Many Oahu residents believe that their children have to live in the mainland to be able to own a home and meet their dreams. It is a meme that frustrates me and I am working toward eliminating
Testimonials
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Selling our family home (a Trust property) was a complex process involving multiple family members across Hawaii and Washington. With time-sensitive decisions and some challenging moments along the way, we knew we needed an expert we could trust. Thankfully, Keahi Pelayo was referred to us as one of Hawaii’s top realtors, known for his deep connections, market expertise, and outstanding track record of success.
From the moment we listed, Keahi exceeded our expectations. Within just two days, he secured over 13 strong, competitive offers. We were absolutely stunned when he came back the next day - three more offers with generous Escalators, further proving his ability to generate exceptional results.
It’s clear why Keahi has earned his reputation as Hawaii’s “go-to” realtor. His integrity, deep local roots, unmatched people skills, and concierge-level dedication made this process seamless and successful.
We are beyond grateful for Keahi’s expertise and unwavering support. He truly is the best!
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- Linda Ahrens, Sylvia Acosta & John Holi
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I've enjoyed getting to know Keahi for at least 20 years, during which he's called about once each year asking if we wanted to sell my wife's Keeaumoku St condo. Though I've never seriously considered selling that, I've enjoyed talking to him and getting his insights into the Honolulu real estate market each year.
When my siblings and I, living widely separated in England, Arizona, NY State, Waianae and Kona, decided to sell our Mom's Punchbowl apartment, we first set up Zoom interviews with several prominent Honolulu realtors. I insisted that Keahi be included on the list, especially after a respected Rotarian realtor friend in Kona volunteered that he thought Keahi was the best realtor in Honolulu - and was as surprised as I when I told him that I knew Keahi and was already considering hiring him! Though the other realtors were impressive, we all agreed Keahi was the best!
Keahi initially pointed out the difficulties inherent in selling a property owned in common by widely separated owners, but he helped us work through those problems and the many other issues that developed through the process of moving out the tenant of more than 20 years, contracting for the substantial repairs we all agreed were needed to improve the sale value, and developing a spectacular listing that assured a prompt sale. He and his essential assistant Susie Morgan also steered us through the complex escrow process (particularly problems that arose because one of the owners lived overseas) and addressing the last minute issues of dealing with the building management regarding common property repairs that had to be addressed just before closing.
I and my siblings highly recommend NextHome KU Realty and Keahi and Susie for assistance with real estate in Honolulu.
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- Tom Daniel (Retired Oceanographer)
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Keahi and is staff handled the marketing of my Honolulu condo. As I now reside in California, it has been a rental income property for many years. I could not have been more impressed or pleased with the attentiveness and professionalism of Keahi and his office. Everything went through without a hitch.
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- Dennis Hanshew
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Keahi has represented my clients for over 20 years, with nary a negative word. I also employed him last year to help us buy our dream home, and just last month to sell off our old home. Everything came off without a hitch. I would highly recommend him to any friend or colleague.
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- Bradley Tamm (Attorney)
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We were recommended to Keahi by a local Honolulu legal firm with which we had done some business related to the property. They said Keahi was the best of the best. They were right in all respects. Professional, knowledgeable, and with a level of patience and customer service that is unparalleled in my opinion. He is on top of everything, he always keeps you in the loop, never drops the ball, and JUST DOES HIS JOB, exactly as he says he'll do it. Can't say enough about how good he was for us.
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- David R (Property Owner)
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Keahi helped guide us through the first time home buying process with patience and thorough explanations of any questions we had.
Would recommend 100% ??
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- Jae Jang
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Keahi was proactive in soliciting and following up on all of his responsibiities. I have no doubt that this is his norm and have full confidence in his professionalism. He resolved all questions with action items and follow up to conclusion. He is very good. I recommend him as an excellent realtor.
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- Wayne Y. Fujita
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We had a great experience working with Lahua and would absolutely recommend her. My wife and I were buying a vacation home in Hawaii and didn’t know the area or local market very well. Lahua’s deep knowledge of Hawaii real estate—both the specific neighborhoods and how the local market works—made a huge difference for us.
She was extremely patient, flexible, and responsive throughout the entire process. Lahua took the time to walk us through different options, clearly explain pros and cons, and share honest, data‑driven insights so we could make informed decisions. We never felt rushed or pressured, which we really appreciated, especially buying from out of state.
It was clear that Lahua genuinely had our best interests in mind. She helped us negotiate in a fair and reasonable way and made sure we felt confident and comfortable with the purchase of the property we landed on. In the end, we’re very happy with the home we bought and the overall experience with NextHome.
