2015 Best In Real Estate

Daryn Ogino 

PRESIDENT, MORTGAGE BROKER 

​Daryn Ogino was born and raised on O‘ahu. He embodies the aloha spirit and is much attuned to the local way of doing business. He graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a BBA in management information sciences and has more than ten years of real estate and mortgage lending experience.  

 

Daryn is also an astute real estate investor and entrepreneur. He bought his first property at the age of 25 with the money he saved from working two full-time jobs. However, his first home-buying experience was rather unpleasant. His loan officer didn’t explain terms well, didn’t give him loan options, and never returned his calls on time. This experience is what lead Daryn to start a career in mortgage finance. He knew that other first-time homebuyers were probably having very similar experiences—and he felt like he needed to do something to solve that. Since then, Daryn has made it his mission to create the best customer service experience for locals trying to purchase or refinance their home. Hence, Smart Money was born!

 

Smart Money, Pan AM Building, 1600 Kapi‘olani Boulevard, Suite 705, Honolulu, HI 96814, (808) 447-1850, customercare@smihi.com, smartmoneyinc.com

Daren Kimura 

MORTGAGE ADMINISTRATOR 

At Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, Mortgage Administrator Daren S. Kimura works with everyone from new homebuyers to seasoned investors. His approach to the home buying process is to treat each loan as his only loan. Daren is acutely aware of the dollar sum involved and is sensitive to each individual buyer.

 

At Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, he is able to finance everything from single-family homes and condos to multi-unit residential apartment buildings. His vast knowledge and understanding of the home buying process is an asset to his company and the buyer. Furthermore, because he represents a community credit union, Daren’s services are available to everyone on O‘ahu and their family, regardless of where they reside.

 

With Daren’s 16+ years of experience and the backing of a solid financial institution, he has been able to establish trusting relationships with brokers and agents to form true “win-win-win” scenarios for buyers, agents and the credit union. Daren is anxiously looking forward to the various upcoming Hawai‘i housing developments and the potential of putting happy owners into their new home. As he says, “Hele mai…your new home awaits!”

 

Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union, 1138 N. King St., Honolulu, HI 96817, (808) 832-8708, hitelfcu.com

 

Jeannie Yu

President/PB

Jeannie Yu lives by the verse,  “The Joy of the Lord is my strength.” (Nehemiah 8:10). Because she finds joy in all that she does, Jeannie is able to devote herself to being the best possible real estate agent, providing clear and honest client-focused service.

 

Born and raised in Seoul, Korea, Jeannie came to the United States in 1988. Just one short year later, Jeannie became the first agent at New Star Realty in Garden Grove, California.

 

She later moved from California to O‘ahu, Hawai‘i in 1997 and is now the President of Hawai‘i Top Realty, LLC, which was founded in 2014 and is based on Integrity, Honesty and Trust.

 

Often referred to as the “Stress-Free Realtor,” Jeannie ranked 68th out of 6,000 active Real Estate agents on O‘ahu in 2014. As a born-again Christian, she also considers herself a born-again real estate agent. She believes that being an agent is her true calling, as it gives her the opportunity to share her generous, joyful personality with others. Jeannie attributes her success as an agent to prayer, her family, supporters and coworkers, and of course, the Lord. She would like to thank Honolulu Magazine for listing her as one of the Best in Real Estate for two consecutive years. 

 

Hawaii Top Realty, 1451 S. King Street, Suite 202, Honolulu, HI, (808) 386-2277, HawaiiTopRealty.com

 

Ray Prosek 

REALTOR ASSOCIATE CDPE, CIAS, SFR, SRS

If you were to look up “The American Dream” in the dictionary and saw a photo of Ray Prosek, Top Agent with RE/MAX Honolulu, it wouldn’t be the least bit surprising. Ray absolutely personifies the concept of the American Dream. “I live in paradise, and selling real estate doesn’t feel like work,” he says. “I honestly don’t know when ‘work’ starts and ends because it is so rewarding, and so much a part of my lifestyle.”

 

Ray has been living the American Dream as a wildly successful residential real estate agent and the #1 Top Producer with RE/MAX Honolulu. Ray has already earned multiple Top Sales Awards, such as Top 10 in State of Hawai‘i Agent in numbers of Residential Transactions Closed.* He also received the RE/MAX Hall of Fame Realtor with RE/MAX Chairman’s
Club Award. 

 

Ray is heavily involved in supporting Children’s Miracle Network Hospitals including Kapi‘olani hospital through monetary donations from every single closed transaction. Ray also volunteers and teaches Judo at the Kroc Center in Kapolei and co-founded Barbers Point ‘Ohana, a nonprofit which contributes money to the Barber’s Point Elementary school and supports children in local homeless shelters. 

