Spotlight on Meena Na – Foodie, Hiker, Boss Lady, Lending Guru

This spotlight series features some of the loan experts at Element Mortgage, our preferred lender. 

Meena “Boss Lady” Na, was finally able to return to Hawaii where she spent most of her childhood, after spending 16 years in Atlanta, GA. The product? A cocktail of Southern hospitality, beach bum chillin’, and spicy Korean. She is a wife to a loving husband and a mother to a beautiful toddler and 2 fur babies, so as you can imagine, there’s never a dull moment. She spends most of her off days going to the beach, spending time with her family, and braving the crowds at any local festival or other events in town.

Recently, Meena presented on behalf of Element Mortgage at Hawaii Life’s annual conference. Worthshop 8 took place at the Mauna Kea Beach Hotel, where Meena shared her insights with more than 260 real estate pros from across the state.

Another one of Meena’s passions is travel. Having her Master’s degree in international business and work experience across several industries–from hospitality to business, to IT and mortgage–she brings a variety of valuable skills to the table. All of these skills and background experiences are used to help new and veteran home buyers navigate their way through the often overwhelming labyrinth of the home buying process.

As a mortgage consultant and branch manager for Element Mortgage, Meena’s mission is to make the home buying process painless and seamless, all while providing excellent customer service, not only to the borrowers but equally to her referral partners. Her dedication to her clients and their best interests, along with her attention to detail will have you calling that house your home in no time.

Meena’s Local Oahu Recommendations: 

Whether you’re in Waikiki, North Shore, Kailua, or make your way to the Westside, Oahu is notoriously known as a paradise for foodies. If you’re in town, you can’t skip Sweet Home Café, a Taiwanese hot pot restaurant that will have your taste buds in overdrive. There’re more than 12 different soup broths to choose from and all the meat and veggies are self-serve. Get there early or expect a wait.

Are you into udon? Hit up Marukame Udon off of Kalakaua Avenue. The tempura selections are endless, perfectly crispy, and you just can’t beat a $5 meal in Waikiki; but like any other hot joint, you can expect a wait here, too. 

The view from the top of the Lanikai Pillbox Trail, a fave for locals and visitors alike, and so worth the effort.

Craving a beautiful view? My go-to hiking recommendation is Lanikai Pillbox Trail, near Lanikai Beach in Kailua. It’s a bit of a walk to the hiking entrance from the parking lot, but I guarantee you it will be the closest thing to instant gratification as you can get. It’s a little steep to begin with, but the views will make up for any rope holding you did in the first 10 minutes of the hike.

Meena Na, a branch manager at Element Mortgage, understands firsthand the needs of young families looking for a home. She’s pictured here with her husband and baby girl.

You should be up to the first Pillbox in less than an hour (very leisurely pace), enjoying the breathtaking views of the Mokes (Nā Mokulua) and emerald waters of Hawaii. After that, head over to Haleiwa Joe’s and chow down on a 24 oz slow-roasted prime rib while enjoying views of the Haiku Gardens below. Don’t forget Giovanni’s Shrimp truck for perfectly cooked garlic shrimp if you make it to the North Shore! 

There’s so, so much more…. Can you tell I like to eat? Give me a call and I’ll be happy to recommend some more great places to add to your Hawaii adventure!