If you’re looking for a realtor who truly understands the Hawaii market and takes the time to advocate for her clients, with a low pressure style, Lahua is fantastic.
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- Marc P. (VP, NPI + Operations)
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Our Family had the pleasure of working with Lehua to find our home on Oahu. We lived in a condo in Waikiki for our first year in Hawaii. Lehua listened to what we were looking for and worked with us remotely for a couple of months showing us properties online. Lehua has a very professional, yet personal touch. She walked through showing the qualities of each home and the reality of the areas including the neighborhoods, community, views and landscape. It was a real pleasure to work with someone who is so focused on finding a true home. I was there for the first time last week and was really quite shocked at how the home, where my daughter Camile is living full time, not only met but exceeded our expectations. We appreciate Lehua's genuine, friendly and very professional approach to everything she does. We will look to Lehua for her guidance in any opportunity we see in the future. Thank you, Lehua, for finding our new home in Hawaii!
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- Lauri Klaus (CEO)
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We were referred to Lehua through a friend and must I say, we were very pleased with our experience!! Lehua is kind, honest, patient, and also very informative. She was able to hone in what we wanted and needed in a home and my family and I are so proud that we were able to work with her. We love Lehua and if you are considering a great experience, please contact her. She won’t steer you wrong!
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- Mayah Chester (Communication Specialist)
"
Selling our family home (a Trust property) was a complex process involving multiple family members across Hawaii and Washington. With time-sensitive decisions and some challenging moments along the way, we knew we needed an expert we could trust. Thankfully, Keahi Pelayo was referred to us as one of Hawaii’s top realtors, known for his deep connections, market expertise, and outstanding track record of success.
From the moment we listed, Keahi exceeded our expectations. Within just two days, he secured over 13 strong, competitive offers. We were absolutely stunned when he came back the next day - three more offers with generous Escalators, further proving his ability to generate exceptional results.
It’s clear why Keahi has earned his reputation as Hawaii’s “go-to” realtor. His integrity, deep local roots, unmatched people skills, and concierge-level dedication made this process seamless and successful. We are beyond grateful for Keahi’s expertise and unwavering support. He truly is the best!
"
- Linda Ahrens, Sylvia Acosta & John Holi
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I highly recommend Mr. Keahi Pelayo!!! Buying or selling your home is one of the most important decisions, yet can be extremely stressful. Having a genuine, professional realtor on your side can make the process so much more pleasant and efficient. He is the best agent I have seen and worked with by far. Better yet, he is now our family friend!
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- Mijin Kim
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Keahi and Susie were the best reality I have every had they went that extra mile to get my house sold always keeping me informed on everything, every week letting me know what the status is. If there was a rating on one to ten I would definitely give them a ten the most knowledgeable people I have known in reality business that I have known. Again thank you Keahi and your staff
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- Edward Blaser (Retired DOD)
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I am grateful for a successful and timely 3-4 month process on the sale of our family home. Keahi kept me posted on all aspects of the sale, had knowledge with trusts, and has a team of professionals who were quite pleasant to work with on listing, lockbox and signage, viewings, open houses, offers, inspections and escrow. Land Court was something I was not familiar with, but all was handled in an orderly fashion, no guess work, all his expertise and experience provided us with a smooth transaction. I am happy to provide a professional recommendation for Keahi Pelayo and KU Realty. Sincere mahalo to you and your team, Keahi. It has been a wonderful experience to work with a caring, professional team in the sale of our family home of nearly 70 years, with many so many good memories. We wish the new owners many happy memories in their new home!
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- Alana Miranda
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I highly recommend Mr. Keahi Pelayo!!! Buying or selling your home is one of the most important decisions, yet can be extremely stressful. Having a genuine, professional realtor on your side can make the process so much more pleasant and efficient. He is the best agent I have seen and worked with by far. Better yet, he is now our family friend!
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- Mijin Kim
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She was very attentive and responsive to our needs. Highly recommend if making a purchase on a property. She listened to our wants and find what we are looking for. She made appropriate recommendations as needed. She made sure my needs are met especially with my being out of state. She’s conversational and a great person to be in our team.
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- Angie Alexander
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Keahi and his team were amazing to work with. They provided invaluable advice and guidance throughout the process, and we can't thank them enough. It was a pleasure to work with them, and we would highly recommend Keahi to our friends and family. If we ever need a realtor in the future, Keahi would be the person we call.
