Personal Growth: In Life, and In Business

Man hiking and looking towards the summit

Just as my purposes for this site have changed over the years, so has my life purpose and the direction I find myself going, both personally and professionally. My hope is that I can continue to hone in on the things that I intend to do and the kind of person I am striving to be, so that I can experience the personal and professional growth I desire. 

Do Some People Possess a Special GROWTH Gene?

I've observed that some people are not really interested in personal or professional development. Perhaps they don't know much about what that would entail or they are comfortable with where they are in life.

It could perhaps be a form of contentment with the current place in life, or being resigned and cynical and not believing there is a way to make life any better than it currently is; or a series of challenges and failures that have prevented upward progress from continuing. There are surely a million different reasons why some people do not have a noticable desire to be better; to become much more than what they are now. 

I get that we can all be held back by our limiting belief systems, whatever they may be, and we may not even realize that our internal and even unconsious belief systems might be holding us back from our greater potential. I do think we can all awaken something within ourselves, though, that can help to fuel our pursuit for personal and professional growth. 

This is NOT about genetics at all!

This is all about the direction of the mind (and heart) and the willingness, or lack thereof, to alter the flow of information and direction of thought in the mind; to influence emotion and motivation from the inside out. 

I feel for those who struggle with depression, loneliness and other states of being that may make it more difficult to maintain a consistent level of positivity and productivity. Yet all people, of all walks of life, can do what they can, with what they have to work with, and if we happen to find ourselves with the ability to positively influence those around us in some meaningful way, large or small, we should be doing just that!

Born to Be FREE. Born to Be GREAT.

It is so fascinating that we are not born into this world with fears, doubts, concerns or negativity, yet we can easily become consumed with such mental and emotional constructs as the years roll by. Why is that?

What is the key underlying difference between a person filled with negativity, doubt, fear or anxiety, versus someone that is more positively oriented, expecting happiness, ease, abundance and success? 

Typically, the primary causation for such differences will lie in the type and quality of the thoughts that take place in that person's mind, and the emotions that fill the heart, which then lead, in turn, to the words, actions and outcomes experienced. 

We must always remember that our thoughts, our minds, contain tremendous creative powers, and with every thought comes the energy of creation and manifestation. We don't have to fully understand it and know HOW it works; only to recognize that thoughts possess power and that our lives tend to be a mirror, although sometimes a merciless one, of our thoughts and our most inner-held belief systems, be they positive or negative. 

The Day to Change? Yeah, That Would Be TODAY!

Changing the focus of the mind and the nature of our thoughts could be likened to that of the concept of investing for a future retirement or life savings. The younger we start investing typically the greater benefit and impact of the compounding returns of such investments. Yet if we didn't start when we were 21 and are 41 now, does that mean we should not invest at all because it is "too late"? Of course not!

Logic holds true that even though starting at 21 would have been more favorable than 41, starting now, at 41, is better than waiting another 20 years, to start investing at age 61.

The same could be said of our minds and the development of positive thoughts and focused goal orientation. Even if we have spent 10, 20, 30, 50 years or more neglecting our mind and/or body, TODAY is the day we can begin to take it back, simply through our conscious desire to do so. 

The beauty of this gift of life and the freedom of choice we have been given, is that we can start now, today, to begin influencing our mind in a more positive, powerful and productive way. In an instant a decision can be made, that could positively alter your future course of life forever. If and when we find ourselves off track, or slipping from our former commitments to ourselves, we simply recommit and re-engage. 

Some days may feel like we are taking two steps forward and one step back, or even one step forward and two steps back…but that's okay! That is called LIFE! We need to continue to focus on living in the present moments and we need to recognize that growth and expansion, whether it be mentally, physically, spiritually, financially or relationally, will sometimes come with a little pain, with some discomfort, with some needed adjustment and adaptation. 

If we are to have more, be more, do more and experience more, then common sense tells us we must also expand our capacity to give, to receive, to experience and to enjoy.