 

*Pacific Business News – The Best Residential Hawai‘i Realtors from 13,030 Realtors in Hawai‘i 2014 results report

 

RE/MAX Honolulu, 480 Kamokila Blvd., Suite 104, Kapolei, HI 96707, (808) 687-8937, Mobile (808) 393-8226, TeamRemaxRay.com

 

Courtney Takai 

REALTOR®, MBA, PRINCIPAL BROKER & PROPERTY MANAGER

Courtney Takai and her husband, Ted, opened Vesta Hawaii Real Estate in 2011, combining more than two decades of real estate experience to launch a premier boutique real estate brokerage. Inspired by Vesta, the Roman goddess of home and family, they are passionate about their work and dedicated to providing their clients with the very best service. 

 

Courtney and her team at Vesta Hawaii Real Estate are well positioned to guide clients through today’s fast-paced market. She offers superior market insight, innovative marketing and a very high level of customer service in both real estate sales and property management.

 

From first-time homebuyers to investors to large corporations, Courtney’s client base is as diverse as the properties she represents. She has extensive experience in the single-family home, condo, townhouse, multi-family and new construction markets. Representing principals of transactions throughout O‘ahu, Courtney offers a broad knowledge base of the island’s neighborhoods.

 

Courtney is also committed to meeting the needs of Hawai‘i’s serious investors by providing service-based property management services. As an investment property owner herself, she remains committed to the goal of maximizing occupancy and revenue while preserving the tangible value of your asset.

 

When working with clients, Courtney takes each decision to heart as if it were her own. She makes a significant investment in each property before it comes on the market by developing a strategic marketing plan that often includes staging services, professional photography, customized marketing materials and an online presence. Once in escrow, Courtney’s team makes sure they remain in constant communication with their client to ensure a smooth, stress-free, and pleasant sale.

 

Born and raised in Hawai‘i, Courtney’s love for the islands runs deep. She holds a Masters in Business Administration degree from the University of Hawai‘i. Her strong family values and sense of community have fostered initiatives to give back as an active volunteer in various schools and local non-profit organizations.

 

In her free time Courtney enjoys golfing, hiking and swimming at the beach with her husband and their four children.

 

Vesta Hawaii Real Estate, 3229 Koapaka St., Honolulu, HI 96819, (808) 561-8200Fax (808) 356-0820, Courtney@VestaHawaii.com, VestaHawaiiRealEstate.com

 

Atsuko Sato

REALTOR® 

​Atsuko Sato’s interest in real estate began in 2004, when she moved from Japan to New York and began working at a CPA firm. Two short years later, in 2006, she decided to move to paradise and set out to begin her career in real estate. In 2008, Atsuko received licensure in Hawai‘i. Over the next three years, she ranked in the top 100 realtors on O‘ahu. In 2014, Atsuko founded “HOMETIQUE” and was named one of Hawaii Business magazine’s Top 100 realtors. Atsuko is knowledgeable in all aspects of real estate but focuses her energy on helping international and local clientele find their dream home in paradise. Clients are impressed with her prompt and reliable service, as she always puts her clients’ needs first and works to build lasting relationships. Atsuko is also a tennis player, Honolulu Marathon finisher and triathlete. 

 

1441 Kapi‘olani Boulevard, Suite1219, Honolulu, HI 96814, (808) 754-2284, atsuko.hawaii@gmail.com, AtsukoHawaii.com

 

Erin Evans

REALTOR ASSOCIATE, ABR, CDPE, SFR, MRP

Originally from Ontario, Canada, Erin Evans has been in the business since 2000, after graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Kinesiology from the University of Manitoba. With previous sales and marketing experience in the medical field, she traveled to Asia to teach international business with corporate companies. Being a Military spouse, relocating led Erin to Hawai‘i 6 years ago, where she now practices real estate full time with CENTURY 21 All Islands. One step off the plane and Hawai‘i felt like home!

 

Although Erin specializes with VA and military personnel, she has expanded into the luxury market, loves working with first time home buyers and international investors.  She is multi-faceted in the industry and has clientele all over the island.  When working with sellers, she includes an extensive and innovative marketing plan tailored to best sell your home while customer service and integrity is her top priority.

 

Top agent at CENTURY 21 All Islands among 10 offices •  #36 for CENTURY 21 nationwide • #37 among all agents on Oahu •  Recipient of the prestigious 2014 Aloha ‘Aina REALTOR® Awards Program™ Winner 

 

Century 21, 94-799 Lumi‘aina Street A1 Waikele HI 96797, Mobile: 808.292.5722, Erin.Evans@HawaiiMoves.com, century21.com

 

Scott Adams 

REALTOR ASSOCIATE 

Making the lifestyle you dream about, the life you live. Over the last decade, we’ve helped hundreds of clients reach their real estate goals. Our team provides a truly full service experience with the utmost confidentiality. Regardless of the budget, our goal is to make the transition as easy and productive as possible. We coordinate preparations & renovations and use customized marketing plans to bring in more buyers and higher offers. We fight for our clients – negotiating aggressively and proactively managing escrow to ensure a smooth closing. With over 15 years of sales & marketing experience, a background in construction & development, strong local ties, and the backing of a trusted brand,  you can be confident that your goals are in good hands.

