Page 4 Friday, September 4, 2020
THE GARDEN ISLAND
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Julie Black, Principal Broker & Owner (808) 652-6174 with daughter Kela Caspillo, Realtor Sales Person (808) 652-6173 kauaidreams.com
Featured Homes
Kilauea 2462 Liliuokalani St. This 3 bedroom 2 bath home is located in the Puu lani Subdivision in Kilauea. It has been recently upgraded in the past 2 years with a new roof, new kitchen cabinets & countertops, new flooring and new paint. $789,000. MLS# 641847. Call Donovan Gardner RS74909, Kauai Dreams Realty, today to see this move-in ready home. 808 651-9911.
US mortgage rates little changed; 30-year at 2.93% ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — U.S. average rates on long-term mortgages changed little this week, remaining at historically low levels that has sparked demand for homes. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the average rate on the 30-year home loan ticked up to 2.93% from 2.91% last week. By contrast, the rate averaged 3.49% a year ago. The average rate on the 15-year fixed-rate mortgage declined, however, to 2.42% from 2.46% last week. Housing demand continues as one of few bright spots in the pandemic-hobbled economy. Sales of new homes soared in July, rising nearly 14% as the market continued to gain traction following the spring downturn caused by pandemic-forced lockdowns. In the wider economy, the government reported Thursday that the number of laid-off Americans applying for unemployment benefits fell to a still-elevated 881,000 last week — evidence many businesses continue to slash jobs.
A ROOM WITH A VIEW?
who may need some assistance with technology during the day. “A lot of times when kids are left Without warning last spring, to their own devices or in their millions of parents found themown room, they get distracted reselves working from home while ally easily,” says New York-based their kids attempted to do schoolinterior designer Jenny Dina work under the same roof. The Kirschner. “So sometimes it is nice changes happened so quickly that to have that communal working families — especially those short space.” on space — could only make the For one client in Brooklyn, best of it with hastily arranged Kirschner carved out an open solutions. workspace within a living room by Nearly six months later, many placing a desk along the back of interior designers are helping clithe sofa. With ample shelving and ents make more considered decoclosed storage along the wall berating changes, big and small, to hind the desk, this section of the serve the whole family during the living room becomes a micro-ofnew school year. fice that blends with the decor of Interior designer Everick Brown the rest of the room. says a priority for his clients in the While kitchen tables can be suburbs outside New York City practical workspaces, there can has been finding enough quiet EVERICK BROWN/EVERICK BROWN DESIGN VIA AP be a downside to this solution. space and privacy to effectively “When it becomes somebody’s A room designed by interior designer Everick Brown in Yorkwork, study and take Zoom calls. command center, then they need We all used to want a room with town Heights, N.Y. to pick up and move that stuff eva view, says Brown. “Now everyIf a low table and small chair ar- easily be undone if normal school- ery day. And you’re sitting with body’s just searching for a room somebody else’s work staring at ing resumes soon. In the meanen’t available, try placing a stool with a door.” time, it allows both girls to spend you, and they might be thinking, or sturdy box under the table to He’s also focusing on health and create a solid resting place for lit‘Oh, I need to go back to work aftheir school day in a space with wellness: A portable standing ter dinner,’” Kitson says. plenty of natural light and a view tle feet. desk can easily be moved from Managing that work/life balance out a window, rather than tucked For adults, too, ergonomics room to room so family members matters: Be sure to use a desk or is just as important as managing away in a basement playroom. can share it when one needs a And even if an entire room can’t space, she says. We don’t just table and chair at the right height, break from sitting. need to work and study at home so your feet can rest solidly on the be repurposed, there are ways to There are also desktop risers this year. We need to have fun, floor and your back is supported. give each family member a workthat turn any desk or even the Sometimes the answer is using space that serves them. It doesn’t too. kitchen table into a standing desk a room in a completely new way. New Jersey-based interior dehave to be large: “48 inches wide for part of the day. Kitson has a client with two by 24 inches deep is about all you signer Terri Fiori says allowing a For families with younger kids, daughters who each had their need to accommodate notes and a child to choose beautiful but calmNew Jersey-based interior deown bedroom. They’ve now pencil, and your laptop or iPad, ing colors for their bedroom can signer Linda Kitson suggests find- moved the two kids into one room and then a desk light,” Brown help create a workspace the stuing a work table and chair scaled — letting them choose a new says. “What we’re really looking at dent is excited about. to a child’s size, just as elemenpaint color together to make the is basically a 4-foot-by-4-foot If your home has a window seat, tary school would have. Properly space feel like it belongs to both of space.” she says, you can let kids spend them — and put desks in the Some families might find that sized seating lets kids sit with part of the day studying there (or other bedroom to create a shared working near one another, rather their feet on the floor, which may use it yourself). A view of the outclassroom. than in separate rooms, is better -- doors can help focus and boost help them concentrate and stay It’s a temporary shift that can especially those with young kids everyone’s mood. on task. Melissa Rayworth ASSOCIATED PRESS
Hawaiiana Management Company, Ltd. Serving Kauai’s Condo & Community Associations with award-winning service
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awaiiana currently serves nearly 60 residential and commercial associations on the Island of Kauai. Kauai native Sunshine Ruiz Hatto serves as Hawaiiana’s Director of Kauai 2SHUDWLRQV IURP LWV RIŅFH DW WKH .XNXL *URYH Executive Center in Lihue.
