, you also have the option to avail of the helicopter tours. These tours will give you a chance to see the entirety of the island’s beauty. Moreover, you will also get a glimpse of what else the island has to offer.

The Hawaiian Islands have been forever associated with romance, thus, it’s a popular wedding destination for engaged couples. Many of the islands’ hotels banked on this image and created various wedding packages, where soon-to-be married couples can choose from. These wedding packages entice a lot of couples since it takes away the burden of planning and organizing from them. Moreover, Hawaii’s weather is almost perfect all year round, thus couples are assured of the perfect weather any day and any time of the year. Couples also have a variety of options like if they want the wedding to be outdoors or indoors; all the options are there!

Whatever you are looking for in a perfect vacation, Hawaii has it! Many people believe that everyone should experience the Hawaiian Islands at some point in their lives. So what are you waiting for, book your holidays at Hawaii and enjoy!

The wedding industry has become one of Hawaii’s largest businesses and economic drivers.  With a constant flow of newlyweds from the Mainland United States, Japan, Korea, and abroad, there are literally dozens of weddings each day in the island state.  While the majority of couples-to-be look forward to traditional weddings in chapels and other religious places, a growing trend is the use of Hawaii vacation rentals as host sites for lavish wedding ceremonies.  Because vacation rentals are often located in more remote and scenic areas way from the crowds of tourist areas, they are often more personal and make for even better wedding photos.  In fact, there is nothing better than getting married on the sandy shores of the islands, sun setting in the background, and palm trees waving in the air above.

Several vacation rentals are large enough in area to accommodate extravagant weddings, both indoors or out.  Some of Hawaii’s best wedding planners are able to arrange scenic weddings paired with superb receptions on the grass lawns of some of Hawaii’s best vacation homes.  With the proper catering, proper floral design, and proper arrangements, a unique and special day can become an even greater memory by utilizing the area’s best free resources: good weather and scenery.