As we intelligently pursue the path of personal and professional growth, life can take on a whole new zeal and luster because an inner and innate desire to achieve greatness will become re-awakened within us and we may, for the first time in many years, feel a surge of positive energy, excitement and motivation, at the prospect that we, too, can experience many wonderful, exciting and rewarding things in our life and that we can attract and experience that which we desire. 

A Simple 4-Step Process for Generating Personal and Professional Growth:

​1) READ: Who and where we are in life today is nothing more than a sum total result of the books we have read, the people we have associated with and the thoughts we have allowed ourselves to think and dwell upon. By consciously CHOOSING to read and consume content that is positive, educational, informative, inspiring, motivational and thought-provoking, we are able to shift our thoughts and the creative energy surrounding our thoughts and words. Over time, this consistent influence from books and other content sources, starts to shape the way we view things; starts to change the way in which we view the world and our place in it; starts to lead to different actions, experiences and results; usually more positive and rewarding due to the types of content being absorbed. Reading just 5-10 pages every day from a great book will make a powerful difference in your life. 

2) WRITE: Keep a daily goal setting / gratitude journal. Writing down the top goals for the day helps to focus the mind on what you want and how to get it. Also, writing about wins, losses, happiness, grief, success and failure will help to serve as a filtering mechanism for thoughts and actions, and to better understand how correlated, thought, action and result are inl life. 

3) RECITE: The words we speak to ourselves, in our mind or out loud, are some of the most important words that we speak and think. How do we treat ourselves? How to we take care of ourselves? Though it may not come naturally at first, positive self-talk / affirmations are one of the best ways to invoke positive changes in life, in all areas. Daily reciting of positive affirmations, beliefs, meditations and/or goals can all serve the greater purpose of promoting postive change and growth in your life. 

4) REPEAT: It has been said that "repetition is the mother of all learning" and it is also a key element in the creation of new habitual ways of being. Daily affirmations, reading/consuming positive books and content, goal review, prioritization of task and project lists and much more are all part of the effort to inspire changes and personal and professional growth. 

The longest and most arduous of journeys begins with nothing more than a simple step and the life-long adventure of personal and professional development is no different. It all starts NOW, today, and how we chooose to be from here on out, on a daily basis, will determine the direction and trajectory of our personal and professional growth. 

So, What's the Plan?

It is my hope, for myself, as well as for others, that we may daily commit to personal and professional development. We need a plan and we need to daily WORK THE PLAN to the best of our abilities.

Start today by writing out a quick list of 1-10 things that you think are "holding you back" from achieving your full potential in life. Dig deeper and ask follow-up questions. Ask yourself what you can do to overcome and surpass specific issues that may have held you back in the past. Write down the answers that come to you. 

Be patient with the process and keep the course. A commitment to growth is actually meant to be a lifelong process, not a temporary one. It is not intended to be something we just use when convenient or when we need or want something. It is a way of being and a way of growing over time. 

There are special feelings of thrill, accomplishment and personal satisfacation that accompany the influencing of our minds and thoughts and then the first-hand experience of seeing those thoughts, words and actions, manifesting in our reality the kind of life experience we had envisioned.

This is the power of NOW:

YESTERDAY IS GONE FOREVER.

TOMORROW WILL NEVER COME.

BUT TODAY IS A GIFT…

THAT IS WHY IT IS CALLED "THE PRESENT"

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

Airbnb is Making Headlines. No, Really…They Are!

Photo of new airbnbmag and inserts

Introducing, the airbnbmag, Airbnb Magazine!

Does it really come as all that much of a surprise though? I'm sure they have even bigger things up their sleeve these days. Sneak peek VIDEO…

 

Have you received your issue yet? If you are a lover of vacation rentals, a curious adventurer, or someone like me that runs a vacation rental business day to day, this would be a good magazine to subscribe to. I just subscribed!

Visit https://airbnbmag.com/. Special offer is six issues for $15.

Enjoy!

Munro

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

2017 House Rules Published for the Beach Villas at Ko Olina

House Rules play an important and central role in the effective management of any condominium project, especially those that experience high rates of turnover in the way of Owner, Guest and Renter occupants in the condos. Having a clear set of rules to assist the Board and Management in the day to day operations and oversight of the development are crucial. Such rules can help maintain order and consistency in the delivery of whatever "experience" it is that the Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) hopes to create for their particular community. 

