Who is reading Lanikea Blog (in Ukraine)?

A funny thing happened... I was checking some stats of this blog and noticed that it was getting over a thousand hits but has only three (3) "official" registered followers (you can get blog updates automatically by registering as a "follower" or access it manually anytime you want). I got curious... and went to blog's analytics, which identified the following countries from which people were accessing and reading this blog: United States (duh), Canada, China, U.K., Russia, India, Germany, Malaysia, Belgium, New Zealand, and Ukraine (!?). I wonder, who in the world is reading Lanikea community blog in the Ukraine? In any event, I say: diakuju!

Lanikea's Next Board Meeting

The next Board of Directors meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, July 13, 2011 at 6:00 PM HST and it will be held in Lanikea's lobby. Several important issues will be discussed, including our upcoming Budget proposal and building issues. Lanikea Owners' participation is encouraged and welcomed. Hope to see you there.

Lanikea at Waikiki on Facebook

Check out Lanikea at Waikiki community page on Facebook. You can see it by clicking on this link: Lanikea at Waikiki. To receive automatic updates, simply click on the "Like" button.

Old habits die hard... When is the next Board Meeting at Lanikea?

Lanikea has never been known for great communication between the Board of Directors and the Owners. One of the issues which has always bothered me is that the Board meetings are seldom announced in advance to the Owners.

Typically, at Lanikea Board meeting notices are posted by the elevators only three (3) days before the meeting, which is the minimum required by Lanikea Bylaws. Frankly, I find it quite ridiculous, especially since Lanikea has a large percentage of out-of-site Owners, who would appreciate more advanced notice.

I have brought this issue up to the Board and management's attention several times, including at the beginning of this year, which coincidented with my appointment to the Board. An advanced meeting schedule was announced and posted on Lanikea's Bulletin Board and I put it in this Blog.

But since then, additional meetings were scheduled without the advance notice to the Owners. Back to business as usual...

I've heard complaints from the Board members that few Owners participate in the Board meetings. Perhaps if the meetings were publicized in advance, there would be a better participation. It's common sense folks...

BTW: the next Board Meeting is on June 15th, have you heard anything?

Today Our Japanese Friends Need Our Help...

By now we all know about the tremendous devastation and suffering caused by the earthquake and tsunami in Japan... I have a very special place in my heart for Japan and the Japanese people.

I have visited this beautiful country on several occasions and also have relatives, friends, and clients either living in Japan or being of Japanese descent. Japanese people and their government are well known for their generosity and humanitarian efforts. There has not been a major disaster in recent years for which Japan has not offered a significant aid.

Today, our Japanese friends need our help...

Please join us in helping the victims of the earthquake and tsunami disaster in Japan. Any amount counts and helps... We are conducting Japan Relief Campaign through our non-profit: The Rainbow of Hope Freedom Foundation, which a project of United Charitable Programs, a registered 501(c)(3) public charity. Donations are tax deductible as allowed by law.

Your donations will be matched thru The Rainbow of Hope Freedom Foundation up to $1,000.00 . To securely donate online click on: Japan Relief Campaign . Again, any amount helps... Thank you very much in advance for your generous support. Mahalo!

Truly amazing musical performance, enjoy!

More resignations from Lanikea Board of Directors...

Mr. George McCarthy who was serving as a Lanikea AOAO Interim President, has resigned from the Board of Directors. Ms. Claudia McCloskey, who used to be the Lanikea AOAO President in the past, was appointed by the Board as Interim President. Ms. Chintana Griffin who served as Secretary has resigned and her position hasn't been filled. Here is a list current Lanikea Directors and Officers:

Ms. Claudia McCloskey, President
Ms. Barbara Beerling, Vice President
Vacancy, Secretary
Mr. Robert W. Dudek, Treasurer
Mr. Marcos A. Hatada, Director
Mr. Ali Mandani, Director
Dr. Jon Jancaterino, Director

Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

Wishing you a Happy Passover and Happy Easter!

Security issues at Lanikea

Recently, one of the Lanikea Owners' apartment door had been vandalized. Lanikea has an on-site security personnel and surveillance cameras, however, all Owners and Residents should be vigilant. If you see any suspicious or unusual activity on Lanikea premises, please report it immediately to Lanikea Security at 808-782-9895. In case of emergency call 911.