Sunshine Ruiz Hatto Director Kauai Operations
• • • •
Serving nearly 60 associations on Kauai 99% retention rate among clients Local (vs. mainland) banking All employees are in Hawaii
US construction spending edges up tiny 0.1% in July ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — U.S. construction spending edged up a tiny 0.1% in July, breaking a string of losses due to disruptions caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Commerce Department reported that the slight July gain followed a 0.5% decline in June. In July, spending on residential construction rose a solid 2.1% while nonresidential construction fell 1%. The 0.1% July gain was weaker than the 1% increase that many economists had been forecasting. Still, home sales have been strong after an initial hit from the pandemic, and the hope is that those gains will help lift housing construction in the months ahead. “The trend should improve, especially for residential spending, reflecting strong demand for homes as seen in new and existing home sales,” said Rubeela Farooqi, chief U.S. economist at High Frequency Economics. The report showed that total government construction fell by 1.3% in July. The expectation is that government building will be depressed in coming months as state and local governments face severe budget restraints.
We’re looking for one with a door
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Hawaiiana’s Kauai Properties: Alihi Lani Alii Kai at Hanalei Alii Kai II Aliomanu Estates Apopo Hale Emmalani Court Halaulani Condominium Hale Honu Halelani Village at Puhi Halemalu at Puhi Hanalei Bay Villas Hooluana Condo at Kohea Loa +RRNHQD DW 3XKL Kahala at Poipu Kai Kainani Villas Ka‘iulani of Princeville .DNHOD 0DNDL 2FHDQYLHZ Kalaheo Pali Kai Kalihiwai Ridge Kauai Beach Resort Kauai Beach Resort Association Kawaihau Sports Villa . * (QWHUSULVHV &RQGRPLQLXP .RKHD /RD 0DVWHU $VVRFLDWLRQ .RORD *DUGHQ $SDUWPHQWV Kuhio Shores at Poipu .XNXLĢXOD Lae Nani 0DNDQXL 0DQXDORKD Pali Ke Kua Paliuli 3LNDNH Plantation at Princeville Poipu Crater Poipu Kai Association Poipu Kai Racquet Club Poipu Kai Water Reclamation Poipu Kapili Poipu Sands Princeville II Community Association 3ULQFHYLOOH 0DNDL 5DQFK DW +DOHOHĢD Princeville Sealodge I Puamana 3XKL ,QGXVWULDO 3DUN Pu‘u Po‘a Regency at Poipu Kai Regency Hule‘ia Regency Villas at Poipu Kai Sandpiper Village I The Villas at Poipu Kai Villas at Puali Villas of Kamali’i Villas on the Prince :DLNRPR 6WUHDP 9LOODV Wailua Bay View Waipouli Beach Resort Hawaiiana is “here” and open for business during this uncertain time. Deemed an essential business, Hawaiiana is maintaining its regular business hours. While our meeting room is open to the public, we are currently only able to accommodate a maximum of three people. Please feel free to contact us via phone or email. You may also visit our website at hmcmgt.com to contact your property management team, ask questions about your bill or receive COVID-19 updates.
For more information about Hawaiiana’s services, contact Sunshine Ruiz Hatto at 792-0515 or email sunshine@hmcmgt.com. HINAHEA LANGI OFFICE MANAGER, SENIOR ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT
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