The Beach Villas at Ko'Olina located on in the Ko'Olina Resort on West Oahu has published their 5th version of House Rules and distributed them to Owners and Managing Agents, with the intent of having them universally shared and displayed within the 247 privately owned condos there. 

THE CHALLENGE

It is difficult for Boards to find the balance between existence and enforcement of rules and the freedom and latitude to fully enjoy your surroundings and condo, the way that you want to. Naturally, there are some that either find the rules difficult to follow if they don't come naturally, or that violate rules out of innocent ignorance about what the rules are in the first place. 

Those tasked with the responsibility of professionally enforcing these rules in a manner that shows hospitality and respect do not have an easy job. It is especially challenging in a community like the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina when there are thousands of Guests turning over in these condos in relatively short periods of time.

Therein lies the importance of Owners and their Managing Agents to convey these House Rules to their Guests prior to arrival, and again at the time of check-in, as well as leaving easy-to-read reference material for the Guests in their Villa to ensure that there is at least a baseline level of awareness that 1) rules do exist and are expected to be followed, 2) that the on-site staff is committed to ensuring the rules are followed and 3) that there are potentially notices of violation and eventual fines that could occur should the rules not be complied with. 

"HOW" IS JUST AS IMPORTANT, IF NOT MORE SO, THAN "WHY"

How the enforcement is carried out is just as important as the rules themselves! There are so many different ways to interact with others and to "enforce" the rules. We should consistently look to the World-Class hospitality brands for insights into how they approach enforcement of various concerns that arise with their Guests. The general rule of thumb, in my opinion, is that the Guest should feel respected and heard during and as a result of the encounter with staff regarding a House Rules violation.

There is a friendly and tactful way to do that and, if done properly, the majority of Guests will respond favorably and with a willingness to be more mindful of their behavior and compliance with the rules. More often than not, House Rules infractions occur unintentionally, usually because the Guest was not aware of the rules in the first place or because they made an honest mistake (for example: parking in a BP1-049 stall instead of the OP1-049 stall that was assigned to them).

Staff should understand that the majority of infractions are not done intentionally, but are most likely due to unfamiliarity with the rules and each Guest encounter should be welcomed as an opportunity to greet the Guest with a smile and kindly educate them without making them feel wronged or disrespected. It's an art, like most of the hospitality business experience is.

THE HOUSE RULES DOWNLOADS

Click on the links below to download the latest versions of the House Rules for the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina. 

1-Page Summary of House Rules for Beach Villas at Ko Olina (2017)

39-Page Full House Rules for Beach Villas at Ko Olina (2017)

Mahalo!
Munro

[photo credit: BattysGambit Sunset  and Palms via photopin (license)]​

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

KOCA Newsletters

Newsletters for the Ko’Olina Community Association (KOCA)

Please see the links below to view/download newsletter updates from KOCA. Mahalo!

JANUARY 2017 << click link to open Newsletter in new page

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

Book Review: Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates, by Brian Kilmeade & Don Yaeger

thomas-jefferson-and-the-tripoli-pirates-brian-kilmeade

Click the image above or the following link to view and purchase Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade

I love to read and intend to publish a brief blog article about any book I complete that is worth recommending. I tend to gravitate towards personal and business development books for some strange (and nerdy) reason, but lately have had a renewed interest in reading books about American history and the ideals upon which The United States of America was founded.

This particular book by Brian Kilmeade and Don Yaeger is one I can wholeheartedly recommend to anyone with a curious interest in learning about what I would consider a lesser known "war" in America's infancy; shortly after her establishment. In the late 1700s and early 1800s, American passenger and merchant vessels were increasingly being targeted and terrorized by pirates from North African countries; the Barbary States. 

The majority of the action and subject matter for this book takes place, not off the east coast of America, but rather in the waters off of southern Europe and northern Africa. The illustrated maps in the book are helpful and add more realism to the true events as they are told by the authors, and the geographic border of the nations in that time period.

