There were 3,985 Oahu properties in foreclosure in 2009, a 142 percent increase over the number of foreclosure filings in 2008, and a 672 percent increase over 2007. But Hawaii foreclosures ranked well below other metropolitan areas (128th out of 203). Las Vegas ranked number one.

I believe there is reason to be optimistic. There was a surge in home sales in December 2009, and Paul Brewbaker, principal of TZ Economics is calling January 2009 “the bottom of this cycle.”  People rushed to cash in on a federal $8,000 first-time homebuyers’ tax credit, and the November 30 deadline has been pushed back to April 30.

Lost will air it’s sixth and final season starting February 2nd.

LOST The Final Season

This will be a huge loss for Hawaii as ABC filmed each episode almost exclusively in the Islands, and the series’ popularity put Hawaii front and center each week.

The lost virtual tour takes you on a photo tour of all the Hawaii locations.

I know the producers promised to reveal the answers all the mysteries in the series… but is there any way to extend the series a few more years?

Disney picked a name for their Ko Olina resort on Oahu: Aulani, a Disney Resort & Spa, Ko Olina, Hawaii. According to their new website, Aulani will be a world-class resort like no other. The resort is scheduled to open Fall 2011.

I wonder what impact this will have on real estate values in that area?