Spotlight on Kimberly Formanova – A Love of Design and Nature Bring Her Hawaii Life Into Perfect Harmony

If you’ve ever flown a plane, gone on a quest to find the very best BBQ sauce or obsessed over Sudoku, then you’ll find a kindred spirit in Kimberly Formanova, a new agent to Hawai‘i Life. With a background in residential design, she’s partnered with her husband Glenn, a nearly 20-year real estate sales veteran and an early adopter of our 10-year old company, to launch her Kaua‘i real estate career. “My husband has been with Hawai‘i Life for 9 years and I can say he loves it. It has been a very good company to work for and a privilege to be part of their amazing journey. As a part of the extended “family” already, I wouldn’t even consider any other brokerage,” Kimberly recently told us.

Kimberly Formanova hails from Saratoga and Los Gatos, California. “Being a part of the excitement people experience when transitioning into a new home is very rewarding to me,” she says.

Originally from the quiet little sister towns of Saratoga and Los Gatos, California, Kimberly graduated from Los Gatos High School. Like most of us, she didn’t yet have a clear idea of what she wanted to be when she grew up, so she jumped straight into her family’s business, eventually running the entire office operations. She took over corporate management while her parents traveled more and more frequently, as they neared their retirement.

Kimberly married Glenn 1987, choosing travel over kids and college at first. Together, they visited nearly 95 countries and islands before settling down in Hawai‘i, a place she fell in love with on an early visit to Kaua‘i in 1984. “I truly consider myself a citizen of the world and understand that people are the same where ever you go. We all have the same basic needs and desires,” shared Kimberly. With this broad worldview and exposure to diverse cultures, Hawai‘i seemed the perfect fit when Kimberly and Glenn moved to Kaua‘i permanently in 2003, settling in Moloa’a on the island’s North Shore. “My husband and I wanted to raise our two wonderful children here.”

Kimberly and her family on a recent family trip to Asia, in April of this year.

“Our little town in California had become the residential heart of Silicon Valley and had adopted a mindset that wasn’t compatible with our values. Kaua‘i’s year-round outdoor lifestyle, coupled with small-town concern for each other was a perfect fit. I am a creative person. I need to express that daily, whether it’s through cooking, painting, flower arranging, gardening, sewing, jewelry making or designing or redesigning a space. I love Kaua‘i because it offers endless inspiration and so many avenues of expression,” Kimberly shared.

In addition to creativity, her Hawai‘i Life is fulfilled by walking in nature, whether along the ocean or forested trails and feeling the energy of the natural elements. Kimberly loves observing the birds, flowers, whales. Kaua‘i appeals to all the senses and is rejuvenating to her soul, she says. One of her favorite pastimes is to explore the island with her kids. “I like to spend as much time as possible soaking up the ever-changing, stunning beauty of Kaua‘i,” she told us.

Among her interests and pursuits: historical fashion design and classic rock with her daughter; marksmanship, driving with loud music on, and a heartfelt quest for the best BBQ sauce with her son. She also is obsessed with Sudoku, and loves cooking, music, walking along the ocean, photography, and painting modern art. Oh, and did we mention that she likes to drive around and look at houses? “I love my Hawai‘i Life because Hawai‘i’s magnificent natural beauty combined with the genuine aloha of its people create a deeply refreshing and satisfying place to live,” said Kimberly.

A Passion for Residential Design

Naturally, she’s learned a lot about the business living alongside a successful Realtor, but Kimberly also brings plenty of personal and professional experience to the table. She and husband Glenn and have been buying, selling, renovating, and building new homes throughout their marriage – and she jokes that their marriage has survived those experiences. “It’s always been a part of my life personally or as a part of my family’s property purchases and management, whether they were residential or commercial,” Kimberly shared. She also brings a college background in residential design to her role. Kimberly’s studies gave her experience in conceptual design, the harmony of finish materials, as well as color therapy.

Having designed and built her own home from scratch, Kimberly has a deep appreciation for design and architecture. “My favorite piece of architecture in the state is the Moana Surfrider hotel in Waikiki. It’s perfectly balanced Victorian architecture exudes timeless elegance and grace. Morning coffee on the veranda or mai tais under the banyan tree are always on my must do list while on O‘ahu.”

Kimberly and her daughter at sunset in Ha‘ena, on Kaua‘i. Photo credit: Christie Jones Thompson.

Kimberly’s Approach to Her Work

Her real estate career has been flourishing. Kimberly enjoys the pairing of the un-corporate vibe of Hawai‘i Life with our successful, structured business model. With a variety of tools and technology offered to our agents, Hawai‘i Life embraces and empowers agents. Staffers enjoy a genuine feeling of ‘ohana throughout the company, at all levels, according to Kimberly.

Matching people with the right property for them is Kimberly’s favorite aspect of being an agent. In her words, “We all live differently and have different needs from our homes. Some need a soothing sanctuary, some need an inspirational space, others need dynamic energy. Additionally, my interpretation of sanctuary may be very different from someone else. Understanding what is most important to your client and finding it, knowing the power of how it will affect them on a daily basis, is extremely satisfying to me.” One of her favorite quotes expresses her approach to her work:

“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.”   ~Rumi

Kimberly Formanova with one of her paintings in her studio on Kaua‘i.

“Hawai‘i Life recognizes that work is one part of our individual journey through life and, if we are going to spend a large amount of our time at work, it can be fun, satisfying and rewarding. From the top down, the individuals’ love of their Hawai‘i Life is infectious. By inviting more people (clients) to share in the lifestyle, facilitating the transactions, and helping clients launch their own Hawai‘i life, they have created a truly unique, heartfelt business model that people love,” said Kimberly.

To learn more about Kimberly Formanova and her unique approach to clients, her business, and her Hawai‘i Life, you can check out her webpage. To talk story with Kimberly, you can email her at kimberlyformanova@hawaiilife.com or give her a call with your real estate inquiries at (808) 634-1142.