It was both fascinating and disheartening to read about the real struggles faced by these early Americans and the unfortunate treatment they received after being captured by the pirates. This is not a book of in-depth details of the many tragedies of this conflict; it would have not been possible to elaborate on every point of issue. Yet enough information is shared to gain an understanding of what transpired and how important it was for America to protect it's citizens and it's budding economy and trade routes. 

While George Washington would have nobly preferred, according to the book, to not meddle with foreign affairs, nor to maintain a Navy, it became quickly apparent to Thomas Jefferson and others that showing strength on the seas and a willingness to go to war, if necessary, was important in securing the safety of America's people and in maintaining the freedoms that were so hard-fought to establish.

I think the thing that really inspires me about the series of events described by this book, is the evidence that had America not taken a stand against these pirates in the manner that they did, and had they not come out triumphant in the end, the American story as we know it today could have turned out to be a very different one. Those early years in the Country's establisment were utterly critical in the sense of creating security for the citizens while demonstrating to other world powers that we would not simply sit idly by while groups or governments sought to exercise control or coercion over our people or our economy. 

It was a keen awareness of the dangers that existed on the open seas, the social, political and economic ramifications of these dangers, and the importance of proper planning in order to mitigate future risks and, more importantly, to free those who had been captured by the barbaric pirates of the Barbary Coast. 

The bravery and wisdom demonstrated by many involved in this unique conflict is to be admired and respected. While others who could have made a strong impact and contribution will unfortunately go down in history as nothing more than selfish cowards who were not fully dedicated to the cause. This book illustrates compelling examples from both ends of that spectrum. 

The first deployment of "Marines" was also described in this war and they played a crucial role in the outcome as well. This book is a fun and educational read that feels more like an adventure novel than a piece of historical non-fiction.

I wanted to quote a few paragraphs from the end of the book because I liked them so much and feel that they help to embody what the conflict was all about.

"Individually and collectively, pressidents Jefferson, Madison, and Monroe (and future president John Quincy Adams) had come to recognize that, at times, military force was necessary to ensure national dignity and to protect the nation's interests. They had learned that in some quarters and at certain times, diplomacy alone was simply not sufficient to maintain peace. And they had learned that it was worth spending money on a military, since American lives were at stake.

Many men and women suffered in captivity before America's intervention rid the world of North African piracy, but their suffering was not in vain. After centuries of piracy along the Barbary coast, only the exercise of military strength had succeeded in ending the state-santioned practice of terror on the high seas. The lesson was not lost on America. The young nation gained from this chapter the courage to exercise its strength in the world, and it would remember that lesson in the future when other innocent lives were at stake."

I am proud to be an American and deeply grateful for the countless men and women that have worked and fought to establish, preserve and defend the incredible freedoms that we enjoy each day.

Since completing this book I've purchased copies of Kilmeade's "George Washington's Secret Six" as well as some books on the War of 1812. If you have any excellent American history books to recommend, please share them in the comment section below and I will add them to my reading list. Mahalo!

Click below or on the following link to view and purchase Thomas Jefferson and the Tripoli Pirates by Brian Kilmeade

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

Ko Olina Beach Villas Vacation Rentals Featured on Hawaii Mom Blog

aerial view of ko olina beach villas in kapolei hawaii

hawaii-mom-blog

It was a real pleasure for our Team to have prolific writer and owner of HawaiiMomBlog.com, Gem N., to have her family come and enjoy a weekend getaway at the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina. I'm grateful that we had the chance to introduce Gem and her family to the positive aspects of vacation rentals, given it was their very first experience ever staying in one. Her article, which you can read here, does a wonderful job summarizing their experience in the beautiful Ko'Olina Resort, and helping other would-be vacation rental Guests, to know what to expect. 

