I find it amazing and delighting how many folks from other condominium associations read my blog.  Recently I have been hearing from quite a few of them from around our state.  It always delights me!  I invite folks from other associations to contact me.  I love hearing from you!

In fact, one of my wish-to-do items for this year, if and when I get time, is to get going a parallel website – which would be broader in scope and post news and updates about other condo associations.  I get lots of information coming my way from various sources.  For one thing, many of the same “players” are also at other associations, – for ex., management companies (Hawaii First, Hawaiian Properties, Certified Management), Richard Emery, insurance (Sue Savio and others), attorneys, Scott Merlo, etc etc.  And of course – importantly – many of the issues are the same or similar.  There is so much one can learn by sharing experiences.

Tonight we had the Annual Meeting of the Ilikai AOAO.  Seven of the nine Board Directors were for re-election.  Here is who got elected to the Board:

Dass Ramadass (3-year term, till 2013)

Bill Moore (2-year term, till 2012)

Lea Sasak (1-year term, till 2011)

Leslie Love (3-year term, till 2013)

Steve Stinson (3-year term, till 2013)

Scott Merlo (1-year term, till 2011)

Linda Anthony (2-year term, till 2012)

The above listed seven Directors join the two Directors who had remaining terms: John Hall and Bob Romo.

Some clarifications re who is who.  Dass Ramadass is not an owner here, he is an employee of the Tokioka Family’s companies.  Bill Moore and Lea Sasak are owners, they are part of the OBC group (Old Boys (and some ladies) Club) fraction of the owners.  The OBC group is closely connected with Marina Hawaii Vacations (a company of the Tokioka Family).  Leslie Love and Steve Stinson are representatives of iStar (the current owner of the Ilikai hotel).  Linda Anthony is a representative of Shell timeshare.  Scott Merlo is a new addition to the scene here.  He is an owner, he owns a penthouse here.  Also, he set up and operates a significant rental business here.  His rental program reportedly includes circa 75 Ilikai units, that’s how he got so many votes to get elected.  Up till now he was staying away from the Ilikai politics.

I did not get elected.  But I tried.  On a positive note, through this process I met some most wonderful people here.  For ex., tonight I talked to some owners who have been supporters of my efforts.  It was truly heart warming meeting them and talking to them.  Truly heart warming.  We’ve got some really wonderful people here.  I feel blessed that I got to meet them and for the opportunity to do what I can for the Ilikai.  HUGE THANKS TO EVERYONE WHO VOTED FOR ME!!!!!!!

As a reminder, the Ilikai AOAO Annual Meeting is today, Tuesday, March 2, 2010.  Location: Hawaii Prince Hotel.  Time: The registration starts at 5 PM, the actual meeting to start at 6:30 PM.

I will be there.  Take a moment to stop by to say hello and/or introduce yourself

At the request of an Ilikai owner (who is also a full-time resident at the Ilikai), I am posting their letter, please see below.

“Olga,

       I completely agree with you assessment of the current board. I am not at all comfortable with the fact that most of the people at the front of the room during board meetings [OLGA: this refers to the Board Directors] either are or were products of the second floor rental office [OLGA: this refers to Marina Hawaii Vacations, a rental and sales company owned by the Tokioka Family].   And if not directly involved with that office, they are indirectly involved in that they rent their condos through that office. In effect they have formed a close knit club among themselves and slant their decisions to favor their agenda rather than the interests of us, individual owners. Furthermore, please explain to me why certain individuals who neither live in the Ilikai nor own anything in the Ilikai are on our board of directors supposedly representing us, owners [OLGA: this refers to Dass Ramadass who is an employee of the Tokiokas' companies that own one unit at the Ilikai (or several at most if under different names).  Dass Ramadass is a Board Director, but he does not own anything at the Ilikai.  How can he act in undivided loyalty to the AOAO and owners if he is not an owner here?  Isn't his loyalty instead directed to his employer, the Tokiokas' companies?].  I would suggest they would be better suited being on the board of directors of the building or neighborhood in which they live rather than on the board of the building in which I live.

Concerning the upcoming board elections, Hawaii First in their mailings to us did not even tell us how many seats are up for reelection (they should go too).  I believe you pointed out that 7 of the 9 seats are up for election, so it is a big and important election. The present board is, of course, doing everything possible to acquire proxies in order to keep themselves in power, however, in my opinion a number of them should go. It is also my opinion that I-Star should, as they own a large portion of the Ilikai, have representation on the board.  They are Steve Stinson and Lesley Love. The only other candidates that I know of (other than the current board) are you Olga Geling , Robert Humphreys (a recently retired attorney) and Cheryl Van Law (a relatively new and very qualified (real estate) arrival).  I would suggest to undecided voters to give these five applicants serious consideration.  To be voted off the board are (in my opinion) Dass Ramadass, Lea Sasak, Robert Currie and others of your choosing.

