What's New
Office rents declined throughout the U.S. as business slowed and landlords grappled with a growing expanse of empty space.
General Growth changed its bankruptcy counsel to Weil Gotshal, parting with Sidley Austin.
Los Angeles's newest luxury hotels are showing signs of strain as room occupancy rates fall.
REITs have suffered their worst year on record, with a key index down 40%. Industry experts see a rebound in '09.
Articles provided by WSJ.com: Real Estate
Annual Events
January
Mercedes Championship. Elite golfers from the PGA Tour compete in the season opener at Kapalua's Plantation Course.
February
Valentine's Day Orchid Show. Find fancy flowers for your Valentine at the Maui Orchid Society show at Queen Kaahumanu Center.
March
Ocean Arts Festival. Lahaina celebrates the annual migration of the Pacific humpback whales with whale watching, sailing,
and diving tours, as well as a beach cleanup.
Prince Kuhio Day. Official state holiday honoring Prince Jonah Kalanianaole
Kuhio, Hawaii's delegate to Congress, 1902-1922.
April
Celebration of the Arts. The Ritz-Carlton Kapalua hosts hands-on activities and seminars about hula, chant, and Hawaiian arts.
David Malo Day. A luau honors the Islands' best-known Hawaiian scholar at the school where he studied, Lahainaluna High School.
May
May Day is Lei Day in Hawaii. Make a lei or at least wear one to any of a number of festivals celebrating Hawaii's famous garland.
Kapalua Jr. Vet/Sr. Tennis Championships. Men and women ages 35 to 70 enjoy singles and doubles competition in age division play.
June
Kamehameha Day. The king who united the Hawaiian Islands is honored with a parade down Lahaina's Front Street, featuring floats,
bands, and Hawaiian-style horseback riders.
Ki-Hoalu Slack-Key Guitar Festival. The state's finest slack-key musicians gather for a day of Hawaiian music at the Maui Arts & Cultural Center.
July
Annual Paniolo Parade. Patriotism and Hawaiian cowboy tradition meet up in the traditional July 4th parade through Makawao town.
Annual Makawao Rodeo. The Fourth of July celebration continues with three days of rodeo events at the Oskie Rice Arena above Makawao.
Kapalua Wine & Food Festival. Premier wine-makers and Hawaii's hottest chefs gather for several days of wine tasting and gourmet meals at Kapalua resort.
August
Maui Onion Festival. Cooking demos, an onion-eating contest, local produce, and a gala dinner at Whalers Village in Kaanapali,
all featuring Maui's sweet onion.
September
A Taste of Lahaina. Maui's largest culinary festival, showcasing a variety of restaurants, plus farmers' market, beer garden,
cooking demonstrations, and kids' games.
Maui Marathon. The big race begins in Kahului and ends in Kaanapali.
October
Halloween in Lahaina. Front Street is closed to vehicles and filled with thousands of costumed revelers at this 'Mardi
Gras of the Pacific,' beginning with a children's costume parade and including a costume contest for adults.
November
Hula O Na Keiki. Young dancers aged 5 to 18 perform in a two-day hula competition at the Kaanapali Beach Hotel.
December
Na Mele O Maui. Schoolchildren compete in a Hawaiian song contest at Kaanapali. Tree Lighting Ceremony'More than 250,000
sparkling lights illuminate the 25-foot holiday tree and dozens of pine and palm trees around the Kapalua Resort.