Mahalo for your Kokua!

Passing on the Torch... New Chairperson for Lanikea Building Sub-Committee

During the last Lanikea Board of Directors meeting on April 13th, I have submitted to the Board my Top Five Recommendations of the most important major building issues and problems that need to be addressed at Lanikea. During the same meeting Lanikea's AOAO Vice President Ms. Barbara Beerling took over the chairmanship of the Building Sub-Committee as I'm in need of more time resources to concentrate on my Treasurer's duties. Ms. Beerling is a very astute businesswoman with many years of experience in various aspects of commercial and residential real estate.

If you are a Lanikea Owner of record and would like to receive a free copy of the Building Sub-Committee's Report dated January 31, 2011, and/or Condo Owners Rights and Responsibilities Booklet published by State of Hawaii, please shoot me an email at rdudek@sbcglobal.net with your full name, Lanikea unit# and an email address.

Mahalo for allowing me the opportunity to participate in making Lanikea the best condo project in Waikiki.

Glady in the Guinness Book of World Records

It is official... on April 6, 2011 Gladys Burrill (AKA: Glady, Gladiator, Glady-ator) was officially recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as the oldest person who ever finished a Marathon http://www.kitv.com/video/27420401/detail.html. Although they will never admit it, our Lanikea neighbors Ann and George McCarthy were instrumental in helping Glady realize her Marathon dream.

Ann is Glady's hairdresser and she put Glady and her husband George together as walking partners. George started walking with Glady and the two became not only trusted walking partners but also good friends. They walked and talked... talked and walked... and the rest is history... Congratulations Glady, Ann and George!

P.S. Ann, "The Instigator," is in the background of the enclosed picture ;-)

Lanikea Board Meetings Back at Lanikea's Lobby

All upcoming Lanikea Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) Board of Directors meetings will be held again at Lanikea's Lobby (yeah!). This change includes the next meeting on Wednesday, April 13th, at 6:00 P.M. All Lanikea Owners are welcomed and encouraged to participate.

P.S. I hope to see you and meet many other fellow Lanikea Owners at the meeting. My much anticipated Treasurer's Report is coming... I promise, as a Lanikea Owner, you will learn new and important things about Lanikea... So see you then.

Aloha nui loa!

A perfect day at Waikiki Aquarium

Have you been to Waikiki Aquarium yet? It is located at the end of the Kapiolani Park (2777 Kalakaua Ave.), a comfortable 1.25 mile walk from Lanikea. I've been walking by it for years, so finally I decided to drop by...

Wow! what a great place to relax and see some really beautiful sea life. The Aquarium estimates that they have over 2,500 marine creatures from Hawaii and the tropical Pacific. They are open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and offer Kama'aina discount. Here is a short video I shot during our visit (turn on your speakers):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1oIOy2_lIo&feature=player_embedded#at=67

Earthquake and Tsunami in Japan

The tragedy in Japan has affected many of our Lanikea neighbors who are either from Japan and/or have relatives and friends living in Japan. Our thoughts and prayers are with you and all the people of Japan. God Bless.

Tsunami Warning for Hawaii

A major earthquake, magnitude of 8.9, just hit Japan. Tsunami warning has been issued for the State of Hawaii, for more info click on this link:http://www.scd.hawaii.gov/ or http://www.weather.gov/ptwc/

Special Lanikea Board Meeting this Friday, March 11th, at 6:00 PM

There will be a Special Meeting of Lanikea AOAO this coming Friday, March 11, at 6:00 PM in Lanikea Lobby. All Lanikea Owners are welcomed and encouraged to attend.

Warning: Falling window parts! Wearing Hard Hats at Lanikea?

At the end of January Lanikea residents started to report falling small window parts (metal strips) which landed on the top level of the parking garage (P5, south side of the building). The parts hit the roof of the carports, then sometimes bounce and land on the garage floor. Luckily no injuries or property damage has been reported.

Mr. McCluskey, Lanikea's new General Manager had informed Lanikea's Board of Directors and Hawaii First Property Management. Apparently the window elements which have been falling off are coming from units 02, 03 (middle units) and they are decorative window muntins, which were glued to the inside and outside of the windows when the project was built.

