The good, the bad and the vertigo

The good news for Honolulu property owners is that the values of their homes went up this past year — not in all neighborhoods, but in most, for an average increase of 1 percent.

That means they might be able to charge more for their homes if they decide to sell, or establish a slightly higher limit for their home equity lines of credit.

On the other hand, the bad news for Honolulu property owners is that those higher valuations, based on comparable sales in their immediate neighborhoods, mean higher property taxes in the next fiscal year.

That, of course, is good news for the city, which has been struggling in recent years to squeeze money from Honolulu taxpayers in every way it can.

Are we dizzy yet?

Kailua theater back in business

It won’t have 3D movies or fancy seating, but for Kailua residents, the return of a movie theater in their neighborhood must be a happy occasion. Kailuans once had 11 screens and four theaters to choose from. One theater became a church. One made way for a Target store. The Aikahi Twin closed in 2007, followed the next year by the Keolu Center Cinemas in Enchanted Lake. But the Keolu theater reopened yesterday as the Water Gardens Keolu 4, with family-friendly movies, $5 tickets and reasonably priced snacks. Who wants popcorn?