Like many Guests who have yet to experience a vacation rental first-hand, and who may be more accustomed to staying in hotels and resorts, there are a lot of questions and uncertainties that can naturally arise during the process. As human beings we do have a natural tendency to gravitate towards what we know and are familiar with. We sometimes have to fight that constant pull to remain in our comfort zones. My experience has been that once someone steps out and decides to try a vacation home or condo and have a different kind of vacation adventure, they often wouldn't go back to hotels if they could help it. 

Yes, there are concerns about whether or not the "owner/manager" is legitimate and will scam you, if the the property is truly as it is shown in the photos or if it is totally misrepresented. There are many questions a Guest could have and that a Guest should ask and get the answers to, especially if it is a first-time experience. Any professional vacation rental owner or Property Manager will be accustomed to guiding a new vacation rental Guest through the process, patiently answering many questions and helping to verify and reassure the Guest of the realities the vacation rental has to offer. The majority of owners and managers are legit and trying hard to accurately represent their properties. However, it is still a good idea to vet them, read reviews, speak with them by phone…and just make sure everything "feels" right. If something seems off or perhaps too good to be true, I would advise that you take a step back and re-evaluate.

Never wire funds or send checks until you are absolutely certain you are dealing with an above-board operation. Use credit cards when you can as they do afford you additional fraud protections should something go awry. Also, purchase travel insurance in the event something prevents you from making your trip as cancellation policies on vacation homes are usually more strict than those used at hotels and resorts. 

The overall experience enjoyed by Gem and her family accurately portrays what a well setup and managed vacation home experience should  be like. Things can happen and it is not a perfect world that we live in, but even if something goes wrong during a stay, most owners and professional managers are anxious to be on top of things, to provide excellent Guest service, as there is always an opportunity for Guests to leave an online review, and positive reviews are invaluable in this business. 

For anyone who has yet to try out the vacation rental experience, I would encourage you to give it a whirl and expand your horizons. There are literally millions of potential options throughout the world, and if you find yourself headed to the sunny Hawaiian Islands, contact Amber at Amber@ElitePacific.com and she can assist you with pricing and availability at one of the beautiful vacation homes we manage.

Click here to read the full blog article on the Hawaii Mom Blog. 

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

Ko Olina Resort Poised to Nearly Double in Size Through Proposed 514-acre Kapolei West Annexation

ko olina resort development land purchase and expansion

ko olina resort development land purchase and expansion

View of Lagoons 1 and 2 adjacent Four Seasons, Disney Aulani and Beach Villas at Ko'Olina (Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii)

When it comes to Ko'Olina Resort development plans and project updates in Kapolei on West Oahu, typically rumors and speculation long precede any formal announcement. However, this time around there was little room for that with the announcement and subsequent Honolulu Star Advertiser article (linked below), quoting master Ko'Olina developer, Jeff Stone, stating that the 514 acres of land between Ko'Olina and the Kapolei Commons shopping center would potentially be annexed into the 642-acre oceanfront resort.

The 514 acres was recently purchased from James Campbell Co. by China Oceanwide Holdings, Ltd. for a reported $103 million. China Oceanwide also acquired two oceanfront parcels in the Ko'Olina Resort on either side of the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina, with one parcel in between Disney Aulani and Beach Villas at Ko'Olina, with both Lagoon 1 and Lagoon 2 access points, and the other parcel situated between Beach Villas at Ko'Olina at Lagoon 2 and Marriott's Ko'Olina Beach Club, at Lagoon 3, with future access to these two lagoons. It is expected that approximately $3 billion would be invested in developing these two separate oceanfront locations. 

Click HERE to download and read the full article from the Honolulu Star Advertiser about Jeff Stone's announcement related to the possible Ko'Olina Resort expansion in coming years. 

If this annexation plan becomes a reality the Ko'Olina Resort would nearly double in size to 1,156 acres, and would add up to 2,500 resort residences as well as a second golf course. This expanded resort boundary could go as far as Target and the Regal Kapolei Commons Theaters in Kapolei. The 514-acre area is fittingly being called "Kapolei West" and would serve to link the existing Ko'Olina Resort, somewhat separate and distinct from central Kapolei, to the heart of the city and provide other access points to both Farrington Highway as well as Campbell Industrial Park through the additional road connections envisioned to be a part of these new phases of development.

