According to KHON News online, “Sales are beginning for units at a 43-story condominium building near downtown Honolulu.

A&B Properties, Inc. will begin sales Saturday for Waihonua at Kewalo.

The tower will be built between Ala Moana Center and Ward Center.

Developer Kewalo Development LLC, a subsidiary of A&B Properties, says it will be final high-rise condominium in that area.

Fee-simple prices will begin at $400,000 for one-bedroom units, $565,000 for two bedrooms and $720,000 for three bedrooms.

A&B Properties is Hawaii’s fourth-largest private landowner.”

According to Pacific Business News, “It looks like Waikiki’s International Market Place will be going upscale with a three-level open air retail center.”

“Queen Emma Land Co.’s preliminary plans for the redevelopment of the International Market Place is estimated to cost between $250 million and $300 million, marking what will be a major capital infusion into the iconic shopping mecca that sits in the heart of Hawaii’s main tourist hub.”

Read the rest of the article.

GoHawaii.com is a great webiste to find out about things to do in Waikiki, Honolulu and the island of Oahu. A spa treatment is a wonderful way to relax, unwind and even get a little physical therapy.

Waikiki Spas
After a day in the surf visit a Waikiki spa to relax and unwind. With some of the finest hotels and resorts on Oahu, Waikiki’s excellent spas offer lomilomi massage and other relaxing wellness and rejuvenation treatments unique to the islands.

If a spa treatment is not in your budget, take a dip in the gorgeous Pacific Ocean right outside your Waikiki Hotel or Condo and just float and relax.

According to KHON2 News online, “Dozens turned out to welcome this year’s royal court at the Royal Hawaiian center. This year’s theme is “Mele Ailana” which means celebrate island music. Other aloha festival events include a ho’olaulea in waikiki and a floral parade later this month.”

“This is the 65th year for the festivals– it’s the oldest and largest Hawaiian cultural celebration in the U.S.”

According to the “Honolulu Star Advertiser“, “Access to the busiest streets in the Ala Moana-Waikiki region will be limited severely during next month’s Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meeting, under federal restrictions issued this morning.”

According to KITV.com News online, “Musician Jake Shimabukuro turned up the heat on an already hot day at the Waikiki Shell.”

“The ukulele phenom wasn’t only performing; he was helping to break the record for the world’s largest ukulele ensemble. With a representative from the Guinness Book of World Records watching, Shimabukuro started it off.”

“Shimabukuro taught the crowd a musical melody; they would need to play in unison for five minutes.”

“The first world record was set in Helsingborg, Sweden, where more than 1,500 people participated on Aug.20.”

““The ukulele instrument as everybody knows is commonly associated with Hawaii so only ukulele record should be in Hawaii,” said event organizer Leo Daquiag.”

“The current record is 1547.”

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According to KHON2 News Online ,“Honolulu Mayor Peter Carlisle inspected sidewalks on Kalakaua Avenue in Waikiki Friday, which are now open to the public after eight months of extensive improvements.”

“The City Department of Design and Construction (DDC) started work in March 2011 because sidewalk tiles were missing or had become loose, which created unsafe conditions for pedestrians.”

“Trees had also lifted the sidewalk and impacted existing irrigation and electrical systems. In addition, the DDC addressed compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and deteriorating sidewalk drainage.”

“This is the first phase of reconstruction of the public sidewalks in selected areas along Kalakaua Avenue from Pau Street to Liliuokalani Avenue. Improvements include paving, landscaping, irrigation and electrical improvements within the public right-of-way. The second phase will be to design remaining areas of Kalakaua Avenue when funds become available.”

“The City is glad to reopen our sidewalks to our residents and visitors,” said Carlisle. “This improvement project, which was planned before the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit, is also a result of public private partnerships.”

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After a prticularly hectic day of work, I decided to take a nice long walk at my favorite Beach Park, the Ala Moana Beach Park located across the street from the infamous Ala Moana Shopping Center.

This is a beautiful 76 acre park located along the south shore just west of the famous Waikiki beach area. This beach is noted for its excellent swimming, surfing, and body boarding. There are also lovely shaded picnic facilities and grassy areas perfect for family outings.

Visit the Ala Moana Beach Park website.

According to an article written in the online L.A.Times Travel Section, “The hop-on, hop-off double-decker sightseeing bus, a fixture in tourist destinations worldwide, has arrived in Honolulu.”

“Gray Line Hawaii/Polynesian Adventure Tours has launched a fleet of seven island-themed open-top AlohaBuses that make numerous stops from Waikiki to downtown Honolulu, including at major hotels, Ala Moana Shopping Center, Chinatown and Iolani Palace.”

“Each bright red bus has 51 seats up top and eight below for those preferring air-conditioned comfort. The City Tour Loop, with 19 stops, takes about two hours. There is also a one-hour Night Time Loop with 12 stops.”

“Passengers have unlimited boarding and reboarding privileges. The day tour includes optional transfer to an express motor coach to Pearl Harbor.”

According o “USAToday“, “Hawaii is set to honor its history by making surfing an official high school sport.”

“Hawaii is the birthplace of surfing,” Gov. Neil Abercrombie said. “From Duke Kahanamoku to the thousands of residents and visitors who surf both recreationally and competitively, the sport is rooted in our culture and way of life.”

“The sport could be certified as early as 2013 in a state where many pro surfers reside. The meets would be judged similar to pro events and there will be team, boys and girls champions.”

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