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- Ken and Yuko Ford
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Keahi and his team went above and beyond in every way to make our home buying process smooth and successful. With Keahi, it was like we had a personal Yelp, Angie's List, Google Business and a realtor all in one. He gave us peace of mind when we were unsure, and confidence when needed it.
Our family is grateful to have Keahi on our side and highly recommends him!
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- Long Vo
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Working with Lehua was hands down one of the best decisions we made during our home-buying process. We were purchasing a new construction home in Hawaii while still stationed in Georgia, and she made what could have been a stressful experience incredibly smooth and seamless.
From constant communication and timely updates to advocating for us every step of the way, she went above and beyond. Her local knowledge, professionalism, and genuine care for our needs gave us total confidence, even from thousands of miles away.
If you're looking for someone who treats your home purchase like it's their own, Lehua is that person. We couldn’t be more grateful for her support and would recommend her to anyone, anywhere, without hesitation!
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- Jermell Chester
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Keahi Pelayo have been a blessing for us from the very first day of contact. Keahi was recommended my a close friend of ours who trusted him. My husband and I did not have knowledge about the process of selling our home. There was a lot to learn as our property has a SAE program with HHFDC. The economy and high interest rate was also a challenge.
There were alot of "bumpy roads" but Keahi always says "we'll cross the bridge when we get there". Keahi not only help us sell our property but also educate and provide us with resources. Keahi walked us throught these challenges, answered all our concerns, and never gave up on us.
THANK YOU Keahi for keeping the faith with us as our property is SOLD!
If you need to sell your home, we would like to recommend Keahi and his assistant Susie. They are a team that will be with you from begining to ending.
Trinh and Jerome
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- Trinh Bayron
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Keahi has excellent service especially when helping us navigate through the stressful process of trying to sell our property. The property we sold was a rental property and unfortunately it was not in good condition. We really tried to keep the property but reputable property managers refused to accept the condition of our property to manage for tenants since it was a huge liability. It was too costly for us to make the necessary updates and repairs so our last option was to sell. The home attracted a lot of flippers who tried to pay the least amount of money as possible but Keahi provided guidance and with a little bit of patience he was able to find a buyer who was willing to pay close to asking price with the intention of living on the property and making the necessary repairs. I was really happy with the outcome because we got the most money possible despite the condition of the property and we were able to sell the property to a buyer who will appreciate and take care of the home.
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- Regina Tanaka (Home Seller)
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Keahi Pelayo is excellent!! I had so much anxiety selling our family home but Keahi made the whole process seem so easy. He walked me through every step of the process, he never kept me hanging wondering how the sale is going or how is escrow coming along. He always kept me in the loop. The best part is he always kept an open communication with me, always there if I had any questions.
Mahalo Keahi and Susie for all your help!!
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- CONCESA JOFEL OMORI
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Keahi represented us with a purchase on an accelerated schedule, set to close on December 31, in the busiest time of the year. His advice was always helpful. His attention to detail, knowledge of the market, and his familiarity with other brokers in the community, the lender and escrow, made a complicated project run smoothly and efficiently to a successful conclusion. We would recommend him without reservation.
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- Simon Klevansky
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I am a first time home buyer and I had no idea what to expect going into the home buying/searching process. Lehua was so helpful in navigating me through everything and made the process enjoyable and easy to understand. She is kind and caring and someone who leads with integrity. Lehua is amazing and should definitely be considered should anyone be looking for a top notch agent!
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- Alyssa Chin
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Keahi is an intelligent and ethical broker. If you are in the market to buy or sell, he will certainly keep you educated and updated about inventory and market trends.
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- Kent Swenson (Real Estate Broker)
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Spectacular Realtor! Keahi helped me find an amazing condo in Hawaii. Very knowledgeable and great attention to detail. Would recommend to anyone!
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- Matthew Meagher
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Keahi was very helpful & informative through the entire buying process. I would highly recommend working with him!
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- Molly Amai
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No one I would’ve rather trusted with such a monumental move, finding a home on Oahu. Her excellent communication skills, genuine advocacy and graceful nature cultivates a beautiful experience from start to finish while finding your home. There will be transparency and direct collaboration to ensure needs are sufficiently met, a superstar professional I recommend to anyone I care about. Mahalo nui, Camile
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- Camile McClay (Founder)
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I really enjoyed working with Keahi. He worked really hard to make the sale of property as smooth as possible and was always available for questions. His staff was also extremely helpful. He is also a very nice guy.
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- Adele M Barres (President of Fiddlesticks Too, Inc.)
