Bronze Life

… a few friends can fly to Oahu, Hawaii for the weekend or even extend your … your notice More New articles in the Travel/Tourism Category: …
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Royal Caribbean ships are relaxed, elegant and upscale, and they have a broad appeal that attracts everyone from honeymooners to families to couples celebrating golden anniversaries. Royal Caribbean cruise line offers a broad range of shore excursions. Royal Caribbean in particular offers somewhat more upscale cruises and may be even more exposed to luxury purchasers than competitor Carnival (CCL) .
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… year and into 2009. The University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization is expecting visitor arrivals … surge in oil prices for the revised tourism figures. The group says the state’s economy …
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Is it better to rent or own real estate with your hard-earned money? Unless you live in a car, boat, or some other form of housing, real estate is something worth considering now if you haven’t already.

Everyone has a lot of common interests in life: everyone eats, drinks, laughs — the list goes on and on. Everyone likes pretty songs, pictures, stories. Whatever it is, everyone likes something. Everyone also has a gift that s/he may or may not discover in his/her lifetime. Folks are going to find out about themselves one way or another whether it’s through seriously looking at themselves in the mirror or figuring it out through trial and error.

My intention here is to remind all of you healthy, active locals of the benefits of owning a home as opposed to renting a home in Hawaii. Now, more than ever, is the time to own a home. With this new year, I hope to lay out reasons for why it’s important to capitalize on the opportunities right here in Hawaii, right now.

2009 is a year of change. As you know we have a new president and new approaches to living cleaner and healthier.  On the cusp of a new decade, both new and experienced homebuyers are eager to understand the latest trends in real estate. Out of all the new things happening in 2009 my favorite is the new housing market.  During the last quarter of 2008 we have witnessed numerous new homeowners taking advantage of the buyers market we are in right now.

Let’s face it.  There are some really great things about renting.  As a tenant, you are not responsible for the mess you make, the light bulbs you break, or the dryer that you burn up.   As a renter you will never have to worry about the value of your assets.  You won’t have to get all the tax deductions associated with having a mortgage.  And (my personal favorite) you won’t have to worry about all the capital gains tax you would make over the next 5 to 10 years depending on how long you live Hawaii.

We are in a transitional period.  While things look grim to some, others like ourselves couldn’t ask for a better formula. Today, the market is filled with motivated sellers who are entertaining reasonable offers.  The mortgage lending industry has tightened its guidelines drastically to make sure only qualified homeowners can buy.  The real estate prices are dropping, making buyers — qualified or not — more interested.  More people are going to be moving to Hawaii in the next decade.

Now let’s get down to business. One of the main advantages of owning a home is that you will not have to answer to anyone.  Ever been your own boss before? How did that feel? There are also healthy tax benefits for homebuyers, as interest on your mortgage can be written off. Owning your own home is like making the best investment in your lifetime: you’re returning equity to yourself; your money is not going down a drain. People’s belief that renting stands for “Return Equity Not to Tenant” is one of the truest statements today. As opposed to other prices in the nation, housing prices are appreciating here in Hawaii, and it is crucial to capitalize on this trend now, when prices are as low as they’ve been for over five years.

So, to summarize: owning a home gives you the peace of mind that you have been seeking. While you may have cold feet now, take that leap of faith and trust your instincts. It may appear to be a huge cost to you, but think about what you’re getting in terms of financial freedom in the long run! Home owning really is part of that “American Dream.” Feel free to contact me for more information (milyak808@gmail.com).

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For travelers who wonder whether it is the end location or the journey, the best solution may be making arrangements for a cruise. Choose between glorious multi-day cruises traveling through the sparkling waters of Glacier Bay in Alaska, or the tropical waters of the Southern Caribbean.
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… three-day event is being staged in the Holiday Inn in Terre Haute. The state agency since … change the standard of a gallon. In Hawaii, the standard is 236-cubic inch for a …
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Hawaii State Senator Ron Menor, a Democrat whose district includes Waipahu and parts of Mililani and Mililani Mauka., was arrested just after midnight this morning by police for allegedly Driving Under the Influence.  Details were not released as to what police did to determine if the Senator was intoxicated.

Menor posted bail at $500 dollars shortly after and was released.  Menor is the second Hawaii legislator to be caught for DUI in under a year.  The first was former House Vice Speaker Rep. Jon Karamatsu.  Rep. Karamatsu shortly thereafter stepped down from his post as Vice Speaker but remained in office.

It will be interesting to see how this effects the upcoming election.  Both legislators are Democrats and the Democratic Caucuses reported record showings around the state.  An up and coming Democrat could have a chance at landing the post or maybe a Republican for that matter.

In this world where one President did not have sexual relations with that woman while the next can wage an unpopular war that breaks records for debt, it’s a good chance both of these legislators will be forgiven for something as “insignificant” as a DUI.  

What do you think?

JMAW

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Many people now consider Caribbean cruises as excellent value for money and a good place for families to spend some time together; with package prices now more affordable there has never been a better time to go. Everything you could possibly want is there at hand with wonderful Caribbean island locations, a new one each day, and every creature comfort on board the cruise liner. There is a great deal of flexibility involved on the part of the liner companies and they can arrange short taster trips or a full fourteen days or more vacations.
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… ‘Da’ Kine’ comes from Malia’s childhood in Hawaii; it’s slang for ‘that thing.’) The Edmans … the door. “The younger people and the tourists loved it,” Smith said. “The landlady wasn’t …
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Great cruise vacations to choose from before the year ends just keep getting better and better. I’m sure you already know about the Christmas cruise I recently wrote about in another article that has everyone booking cabins by the fours. Well it doesn’t stop there.
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