 

Top 100 Realtors on Oahu, Honolulu Board of Realtors • Top 100 Realtors in Hawaii, Hawaii Business Magazine • Best in Real Estate, Honolulu Advertiser • Emerald Elite, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate (highest production bracket nationwide).

 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate,  Kahala Mall, Upper Level  4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Box 9050, Honolulu HI 96816, Office (808) 738-363, Direct (808) 779-5135 ScottA@BetterHawaii.com

 

Eathan Cimdins Ozawa 

REALTOR ASSOCIATE 

For the past ten years, Eathan Ozawa has been passionately involved in real estate. Though it began with just a modest studio purchase, his personal portfolio has moved more than $1 million in gross real estate transactions over the years. Eathan joined the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage Realty team in the latter part of 2012 and has since gained a wealth of knowledge in the real estate industry. Becoming a Realtor was the ideal career choice to suit Eathan’s life focus and interests. Eathan is among the top 15% of agents on Oahu and is also a Silver Award recipient, ranking him in the top 15% of agents across the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate national network.

 

Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate,  Kahala Mall, Upper Level  4211 Wai‘alae Ave., Box 9050, Honolulu HI 96816, Direct (808) 721-2541, Office (808) 738-3694, EathanO@BetterHawaii.com

 

Tracy Allen 

VICE PRESIDENT, RA, INTERNATIONAL PRESIDENT'S PREMIER, PREVIEWS PROPERTY SPECIALIST 

As an industry leader with 25 years of dedication, Tracy’s extensive market knowledge and skill has consistently placed her among the elite of Hawai‘i’s realtors. Tracy’s in-depth construction, design and staging experience enables her to transform the look of your property, negotiate the terms to your benefit, and help you achieve a successful closing at top dollar.

 

Tracy has earned prestigious accolades for her skill, expertise and results. In 2013 she was recognized in the Wall Street Journal and REAL Trends as one of the Top 1,000 real estate professionals in the United States. She is also a member of the Coldwell Banker International Presidents Premier, an honor bestowed only upon the top one percent of more than 85,000 agents in the world. In 2014, she received the Society of Excellence, Coldwell Banker’s most prestigious award; she is ranked number six on a national level. Tracy is also the 2014 Top Producer for Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties.

 

Coldwell Banker Pacific Properties, 1314 South King Street, 2nd Floor, Honolulu, HI 96814, (808) 593-6415, Tracy@cbpacific.com, TracyAllenHawaii.com

​

Malia Siu 

REALTOR®

​Malia Siu’s passion for real estate began as a teen. While working at her father’s brokerage firm on O‘ahu, she learned that buying and selling properties isn’t just a job—it’s a vehicle to help others achieve wealth and provide a place to grow and thrive. 

 

After graduating from the University of Oregon and dabbling in the hospitality industry, Malia returned to selling real estate in 2005 and immediately placed in the top one percent of her company. 

 

Today, she is a highly sought-after Fine Home Specialist with ample accolades to her name. Recognized as one of the Top 50 agents on O‘ahu, Malia was also named the 2014 Salesperson of the Year and 2014 Listor of the Year at Locations LLC, Hawai‘i’s largest, locally-owned real estate company.

 

Malia is dedicated to providing her clients with accurate information, expert guidance and honest advice. Her sharp negotiation skills, creative financing methods and uncanny ability to find gems in this tight real estate market give her an advantage over the competition.

 

Locations LLC, 614 Kapahulu Avenue, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96815, (808) 479-8418, malia.siu@locationsllc.com

 

Susie Kimhan

RA, ABR, CRS

Susie Kimhan believes her business is all about relationships. She treats her clients like family, and it shows. As a previous owner of a boutique real estate brokerage, she has been assisting clients with their real estate needs for more than 14 years.

 

Susie has assisted and developed many properties in the Islands as well as on the mainland. She affirms that real estate is an essential investment for individuals and families, and has had much success in getting her clients properties that have grown in value exponentially over the years. 

 

Consistently a top producer, Susie is currently with Locations LLC and has won The President’s Circle Award in 2012, 2013 and 2014. She has also received various client service awards. In addition to building and maintaining a solid real estate career, Kimhan appreciates the beautiful lifestyle Hawai‘i allows. A Kailua native and resident, she enjoys traveling and beach days with her family.

 

LOCATIONS LLC – Diamond Head office, 614 Kapahulu Avenue, Suite 200, Honolulu, HI 96815, Cell (808) 375-7665, Bus (808)  735-4200, susie.kimhan@Locationsllc.com