Friday, March 20, 2009

Online Hawaii Relocation Package

So....you are Relocating to Hawaii with the Military, a Job Transfer or just want to Retire here in our islands ...... well, you came to the right place for information galore to help you adjust in your move....across the ocean to Paradise.

Your Relocation to Hawaii and Purchasing Your New Home. The following information is basic but pertinent information to go over before you even pack for your transfer and before considering purchasing your Honolulu County (Oahu) home. Moving across the Pacific Ocean to a totally different and diverse culture may be of a shock and you may want to brush up on a few tips to make your transition a smooth one.

Land Use and other Zoning Laws It is without a doubt that our Hawaiian Islands have little buildable land so it is detrimental to keep all of our zoning and land use laws intact. The majority of our land is Preservation and Conservation land and the following will give you insight

Neighborhoods in Honolulu County and Market Report too! An insight into the different neighborhoods and what they have to offer. You will also get current market statistics in each community for which I wrote for that period.

Honolulu County (Oahu) Weather and Traffic - It is a given that with an island so small and a population of almost one million that we do have peak traffic hours as in any other part of the country. For a look at Oahu's traffic click on the following TRAFFIC CAM to view during peak hours.

Things to Do, History & Places to See - A three part series for a brief, condensed Points of Interest series to learn a little about our island and our so diverse and full of different cultures and ways of life.

Condo or Townhouse Living: Rules to Follow and Steps to Protect: If you are contemplating downsizing then condo / townhouse living may be an option. With maintenance fees for most associations taking care of the bulk of your homeowner's insurance (common elements), and repairs to the outside, roof, grounds and water/trash and sewere this may just be an option.

History of schools and links to Hawaii's Education System A brief look at the history of Hawaii and its school system as well as researching schools and neighborhoods suitable for your family and their Relocation to Hawaii.

Myths, Legends and Superstitions: Every place has it's history as well as their "stories"....come join me in revisiting some old tales of Hawaii. It is a given that there are certain things to respect on the islands. Not only do we have Ancient Burial Site laws that protect our land...we also have certain sites that still have remnants of ancient temples that are not to be disturbed.

And a special Hawaii Military Relocation Story:

LIVE on VIDEO: A Hawaii Military Relocation Story Comes to Life

Bottom line is this.

It's not easy moving across the Pacific Ocean let alone to a totally different "world" of people,

but you can do it with a little effort, motivation and a great Realtor®!

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If you're Relocating to Hawaii (regardless if it's near future or just wanting to be proactive for the future) contact me to get started with your search for Hawaii Homes for Sale.

Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, RA, e-PRO / Century 21 Liberty Homes, Mililani, Hawaii

Thursday, January 15, 2009

Hawaii Restaurants -Sizzler Surpasses Expectations!

Our friend, Clinton "Clint" M.S. Goo, Managing Partner of Goko Restaurant Enterprises, LLC introduced us to the NEW and IMPROVED Sizzler when he and his partner bought the last four of the Sizzler Restaurants. After Sizzler Restaurants changed over to the new owners my husband and I started going to Sizzler Restaurants once again. Their food tickled our taste buds with new menu items and a better quality of food.

With a nenewed outlook on the restaurant, Sizzler IS one of our favorite restaurants for breakfast, lunch or dinner. With a wide variety of menu items to choose from and a cordial smiling staff we always feel welcome from the time we set foot in the door.
We had mom's 80th birthday party at the Sizzler -Pearlridge location last year and it was a blast. With balloons and the staff singing 'Happy Birthday' my mom was proud that day!
They also have a nice party/conference room if you have a large party or conference. Call ahead to reserve!

We stopped by the Executive Offices of Goko Restaurant Enterprises, LLC on Saturday to visit Clinton Goo and then we headed out to the Sizzler Restaurant at the Pearlridge location to have breakfast.

Gary always orders the 'Big Breakfast'. Funny, he never can finish the dish because it has 2 pieces of Sweet Bread French Toast sprinkled with powdered sugar, 2 Giant Hotcakes, 3 eggs, 2 crispy pieces of bacon and 2 pieces of Portugese Sausage. YUM!