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Keahi and the entire NextHome KU Realty Ohana were outstanding in every way--as advisors, confidants, and friends through the process of selling, acquiring, and selling 2 properties! In our client-realtor relationship Keahi was patient and thoughtful as we navigated the peaks and valleys of property ownership. Most importantly, he earned and elevated our trust as friends who could count on him and his Team for sage advice, prompt action, and terrific results!
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- Brian A. Hill
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Keahi Pelayo is an excellent realtor!! He is very knowledgeable, professional, and easy to talk to. He has excellent negotiation skills, and he knows how to resolve issues!! He is really good about getting back to his clients on a regular basis. We would highly recommend Keahi!!
We recently closed on a 1031 exchange. Keahi Pelayo was our realtor for the buyer’s portion of the exchange. He started to send us multiple listings early in the exchange. We looked at many places, some of us using FaceTime. Keahi helped to resolve an issue on the sellers side. If not for him, we would still be looking for a place. We were able to close on Oahu a week after we sold our property on Maui!!
We would definitely recommend Keahi for any of your real estate needs!!
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- Sharon Honda
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As a young local couple navigating the home-buying process for the first time, having Lehua in our corner was truly invaluable—her expertise and support were absolutely priceless. In today’s fast-paced and often impersonal world, Lehua was a breath of fresh air, bringing the perfect mix of trustworthiness, intelligence, kindness, and authenticity to every interaction.
Our journey wasn’t as straightforward as we’d hoped, but Lehua remained patient and reassuring throughout. She validated our moments of doubt and uncertainty while encouraging us to trust our instincts. At every turn, she took the time to explain things clearly, making sure we felt informed and empowered to make the best decisions.
What really sets Lehua apart is her ability to balance professionalism with genuine care. She truly had our best interests at heart and celebrated every milestone alongside us. We’re incredibly grateful to have had her on our team. Mahalo NUI e Lehua!
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- Moea Kekauoha & Aric Fredlund
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Keahi and his assistant, Susie, are top notch. It was difficult for our family to list our home that we grew up in and that our father had worked so hard to build, but Keahi made sure we were comfortable with each step of the process. His experience and understanding of the real estate market is incredible, along with his compassion and understanding of his clients. We highly recommend Keahi - hands down!
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- The Kitashiro Ohana
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Keahi and his team are awesome people to work with! Throughout our ordeal, Keahi kept in touch with my husband and I about the selling of our sister-in-law’s unit every week. Whenever we had questions whether it be by calling or by text or email, Keahi and his team got right back to us the same day. Keahi’s team that works with him were always helpful and guided us in filling out paperwork that we would never understand how to do on our own. My husband and I are new at selling and he made everything easy for us to understand. And a great job he and everyone else did too, we enjoyed working with this group! Keahi knows his stuff and I highly recommend Keahi and friends!!
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- Hadassah Maunakea (Client )
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Lehua was very thorough and timely. She consistently went above and beyond and was very helpful given our relatively unique situation.
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- Richard Chang
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Keahi made the process of selling my deceased parents' home absolutely seamless. He had immediate contractor references for the work that was necessary, he handled all negotiations & logistics for me - which was critical, as I live on the mainland - and he maintained impeccable communication with me as to the progress of the work & overall transaction. He was fearless with an excellent can-do approach.
There is no question that Keahi's involvement made dealing with my parents' estate significantly easier. Mahalo.
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- Khamsin Tahiri
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Lehua was very thorough and timely. She consistently went above and beyond and was very helpful given our relatively unique situation.
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- Richard Chang
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I can’t say enough about Lehua!!! From the start of our search Lehua was well organized, helped us find information about HOA’s and buildings in Honolulu. Personal tours, face time tours, whatever we needed she did for us. Lehua’s personal touch was exactly why me and my family were looking for!!!!
I would recommend Lehua to any of my friends looking for a realtor on Oahu!!!
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- Michael Kakina Mullahey (Owner)
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Have known & worked with Keahi for many years. He has assisted my late husband, Dr Livingston Wong & me in purchasing & selling Real Estate for ourselves & our family. He is professional, experienced & very nice.
He considers it a privilege to find just the right fit for you.
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- Linda W. Wong
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In my most humble opinion why would anyone on Oahu use a realtor other than Keahi? I've had the distinct honor of working with him for almost a year dealing with 3 properties being sold in the family trust. Keahi's gone above and beyond with succinct explanations, more hand holding than I care to admit and always with a smile. If you want to make your day/week/month, randomly call to hear his life affirming phone message. Keahi and Susie are the team to use if you want a seamless experience.
