SPRING NEWSLETTER

As you are aware, the master association [AOAO] that governs our complex will be doing some needed facelifts to the exterior of our complex. Each of us was billed for this last fall and we still have some members who have yet to pay their assessments. So we are all on the same page, any assessments not paid will exclude the member or their guests from occupying their unit or units for any scheduled vacations.

In addition to the concrete repairs, the carpeting on the lanais will be removed to determine if spalling work is needed, and if so, it will be jackhammered out and repaired. This will begin in June/July so be prepared for some noise if you plan on visiting during that period. The exterior of the buildings will also receive a new coat of paint. We will also be installing non-skid tile on the lanais to prevent future spalling problems. In addition to the repair work on the outside, we are reupholstering the couches and recliners in each unit and replacing any bedding that warrants a change. We are also adding an additional armchair and occasional table in the units. We will do this as units become vacant over the summer.

Some housekeeping notes: To help our cleaning staff prior to checking out, please empty the trash, run the dishwasher and put your towels in the washer. This gives our staff a headstart to get the units ready for the next guests' arrival. Treat our units as if you were at home, as these really are our "Homes away from Home" in paradise.

From a safety standpoint, be careful when entering or leaving the units, as the strong tradewinds can blow the doors shut and smash or pinch fingers, toes etc. You don't want to spend part of your trip in an emergency room, even if it is in Maui.  

I want to thank each of you that responded to my request for comments about the possibility of putting tile in the living room as well as air conditioning the units. This is still an item for discussion with the board and we will continue to research the ideas before making a presentation at the September meeting in Las Vegas.

Speaking of the meeting, it will be held at the California Hotel on the 24th of September at 9:30 am. Registration will begin at 9:00 am with rolls, coffee and juice available before and during the meeting. We hope, as many of you that can, will attend, but if not, please send back the proxy letters you will be receiving as soon as possible to help us conduct the meeting. The proxy letters will be mailed a few weeks prior to the September meeting date. As in the past, there will be board positions open and we encourage any person interested in running for office to please prepare a resume. We will outline the process for submitting your name in the summer newsletter, but at least you can begin to think about it now.

One of our recent discussion topics has centered on the possibility of requiring security deposits from RCI tenants or members guests. We have wrestled with this idea as we feel it might help non-owners to respect our property and investment. Too many times items are missing from the units and we, as a group, pay the cost of replacing the items. We now have inventory books in each unit and it is a simple matter to double check the book against the actual items and notify our local representative of any problems. Please feel free to comment on this and give us your thoughts as to the procedures you have encountered in other facilities.

It is very important that we get current e-mails addresses from every owner. As changes in reservation techniques occur, we will need this to aid in the distribution of information to our members. Please send Lani at Oihana your e-mail address, as this will help us get your personal file in order.

This brings me to the important new change. 

Enhancements have been made to your On Line Reservation System.

The changes include the following:

*Ability to reserve multiple weeks at one time

*Ability to see multiple week reservations beyond the 52 week limit

*Instant message that the unit is no longer available if another owner makes a reservation for the same unit and week slightly ahead of you.

What this means to you

You now have the ability to to reserve multiple weeks at one time.  You will select an open week, as you have in the past. A pop up window will open asking how many weeks you  plan to reserve.  You will select one of the numbers presented from 1 - 20.  Once your selection is made, you will receive a notice (example) "Unit Number DXXX is now reserved in your name starting April 1, 2006 for 3 weeks.  At that point you may log off or go back and review reservations.

The ability to see multiple week reservations beyond the 52 week limit was requested by several owners at the Owner Meeting last September.

What this means is that you will be able to see how many units will be open,  on  Monday at 9am Hawaii time when a new week becomes available.

If several owners in previous weeks have made multiple week reservations, then the amount of units available to book when the new week becomes available may be limited.     The first reservation has to be inside the 52 week limit.  All weeks  outside the 52 week window that are not part of a multiple week reservation will be grayed out and unavailable.

We are now able to tell an owner who thinks they have secured an open week, whether they have or not.   The system will lock the database as soon as the first owner number is tied to an open unit.  Example:  Owner A picks D407 because it shows open.  Owner B in another state picks D407 because when he opened the reservation system on his screen it appeared open also.  The first owner number to register on D407 will get the normal message.  The owner who was a fraction of a second behind in their request  will get the message that the unit is no  longer available.

This is only material during January - March when owners are competing for reservations in those months.

The reality is that any open weeks during this time are taken in the first 30 seconds after the server clock in Honolulu hits 9am.

During this time, an owner can call Lani for help but that does not guarantee a reservation.  She has to log onto the same page as every other owner and try to secure a reservation.  When several owners are competing for just a few units, it is entirely possible that she would not be able to secure a reservation. 

Please email  lynetteponcin@mac.com if you have an questions.

This looks to be a remarkable year for Kihei Akahi with the building upgrades and the redecorating of the units, so plan on coming to paradise and enjoying the beauty of Maui.

Aloha - Ed Norcutt Jr.