Despite ongoing criticism over the years, both in print and online, aimed at Oahu's "Second City" of Kapolei, for its alleged lack of Second-City-ness, this burgeoning region continues to unveil surprises and unexpected announcements, each helping to bring the city one step closer to ultimately realizing that ideal. The Ka Makana Ali'i Mall had it's grand opening in Kapolei Oct. 21, 2016 and is now recognized as the third largest shopping center in the Hawaiian Islands.

Kapolei Lofts have added significantly to the housing inventory in central Kapolei. C.S. Wo & Sons opened a 60,000 square foot retail location in October 2016, home to HomeWorld, SlumberWorld, Red Knot and Ashley Homestore. 24-Hour Fitness has built a large facility next to the new mall, as have Hampton Inn & Suites, by Hilton. Embassy Suites Kapolei, also by Hilton, is under construction as of November 2016, next to Kapolei Lofts. Entertainment has come to Kapolei in an even bigger way in 2016 with the grand opening of the Regal 12 Kapolei Commons theater as well as Consolidated Theaters' Olino entertainment complex as part of the Ka Makana Alii mall project. I could go on and on as this doesn't even include the many restaurants and shops added to the Kapolei area and the Ko'Olina Resort in 2016 alone. Not to mention the rail transit hub, UH West Oahu and so much more!

I think it is safe to say at this point: "The Second City, it is here…and it is only going to continue to grow!"

Click HERE to download and read the full article from the Honolulu Star Advertiser about Jeff Stone's announcement related to the possible Ko'Olina Resort expansion in coming years. 

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

Ko’Olina Resort to Welcome Two New Luxury Hotel Resorts by 2018

The article below was published in the Star Advertiser newspaper. This is long-awaited news for owners and residents in the Ko'Olina Resort, as well as those who have been keeping up with the growth in Ko'Olina in recent years. 

Ko-Olina-Lagoon-Two-View-Beach-Villas-New-Oceanfront-Resort-Hawaii
View across Lagoon 2 towards the Beach Villas at Ko'Olina and the subject parcel(s)

 

2 more hotels planned for Ko Olina

by Allison Schaefers

December 18, 2015

A Chinese corporation closed on two Ko Olina Resort beachfront parcels Thursday and plans to make a $1 billion investment, including the construction of two new uber-luxury branded resorts.

China Oceanwide Holdings Group Co. Ltd. paid $200 million to purchase the 1 million-square-foot fee-simple property, said Jeffrey R. Stone, founder and master developer of The Resort Group, Hawaii’s largest landowner of master-planned resort communities. Stone said the company plans to build two new hotels, which will add 400 traditional hotel rooms and 400 residences to Ko Olina Resort. Stone said hotel branding will be announced before midyear, with construction expected to start by the end of 2016 and a target opening of 2018.

In addition to bringing Ko Olina nearer to the conclusion of what’s been about a 20-year build-out for Stone, the investment is expected to attract more of China’s coveted high-end visitors and bolster further Chinese investment in Hawaii. The purchase is expected to play a major role in increasing the emerging China market, which was forecast to bring only just over 185,000 visitors to Hawaii next year.

“By far and away this is the largest Hawaii hotel investment from a Chinese investor. Nothing compares to this,” said Joseph Toy, president and CEO of hotel consultancy Hospitality Advisors LLC. “We’ve seen that level of investment on the mainland, but never in Hawaii before.”

And what’s even better is that the investment will bring two new luxury hotels to Oahu, where Toy said only about 1,450 of about 28,000 hotel and condo rentals can be counted among the highest tier. The significant increase in top hotel rooms is expected to attract more higher-yield visitors, whose spending keeps tourism growing regardless of capacity caps.

George D. Szigeti, president and CEO of the Hawaii Tourism Authority, said further development at Ko Olina is welcome news for Oahu’s visitor industry, which has been grappling for some time with hotel room compression in Waikiki and has needed more top-tier rooms.