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- Donna Bender
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When my friend, Joan, died suddenly in 2019 I found out that I was named as administrator of her estate which meant I would be responsible for selling her condo in Honolulu. (I was living in Philadelphia.) Joan had worked with Keahi before and I knew she would be happy to have me work with him. We started the process of selling in March 2019 which, unfortunately, coincided with the emergence of COVID. Between the State of Hawaii and the condo HOA there were lots of restrictions. It took a long time with barriers to cross, but Keahi and his team made my job so easy, taking care of everything. I couldn't be more satisfied and highly recommend Keahi.
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- Gayle Griffith (Retired)
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Keahi helped me keep calm and navigate me through the emotional rollercoaster that naturally comes with selling real property (a condo on Oahu) in Hawaii. He was always available to talk to me, and guided me through the negotiations. I really appreciated that he spotted early on, some of the potential issues that the title company may bring up, so we dealt with it early on way before the sale of the property so that at least when he condo sold, there were no added stress related to title issues. Keahi is an honest, great guy to work with. I appreciate his professionalism, his experience and his knowledge in the real estate market, and most of all has a pleasant and calm personality that helped stabilize my emotions through this process.
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- Jennifer Heimgartner (Client)
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I have known and worked with Keahi for almost 15 years with great success as well as personal satisfaction. He is thorough, professional, and a pleasure to work with for our mutual benefit. He has a complete grasp of the tools of his trade, and he brings them effectively to the tasks at hand. Keahi and his team are highly recommended.
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- David C. Farmer (Attorney)
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Lehua was fantastic! Always organized. Always punctual. Always easy to communicate with. ALWAYS helpful every step of the real estate purchasing process.
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- Mary Mullahey (Health Educator )
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Trust, honesty, and integrity are what Keahi and Susie bring to any real estate need you may have. Being a kamaaina long since removed, I had no connections on the island any more and happened upon NextHome Realty by chance (and good luck!!!). Both Keahi and Susie took care of my needs almost like I was family, keeping me updated and answering each and every question along the way. They netwrok seamlessly with other professionals (lawyers, appraisers, title companies) handling all of the leg work for you. I always felt like my best interests were also theirs, and they always delivered as promised. If you want to have a stress-free real estate experience, then look no further. NextHome Realty no ka oi!!!
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- Jeffrey Williams (Happy Kamaaina)
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Lehua did a fantastic job helping me navigate the purchase of my home. From showing to bidding to complex contract negotiations to closing, she had my back. If she and her network of recommended professionals hadn't been so quick and adaptable, I would have missed out on a dream home. Strongly recommend her services.
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- Hannah Matsunaga
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Keahi is so gracious and professional to work with. He and his staff made my job so very easy, by always communicating with me. Keahi work very hard to get my Uncle's house all fresh, cleaned and ready in 2 weeks to list. Once it listed we got offers on the first day and we were able to close in record time! Everything went so smoothly. I would definaltly use them again and recommend them to family and friends.
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- Christine & Albert Pascua
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Lehua is an exceptional realtor. I told her what I was looking for and within 48 hours she had at least 5 listing for me to look at. She even offered to pick me up and show me the listings...which is great for someone like me who gets lost easily.
From becoming my realtor, she became my friend. Always asking me my thoughts on the apartments. She wanted to know what I liked and what I disliked. She was always looking out for me.
Lastly, Lehua became part of my Ohana. Ohana looks after each other and that's what she does. Even after the sale, Lehua is still helping me, just like my Ohana.
Thank-you Lehua! You are an exceptional realtor/person!
"
- Marsha Ishido
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It was my first time selling a property so I was a little apprehensive. Had my first meeting with Keahi, and all my worries were taken care of. He answered all of the questions I had, and also anticipated others that came up. During the process of putting the property on the market all the way to closing, the thing I appreciated the most was Keahi's communication. Every week he would update me on the status of the sale. Sometimes he would call just to say hi and make sure that I didn't have any problems and was comfortable with everything. Being that it was my first time doing anything with real estate, he took the time to explain the process and any of the jargon I didn't understand. If I'm ever in the position to buy or sell a property again, I would definitely go with Keahi. 110% recommend!!
"
- Keebong Jhang Jr. (Satisfied Client)
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Keahi and Suzie are a great team. Everything explained, copies provided, good follow up and support there when it’s needed. Good referrals, if additional assistance needed to prepare the home. The sellers schedule always considered without issues.
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- Dottie Campbell (Kupuna)
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