                               For a better Ilikai,

                              Robert Vogtritter”

P.S. Olga’s comment: I certainly agree with what Mr. Vogtritter has to say.  With one exception – regarding the Board candidate Cheryl Van Law.  I certainly agree with Cheryl on many issues, most notably regarding the assessment of the current Board as a total major roadblock to any progress here.  This Board had a whole year to prove themselves, but they failed, dismal record.  But I disagree with Cheryl on several key issues.  For ex., Cheryl has been advocating for letting Shell and timeshare stay here and making statements to the effect that timeshare is legal here.  These statements of hers are totally off-base and do NOT correspond to what our covenants and applicable law and law cases say.

I am posting this for those who are out of town and may be wondering what has been happening here in terms of the tsunami warning.  This was quite an exciting day here, in anticipation of drama, if not tragedy, but then luckily nothing happened.  At 6 AM we heard a statewide tsunami warning siren that went on for some time.  After that, the Ilikai security announced via the speaker system about the tsunami alert.  They made several announcements over the period of several hours.  There was no evacuation or anything like that here at the Ilikai.  Luckily, there wasn’t really much of a tsunami at all, no damage around here or anything like that.  The tsunami warning got canceled.  It was interesting to see the Ala Wai Harbor at least half empty, as folks took their boats to the ocean for safety to wait out the anticipated tsunami.  Most of the boats that remained at the Harbor were those of absentee owners.  I know a couple people who have boats there, and they sure were quick to take their boats to the ocean for safety once they found out about the warning.  Now the mood is happy and celebrative

From a personal perspective, I would add that I was really impressed with how prepared our State seemed to be – organized, with warnings, announcements, evacated whoever needed to be evacuated, no panic.  Organized and prepared.  Very impressive.

Pacific Business News reports: “Sarento’s owners see bright future for top of the Ilikai.”

The next Board meeting is scheduled for this Thursday, February 25, 2010, at 3 PM, Kauai room on the 2nd floor.  Ilikai owners are invited and encouraged to attend.

By now it is no secret around the Ilikai building that at the last Board meeting on January 28, 2010, the Board voted to re-bid the managing agent contract currently held by Hawaii First and that Hawaiian Properties would bid for this contract.  It is community knowledge around here that there have been concerns expressed about Hawaii First, especially regarding the Anekona delinquencies.  I am no fan of Hawaii First, as those who read this blog have certainly noticed by now.

But Hawaiian Properties as a potential replacement?!

I am sure Hawaiian Properties is a great and highly reputable company.  I have absolutely nothing about them themselves.  But that’s not what it is about.

I’ve already written on this subject.  See, for example, my posting on the Elephant in the Room.  So I won’t repeat myself.

The concerns – very serous concerns – are about the governance and management of the Ilikai AOAO and the trend of where this is going.  The concern is that commercial interests of some business (the companies of the Tokioka Family that is) that owns one unit in the entire building of 1,009 condominiums (or several units at most if under different names) have so much influence over the AOAO Board of Directors and now may be taking over the financial management of the AOAO as well.  In my opinion, this will sink our AOAO into even more potential conflicts of interest and situations when the governance and management of the AOAO may end up being controlled by these outside commercial interests.  Haven’t we had enough of this type of situations with Anekona?

As said, I have nothing against the Tokiokas and their Hawaiian Properties themselves, I am sure they are reputable.  That’s not what it is about.  It is about the governance and management of our Ilikai AOAO.  I wrote and sent the following letter to the AOAO Board of Directors and the AOAO legal counsel, Milton Motooka, regarding these concerns.  Click on the link to view.

Please also note that in my letter I explicitly ask the Board: “If there are any factual misrepresentations, I urge you to let me know ASAP at your earliest convenience.  If you think my concerns are ungrounded, I urge you to let me know why.  I look forward to hearing from you.”

If you appealed your 2009 property taxes (I did), then you probably heard by now from the City and County of Honolulu (I did).  Please feel free to share your experiences.  Did you hear from them?  What response did you get?  Taxes affect us all, let’s share notes and experiences.

The next Board meeting is scheduled for next week’s Thursday, February 25, 2010, at 3 PM, – unless it gets re-scheduled.  Ilikai owners are invited and encouraged to attend.  Be there!