“These new luxury hotels at Ko Olina will help alleviate concerns that westbound, and especially international, travelers have about securing first-class accommodations, while expanding their range of offerings to choose from,” Szigeti said. “Keeping travelers excited about coming to Hawaii means our industry needs to continually evolve to satisfy their expectations. These new hotels help us to meet that reality and, ultimately, our entire visitor industry stands to benefit.”

Stone said Ko Olina’s partnership with China Oceanwide along with the May 27, 2016, opening of the Four Seasons Resort Oahu at Ko Olina and the August 2011 opening of the Aulani, a Disney Resort &Spa in Ko Olina, together play a pivotal role in attracting more of the world’s most admired hotel and leisure brands to Oahu.

“China Oceanwide has deep expertise in real estate development. The Ko Olina acquisition complements our global investment strategy very nicely, and will greatly enhance our international development portfolio,” said Lu Zhiqiang, China Oceanwide chairman.“We look forward to our partnership with Ko Olina and the Hawaii community.”

Stone, founder of The Resort Group, said its long-term strategy is to position Ko Olina as a premier mixed-use destination offering a sophisticated mix of upscale hotels, branded private residences, vacation clubs and recreational and leisure amenities with international appeal.

“China Oceanwide will bring development of our master plan to 75 percent,” Stone said. “We only have two parcels in the resort remaining. There’s the marina resort site at Lagoon Four, and then there’s the grand Ko Olina site that’s next to Disney.”

At full build-out, Stone said total investment in Ko Olina is expected to exceed $15 billion, with a yearly generator of $1.4 billion a year to the state. All the projects together will have created more than 35,000 construction jobs and some 14,400 permanent jobs, he said.

(article content above is from Honolulu Star Advertiser newspaper)

Additional content available in the following articles:

Pacific Business News (Dec. 18, 2015) http://www.bizjournals.com/pacific/news/2015/12/18/chinese-developer-to-build-two-towers-at-ko-olina.html

Commentary:

We can now wait with anticipation for more updates about these new developments and hope that the end result will be to make Ko'Olina an even more desirable Hawaii resort destination than it was before. 

I am of the opinion that as the resort matures in its development the values of real estate will strengthen as prospective buyers will have less and less uncertainty in their minds around what will be coming in the future and whether or not what comes will be a good thing or a bad thing for them. 

To the credit of Jeff Stone and the others involved in the implementation and execution of Ko'Olina's master plan, high standards have been set for any new entry into the resort and the caliber of resorts and investment partners has proven to be very high. The news is not all that surprising given the active project underway by Four Seasons Ko'Olina. With Marriott, Disney, Four Seasons, and now this luxury holdings group from China involved, Ko'Olina is truly poised to be recognized as one of Hawaii's most desirable resort destinations for families from around the world.

While construction of new projects like these bring noise, dust and unsightly cranes to the resort, the end result is an enhanced resort experience, a more complete master plan and a clearer understanding of just what Ko'Olina is; what it is shaping up to be. 

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

5 Reasons Why You Should Buy…Now

There are at least a dozen sound reasons why you should buy Oahu real estate now, but I’ll keep it simple and share five with you. You are smart and can think up another seven on your own. We are in the midst of one of the strongest economic expansions in Hawaii’s history!

Tourism is surpassing pre-recession levels, real estate valuations are increasing rapidly and consumer confidence is high relative to years gone by.

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View from the Kakaako Amphitheater during the 2013 Mayjah Rayjah Music Festival

On the morning of October 16 I attended a presentation by a respected local economist, Paul Brewbaker of TZ Economics. He said that if the current pace of Oahu real estate growth is sustained until 2017 the length of the cycle will rival that of the Reagan expansion period; if it continues into 2019 it will be the longest economic expansion in U.S. history!

This is where you pause, read it again and say, “Wow!”.
Then you ask yourself, “What am I going to do about it?”.

What I recommend you do about it is buy Oahu real estate…now.
The longer you wait, the more likely you are to regret it.

Let me briefly share one of my regrets about Hawaii real estate. I was finishing up my business degree in early 2003, had been married for one year and had a baby boy who was 6-months old. We we had little money, but had BIG dreams for our future.