Needless to say we had brunch and didn't eat until dinner. You definitely won't walk out of this restaurant hungry!

Well, you get the picture. If you're in good company and the food is delicious and topped off with a wonderful atmosphere you definitely are in Sizzler Restaurant!

Sizzler Restaurant Locations:


Dillingham Plaza: 1461 Dillingham Blvd, Honolulu, HI - (808) 832-4665
Pearlridge Shopping Center: 98-1059 Moanalua Rd, Aiea, HI - (808) 483-3565
Waipahu Town Center: 94-030 Farrington Hwy, Waipahu, HI - (808) 671-7433
Aikahi Park Shopping Center: 25 Kaneohe Bay Drive, Kailua, HI- (808) 254-3727


Note: I would like to commend "Romeo" our favorite food server at Sizzler Restaurant in Pearlridge. He is a professional dedicated to service with a LARGE smile and we always have a pleasant dining experience with him. He does not skip a beat with delivering our dishes hot and takes care of us from beginning to end. Thanks Romeo!
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© 2009 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman, Hawaii Real Estate & Relocations

Sunday, July 27, 2008

What You Didn't Know about the HAWAIIAN ISLANDS




















Yes, Hawaii is a State that was admitted into the Union on August 21, 1959 and making it the 50th State. Now, for those that have never even stepped foot in Hawaii.... let's clear up a few things.

First of all, it's widespread near and far that Hawaii is an island paradise. Right? Full of trade winds blowing through your hair and beautiful balmy sunny skies above. We have beautiful beaches and lush green valleys and wonderful hiking trails through our mountainous ridges. Oh, yes. Hawaii is all of that and then some.

We do not live in grass shacks and sip Mai Tai's with little umbrellas all day. Nor do the men run around in little cloths wrapped around their bottoms or women in grass skirts and topless. Yes, we carry a lot of tradition but we are also modernized ....just like you.

You are making your plans for your Relocation to Hawaii or even your vacation or honeymoon to Hawaii and you don't know where you want to stay. You haven't the fogiest idea that Hawaii is made up of small islands and that each island is a county.

By following the map below you can see the layout of the EIGHT HAWAIIAN ISLANDS and where they are located in conjuction to our island, Oahu.

Oahu is HONOLULU COUNTY.





Starting from the top I'll name off the islands and give a brief description of each:

*Niihau (knee ee how oo): The "Forbidden Island". Privately owned by the Robinson family since 1864 it is only accessed by family members, the US Navy, guests and government officials.
*Kauai (cow eye ee) or "The Garden Isle" and one of the wettest spots on earth is on Mt. Waialeale. My mother was born and raised here too. It is also Kauai County.
*Oahu (oh ah hoo): "The Gathering Place" is where the business and hustle and bustle is. Waikiki Beach, Diamond Head and the famous Sunset Beach on the North Shore. This is HONOLULU COUNTY. And our office is in Central Oahu in Mililani Town.
*Molokai (Mo lo ka ee): Is the "Friendly Isle" and one of the least developed islands in the Hawaiian Islands.
*Lanai (la na ee) was known as the "Pineapple Island". The pineapples phased out and now there are a couple of resorts there.
*Maui (ma oo ee) or the "Valley Isle" is known for its isthmus (the little portion of land that connects the two larger masses of land). This is Maui County.

Ah....the ISLAND OF HAWAII. Now this is what confuses people when they think of "Hawaii" or the Hawaiian Islands. The island of Hawaii is also known as "the Big Island" obviously for it being the largest of the islands as well as the largest island in the United States. It is also larger than all of the islands combined. This is HAWAII COUNTY.

So the next time you want to plan for your vacation, the first thing to think of is....which island do I want to spend my time on? Should I plan for a tour of a couple of the islands?

For those of you that are Relocating to Hawaii with the Military you may want to find out which island you are going to be based on as well. Most likely it'll be on Oahu where all branches of the military are. For a complete map click on the following link for Honolulu County Hawaii Military Bases & Installations- Oahu Neighborhoods



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© 2008 Celeste "Sally" Cheeseman's Hawaii Real Estate and Relocation Blog. All rights reserved

www.cheesemanhomes.com