Working with Integrity & Living the Maui Lifestyle

From Portland to Maui

I’m originally from Portland, OR although my Dad was born and raised on the Big Island. I spent a few years there in grade school while my parents divorced, and have many fond memories and ohana there. I was raised by my Mom, a strong and independent single parent. She retired as an RN leading the Neurosurgical team at Queen’s Medical Center after 27 years. 

Prior to 1991, I lived in Oahu for eight years. Then a developer/general contracting firm from San Diego moved me (and my husband) over to Maui for the Maui Coast Hotel project and I’ve called the island home ever since!

My Professional Background

Along with general contracting, I have an extensive background working with corporations, development firms, property management, and commercial leasing. In the late 1990s, I started in real estate sales through the HUD foreclosure process, managing an average of 80 units per year for Pemco in Honolulu. I was also responsible for training agents on HUD’s online sealed bid process. Because of this experience, I excelled in structuring competitive and successful bids, and developed a foundation that transitioned my career into sales and the luxury real estate markets.

Trend Builders, an ultra luxury general contractor, is owned and operated by my husband. We’ve been on Maui through several real estate cycles and have purchased land, designed, built, and sold our personal homes in Wailea. This hands-on, real life experience has given me extensive knowledge, enabling me to educate clients and other REALTORS® on the changing climates of building on Maui.

Going the Extra Mile for Clients

Given my personal experience in designing and selling luxury homes, one of the added values I offer my clients is staging and decorating my listings in a way that attracts buyers. Over the years, I’ve learned that attention to the details of staging has a huge impact on the first impressions of prospective buyers.  

My understanding and connection to the South Maui community has deepened because of my life here. From selling properties, golfing, chasing whales on my paddle board, and my latest passion, pickleball, I am truly blessed to live, work, and play in Wailea and Makena.

Longevity with integrity – That’s a key to my success! Living and working on an island requires trust and respecting relationships. And I’ve learned from the best in the business – Some who have passed on and some who have moved away, but not before allowing me to experience, first hand, the highest level of professional standards. For this, I’m truly grateful. As I think back, many of them were Wailea Realty agents… so we’ve come full circle here. 

As Broker-in-Charge, I would like to pass that same philosophy on to others, and preserve the sense of ohana and positive synergy the Wailea office has been known for. And to be the bridge of familiarity, working together, sharing ideas… and what we value most.

When everyone is successful, we are all successful.

That core concept, infused into Wailea Realty legacy, will live on in Hawai’i Life long into the future. 

My Hawai’i Life

Although I’ve been in real estate since 1989, I actually love technology and automation. I have a double degree in Computer Engineering and Electronic Technologies. And I’m so excited about Hawai’i Life and the new level of support it offers our Maui professionals through marketing and technology.

Technology like my palm pilot and iPhone have also allowed me to work remotely. Back in the day, utilizing global roaming and eFax to convert docs to pdf, I could be at a farmer’s market in Thailand and still stay on top of sales. Or be out chasing the whales and having some fun in the sun, and still be assured that I received that important call.

My focus is on lifestyle and how my clients see themselves living life here on Maui, whether it be a property to rent until retirement, or a need for space, seclusion, or a sandy beach in their backyard. And Hawai’i Life has all the resources and a team of professionals that can meet their needs.

My Maui Lifestyle

For me, the best part of living in Maui is the mornings. The birds are singing as the sun is rising over Haleakala, and I’m always so amazed how the sky and ocean are so blue. Maui has a healthy lifestyle and lots of people are out walking, running, or biking while I’m out walking my girls, Peaches and Keila. 

I’m an advocate for the Maui Humane Society and 9th Life Hawaii, and I contribute to the Maui Foodbank. And during the pandemic, I shopped for our kupunas and helped deliver lunch to the Maui Mask Makers who volunteered to make masks for Maui’s frontline workers. 

I have a real affinity for animals and support the Assistance Dogs of Hawai’i, which help the handicapped. My favorite auction item at their fundraiser each year is the “Lunch for 10” at their Kula training facility.

I’m a long-standing supporter of the V Foundation for Cancer Research, which was formed in partnership with ESPN and the Valvano family. In March 2022, we held our Maui Hui Golf event and introduced a special translational research project as part of the fight against prostate cancer. In one short evening, our Maui Hui group pledged $1.5 million to support this cancer research. It was an incredible outpouring of support from an amazing group of our Maui friends! 

While we are avid travelers and outdoor adventure seekers, I love coming home to Maui. It truly is my happy place! I can’t wait to step off the plane and breathe in the fragrant, tropical air. And Maui has just the right balance of low-rise living and beautiful beaches. It’s not over or under-developed, which is why Maui has been ranked the #1 island in the world by many travel industry experts for decades.

Fun and Family Time

I love nature and grew up exploring the forests and river banks, so you’re sure to find me outdoors. You’ll find me on the pickleball courts, one of the scenic Maui golf courses, on my favorite hikes at the bamboo forest or the Makawao Forest Reserve, and spending time with my girl Peaches who just loves to go for a ride.

My son and nephew work in construction in the hot sun six days a week, so our family and holiday get-togethers are casual and relaxed. My son is a great cook, too, and excellent on the grill! My nephew, son, and I have also volunteered for Habitat for Humanity, which helps families by building and improving homes.