Hawaiʻi Lifeʻs Commitment to Hawaiʻi – More Than Just Another Real Estate Brokerage

Hawaiʻi Lifeʻs commitment to Hawaiʻi as place and people is part of our values and vision as a real estate brokerage. It is reflected in a concrete way through our Conservation and Legacy Lands practice area, and in our founder and CEOʻs service on the board of Hawaiʻi Land Trust for the past dozen years.

Naturally, then, Hawaiʻi Life once again sponsored two tables at the Hawaii Land Trustʻs 22nd Annual Buy Back the Beach fundraising event on Maui. Until this year, the venue was always Old Lahaina Luʻau. Due to the devastating fire of August 2023, the event had to be moved this year to Mauiʻs south side. With Lahaina on our minds, Saturday night was an occasion for gathering and healing and recognizing the many ways in which the work of conserving and stewarding properties in Hawaiʻi conserves and stewards cultural practices and sense of place.

It got me thinking of the many ways we at Hawaiʻi Life connect our clients, customers, and colleagues in the real estate industry with the value of aloha ʻāina.

Hawaiʻi Land Trustʻs 22nd Annual Maui Fundraiser “Buy Back the Beach” concluded with a moving performance by slack key artist Makana

Hawaiʻi Lifeʻs Ongoing Commitment to Protecting the Special Places of Hawaiʻi and Supporting Those Who Steward Them

Dana Naone Hall honored for her contributions to land use law and protection of Mauiʻs special places and her work as a poet of place

Having the Maui event less than six months after the loss of historic Lahaina town was meaningful. Having Lahaina on our minds and in our hearts gave a visceral sense of importance to our purpose for being at the fundraiser – namely, to support the work done by Hawaiʻi Land Trust and the necessity of protecting, restoring, and stewarding the special places or wahi pana of Hawaiʻi.

One of the first conversations I struck up during the pau hana portion of the event was with a long-time Maui resident, an artist who in the fire lost works he had placed in a prominent Lahaina gallery. Despite his losses, he donated additional works of art to efforts to raise funds in the aftermath. As we enjoyed the view, he commented to me on the irony of holding “Buy Back the Beach” at a venue overlooking the Wailea resort. He remembers when that stretch of beach was first developed, despite opposition. It was a sobering moment as we contemplated the urgency of protecting places that remain undeveloped, as well as the many choices to be made in the rebuilding of Lahaina after the fires.

Each year at the HILT event one Champion of the Land is recognized for their lifetime achievement. This year the Champion was Dana Naone Hall, and her daughter gave a moving tribute, with a slide show and reading of poems from Hallʻs landmark volume of poetry, Life of the Land. Hallʻs activism with Hui Alanui o Mākena in the 1980s gained perpetual access to the Old Mākena Road which follows the ancient Alaloa known as the “King’s Highway” or “Pi‘ilani Trail” fronting the then Maui Prince Hotel (most recently redeveloped as “sustainable family residences” at Makena Golf and Beach Club)- making the change of venue particularly significant.

It is humbling to be able to continue to engage with this important work through our support for Hawaiʻi Land Trust, and in the day to day support for clients, customers, and colleagues interested in protecting conservation and legacy lands in Hawaiʻi.

Hawaiʻi Life Charitable Fund – Continuing Support for Lahaina

Maui Strong hoodie might be a good choice for winter months whether they find you here in Hawaiʻi or at home wherever else that might be

As you may be aware, Hawaiʻi Lifeʻs collective efforts led to raising $1,468,834.74 donated to the Maui Strong Fund at the Hawaii Community Foundation. Over $400,000 of that went through the Hawaii Life Charitable Fund, and we sourced a separate $1 million direct donation through our network. Thatʻs significant and if you were part of that, mahalo nui loa.

But the needs for support for the displaced residents and businesses, and the rebuilding of Lahaina from the ground up, will be ongoing for many years.

How cool is it that Hawaiʻi Life Charitable Fund has just announced a Wear the Love, Share the Love fundraiser. You can order t-shirts, hoodies, caps with a message of Maui Strong, even choose a gift card for a purchase of another item on the Bonfire store, with the cash going to support the Maui Strong Fund. One design features the famous Lahaina Banyan Tree which has become a symbol of resilience. If you are a minimalist, chose the simple design with a hibiscus flower next to the words Maui Strong and a plain back. Or go for the energy of the waves design. Canʻt decide? How about one of each?

Hawaiʻi Life Vacation Rentals – Service and Commitment to Place

My photo of the view from the Kihei vacation rental condo is not as professional as the one on the website, but the view was really amazing, and the unit was set up to make it easy to admire.

One final thought. Rather than stay at a Wailea hotel, I instead chose to book a condo that happened to be available for three nights through Hawaiʻi Life Vacation Rentals. I travel inter-island a lot and stay at a lot of condos, and I have a long-term rental managed through our brokerage, but strangely, this was my first time staying at a condo managed by Hawaiʻi Life. Seriously if I could give them 6 stars on the 5-star scale, thatʻs what the team deserves. Completely responsive from booking right through my departure. With a knowledgeable local property management and concierge team imbued with the Hawaiʻi Life ethos, if you donʻt have a place to stay yet, consider renting through Hawaiʻi Life for your visit.

And while you are here in Hawaiʻi, maybe you would want to volunteer with Hawaiʻi Land Trust or another conservation organization. Most land stewardship organizations have community workdays you would be welcome to join as a visitor. Let me know if you need help setting up an experience of getting to know and love Hawaiʻi on a different level.