Blog: www.kgmb9.com/howard

Video Headline: Neighbor Island Home Sales Report

The neighbor island home sales reports from April are starting to come in.

The number of sales were almost 20% less than at the same time last year. The median price fell only 7% but that means than half of the homes went for less than 400 grand. Condos also slowed but a shift of sales to Waikoloa drove up the median price.

The Hawaii Information Service also issued April figures for Kauai -- only 19 homes sold and 14 condos, in both cases a drop of more than half from last year. The median home price was 620 thousand, down only 15% from a year ago. The condo median fell almost 40% as sales slumped in the upscale Koloa developments.

Still to come, probably later this week, stats from the Realtors Association of Maui.

Other Business Headlines:

Hawaiian Telcom is moving directory assistance to the Marianas. A call center in Saipan will field 411 calls within 60 days, replacing the original outsource contractor.

Delta Air Lines hikes to a 110-dollar roundtrip fuel surcharge on flights between Honolulu and LAX. This puts maximum coach fares to the West Coast over 14-hundred dollars.

Alexander & Baldwin gets zoning approval for phase two of the Maui Business Park. Part of the plan is a new bypass to relieve traffic on Dairy Road and a park.

Outback Steakhouse has opened in Lahaina (it's already in Kihei) but the new Maui locations has curbside takeout. Can you imagine eating a Bloomin' Onion in a moving car?

The Pet Spot, with locations at Pearl Highlands and Ward Warehouse, is closing its Kaimuki store after seven months. The owners blame limited parking.