Lanikea's Board has been working on addressing this issue but the problem is complex. According to Lanikea's condo documents, windows are the sole property and responsibility of individual unit owners, not Association's. To me that's a very bizarre provision, as all walls are responsibility of the Association, and a window is certainly a part of a wall as it is permanently affixed to it.

Representative of Lanikea's Board of Directors, Lanikea General Manager, Lanikea's Attorney (Law Offices of Porter, Tom, Quitiquit, Chee & Watts), Hawaii First (property management), A&B (developer), Swinerton Builders (original builder), Architects Hawaii (original architect), and Kalu Glass (original window installers) all came to Lanikea and inspected the detached window parts. They also went to one of the affected units and inspected its windows. They are all working on addressing this issue and hopefully a resolution will come soon.

In the meantime, a Notice from Hawaii First Property Management was posted in Lanikea elevators warning people who are parking on P5 to "use caution when walking to and from the P5A level." I wonder, what that means? how is the caution supposed to be exercised? by looking up while walking? wearing hard hats?

Obviously if a metal object falls down from a high rise building and hits a person (or a car), it can cause a serious, if not fatal, injury and/or damage. In my view, the P5 parking area should be completely off limits until it is safe again.

Rights and Responsibilities of Condo Owners and Powers and Duties of Board Members

State of Hawaii published two very informative and free of charge booklets for Condo Owners and Board Members. The booklets, which are based on Hawaii's Condominium laws (HRS), discuss Condo Owners rights and responsibilities as well as Board Members powers and duties. I think these booklets are a "must read" for anybody who is involved with condos in Hawaii, either as an owner or professional. To view the booklets click on the links below:

For Condo Owner Rights and Responsibilities booklet click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1Y72ErfKcXoYjkyZWQ3Y2MtNzUyMy00MDVlLTgxOGQtODExZGQ3YjQ3YmE3&hl=en

For Board Members Powers and Duties booklet click on this link:
https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=explorer&chrome=true&srcid=0B1Y72ErfKcXoMjQ4Nzg4NGUtNGRlMC00ZTJmLWFlMjItMzMyYTUxNzQ2ZDc4&hl=en

Lanikea Building Subcommittee Report

Lanikea Building Subcommittee's Report has been published. If you are a Lanikea Owner and would like to receive the report via email, please email me at rdudek@sbcglobal.net with your full name and your Lanikea apartment number.

A word from Lanikea's new Treasurer...

Aloha All,

Lanikea's Association of Apartment Owners (AOAO) Board of Directors has been reorganized and during Board's meeting on January 12, 2011 I was appointed to serve as new Treasurer. I appreciate Board's trust and confidence in me and want to assure all Lanikea Owners that I take my fiduciary duties and responsibilities very seriously.

My wife Kay and I are original owners and we bought our Lanikea apartment in 2005. My professional background includes over 20 years of business management and real estate experience, primarily in the area of finance. The reason I am willing to serve on the Board is because although I think Lanikea is an awesome place to live and own a property, I also believe that together we can make it even better.

Some of the issues I would like to address as Treasurer include:

• Improve transparency and communication of AOAO's affairs


• Perform budgetary review and analysis


• Identify and eliminate any wasteful spending


• Find operational efficiencies, reduce expenses, and lower our monthly dues


• Review building reserves and maintenance schedules


• Facilitate professional building inspection and turnover


• Solicit and implement suggestions from all Lanikea Owners and various professionals regarding improving the quality of life at Lanikea


• Review, and if possible enhance, Lanikea's amenities


• Protect Lanikea's value and Owners' equity

During the same January 12th meeting, I was directed to form a Subcommitee of interested Lanikea Owners to review our Building's current condition, note any exceptions that we feel warrant further investigation, and make recommendations to the Board of Directors for further action.

On January 15th our Building Subcommitttee held its initial meeting, which was well attended by Lanikea Owners. Immediately after the meeting we conducted a Building "Walk-about." Our findings, in a form of a report, will be forthcoming in the next few days. If you are Lanikea Owner and would like to receive a copy of the report, please send me an email at: rdudek@sbcglobal.net with your full name and unit number.

Again, I look forward to serving on Lanikea's Board of Directors and hope to hear from you soon.

A Hui Hou,

Robert