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Me and my wife Rachel after my graduation ceremony (July 2003)

We would look at real estate for fun. We loved the new homes being built in Mililani Mauka. It was a great location, a family-friendly community and we felt it would be a good place to own long-term. The problem was that the homes were a whopping $400,000! We didn’t have that kind of money and couldn’t quite grasp how families could afford to buy something that “expensive”.

Had we figured out a way to make it work, in less than 10 years our home of choice would have nearly doubled in value to the $760k-$790k range they are selling for now. We definitely regret not making it happen ten years ago when we had the chance.

Without further ado, here are five reasons why I recommend you buy…now.

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This Mililani Mauka home sold for $789,000 on June 28, 2013 (Purchased new for $441,850 in 2003)

1. Prices are expected to continue to rise

Oahu real estate prices show no signs of slowing. With only a few months of available inventory (properties for sale) and demand through the roof, values are being driven up month after month. The longer you wait the more you should be prepared to pay.

Yes, there is definitely some buyer frenzy going on, and for good reason.

2. Interest rates are good

While not as low as they were earlier in the year, at 4.25% or less for a 30-year fixed mortgage, there are still great deals to be had on financing.

Current rates are updated frequently by the Honolulu Board of Realtors (HBR).

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Heavy equipment in Kapolei for extension of Kapolei Parkway road near Foodland towards Costco

3. Raw land is limited

No explanation needed here. Barring some unexpected volcanic eruption on Oahu we have a finite amount of land that can be developed. The appeal of oceanfront lots, for example, is illustrative of this. There are only so many and prices are driven by supply and demand.

4. New construction is not happening

There is the illusion of adequate new construction to supply the housing needs for Oahu residents and investors alike. However, that is simply not the case. Brewbaker pointed out that home-building on Oahu over the past 10-15 years was one-third of what it was during the Great Depression years of the 1930′s. Wow.

The last time so few homes were being built on Oahu was during World War II (1939-1945). There is simply not enough new construction going on to keep up with the growing demand. This market dynamic naturally pushes prices up even higher.

While there may be a lot of planned developments, that is no guarantee that they will ever come to fruition. There is so much red tape, not-in-my-back-yard (NIMBY) mentality and environmental opposition to new homes and condos being built on Oahu, that the nature of the free market is further skewed as demand compounds and supply continues to be seriously constrained.

This is simple Economics 101: limited supply and increasing demand leads to price increases.

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New homes nearing completion in D.R. Horton project in Oahu’s “Second City” of Kapolei

5. Babies are born every day

Population growth is a real factor to consider when looking at the supply and demand of Oahu real estate. Families are growing, which I think is great, but there are not enough new homes being built to keep up with the rising demand. Only so many people can fit in one home!

(This article was originally published on October 16, 2013)

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.

First Ever Pro Bowl Draft to be Held in Ko Olina Resort on Oahu

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Beachgoers soak up some sun at one of Ko Olina’s four inviting lagoons

All 88 Pro Bowl football players (to be announced Dec. 27) are expected to be in attendance at the first-ever draft event January 21 and 22 on the grounds of Lanikuhonua in the Ko Olina Resort on the southwestern shores of Kapolei, Oahu, Hawaii. The event will be broadcast on the NFL Network at 8pm Eastern Time (ET) on Wednesday January 22, 2014.

Football fans that want to get in on the action and watch the game on Sunday January 26 may want to consider booking a flight to Hawaii. It's tough work being a fan that dedicated, but somebody has got to do it!

I still have a couple of oceanfront Ko Olina Resort vacation rentals available on Lagoon 2 of the Ko Olina Beach Villas during the week of this event. Contact me for more details or visit the vacaton rental area of this site to learn more.

For complete details about the upcoming NFL Pro Bowl draft, click here.

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Munro Murdock is an Entrepreneur, Athlete, Real Estate Broker, Blogger, Father, Author, World Traveler and Podcaster. He resides on West Oahu in Hawaii with his wife and three children. You can Contact Munro by email here.