How Kalama Kim Built One of Hawaii’s Most Respected Real Estate Companies
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Release Date: 04/29/2026
Chris Wirsing on the Power of Relationships, Reputation, and Real Producers
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Chris Wirsing on the Power of Relationships, Reputation, and Real Producers In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, host Larry Gonzales sits down with Chris Wirsing, Publisher of Honolulu Real Producers, for a conversation about what truly separates top performers in Hawaii real estate. Chris shares his journey from Chicago to Hawaii, his local family roots, and the path that eventually led him to build Honolulu Real Producers on the island. From there, Larry and Chris dive into the habits and standards that define excellence: adaptability, discipline, relationship-building,...
info_outline
The Truth About Growth, Standards, and Success with Tony Robbins’ Trainer Mandi Rose
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
The Truth About Growth, Standards, and Success, With Tony Robbins’ Trainer Mandi Rose In this episode of In Search of Excellence Island Style, the host sits down with Mandi Rose, a Tony Robbins Professional Trainer & Keynote Speaker, after she leads an in-person training in Hawaii for The Broker Mortgage Experts and Century 21 Island Homes. The conversation opens with the power of live training, why in-person energy creates stronger breakthroughs, and how Mandi helps people shift from simply learning information to actually taking action. Mandi shares her journey from radio and...
info_outline
Erica Lehmkuhl and Sarah “Eli” David: From Military Leadership to Real Estate Success
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Erica Lehmkuhl and Sarah “Eli” David: From Military Leadership to Real Estate Success In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Erica Lehmkuhl, Owner of Seaside Realty, and Sarah “Eli” David, Mortgage Loan Officer at The Broker, for a powerful conversation about leadership, resilience, and transitioning from military service into real estate and lending. Erica and Eli share their journeys from the military into the civilian world, offering a real look at what it means to lead in high-pressure environments, earn respect in male-dominated...
info_outline
How Kalama Kim Built One of Hawaii’s Most Respected Real Estate Companies
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
How Kalama Kim Built One of Hawaii’s Most Respected Real Estate Companies In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Kalama Kim, President of Hawaii Modern Realty, to talk about leadership, local values, and the evolving future of Hawaii real estate. Kalama shares his journey from growing up on the Windward side and attending Kamehameha Schools, to playing collegiate tennis at USF, working in banking, and eventually becoming one of Hawaii’s most respected real estate leaders. The conversation dives deep into the lessons sports, discipline, and...
info_outline
What Great Service, Strong Teams, and Smart Solar Planning Really Look Like with Sarah “Eli” David, Michael Melso, and Matt Householder
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
What Great Service, Strong Teams, and Smart Solar Planning Really Look Like with Sarah “Eli” David, Michael Melso, and Matt Householder In this episode of In Search of Excellence Island Style, Larry Gonzales and the team unpack what excellence really looks like behind the scenes. The conversation centers on the daily disciplines that drive long-term success, from family routines and personal habits to controlling your mornings, managing your pipeline, and staying consistent even when plans change. They explore how family serves as the foundational team, and how habits like workouts,...
info_outline
How Jessel Riccardini Built a Referral Based Real Estate Business Through Discipline and Authenticity
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
How Jessel Riccardini Built a Referral Based Real Estate Business Through Discipline and Authenticity In this episode of In Search of Excellence – Island Style, Larry sits down with Jessel Riccardini, a Hawaii REALTOR®, to talk about the mindset, discipline, and consistency that have shaped both her real estate career and her personal growth. From her roots in the Philippines to building a life in Hawaii, Jessel shares how her journey has been defined by resilience, hard work, and a deep commitment to serving others. The conversation explores how Jessel transitioned from...
info_outline
What Great Service Really Looks Like with Erin Evans
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
What Great Service Really Looks Like with Erin Evans In this second episode of In Search of Excellence Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Erin Evans, Broker/Owner of Century 21 Island Homes, for a conversation about real estate, leadership, service, and what it takes to build a business rooted in people. The episode begins with Erin sharing how she got into real estate and how she and her husband Ron built their business together. From there, the conversation moves into military life, moving to Hawaiʻi, building a strong team, and why training and mentorship matter so much in this...
info_outline
Meet the Broker Team
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Veterans in Lending, Real Estate Wealth, and the Eight Tenets of Excellence In the launch episode of In Search of Excellence Island Style, Larry Gonzales introduces the Broker Mortgage Experts team and gives listeners a behind-the-scenes look at the people helping make homeownership possible. The episode features mortgage brokers Sarah “Eli” David, Micheal Melso, and Daniel Sepulveda, and is positioned for first-time homebuyers, Realtors, investors, the local Hawaii community, and military/VA buyers. The conversation opens by tackling one of the most common mortgage myths, that buyers need...
info_outlineHow Kalama Kim Built One of Hawaii’s Most Respected Real Estate Companies
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Kalama Kim, President of Hawaii Modern Realty, to talk about leadership, local values, and the evolving future of Hawaii real estate.
Kalama shares his journey from growing up on the Windward side and attending Kamehameha Schools, to playing collegiate tennis at USF, working in banking, and eventually becoming one of Hawaii’s most respected real estate leaders. The conversation dives deep into the lessons sports, discipline, and mentorship taught him about leadership and personal growth.
Larry and Kalama also discuss Hawaii’s housing affordability crisis, inventory shortages, interest rates, and why long-term thinking matters for local families trying to buy a home. They explore how mindset, sacrifice, and consistency can help buyers build generational wealth, even in a challenging market.
The episode also covers the changing landscape of real estate, including AI, social media, leadership culture, and why authentic relationships still matter more than ever in business today.
Guest List
Kalama Kim
President, Hawaii Modern Realty
Former leadership roles with Hawaii real estate organizations
IG: @kalama.kim.realtor
IG: @kalama_kim
Timestamp Highlights
00:00 – Introducing Kalama Kim and his real estate leadership journey
01:20 – Tennis, discipline, and attempting the professional tour
03:20 – How leadership started through sports and mentorship
04:20 – Transitioning from banking into real estate in 2004
05:40 – What the 2005 Hawaii real estate boom was really like
08:00 – Comparing the 2005 market vs. the post-COVID market
10:40 – What separates successful agents from struggling agents
13:00 – Ronnie Lott, resilience, and leadership lessons from sports
15:00 – Why fundamentals still matter in today’s market
17:00 – AI, technology, and the future of real estate
18:40 – Building Ohana and authentic company culture
20:00 – Coaching agents beyond business performance
21:00 – Fixing company culture and leadership mistakes
23:00 – Why leading by example matters in real estate
24:00 – Old-school networking and “drive-by door knocking”
27:00 – Morning routines, discipline, and personal growth
28:20 – Fasting, mental clarity, and health transformation
31:00 – Why Hawaii Modern Realty chose to stay local
33:00 – Supporting agents based on their strengths
35:00 – Simplifying CRMs and building consistency
36:40 – Hawaii housing affordability and keeping locals in Hawaii
38:00 – Why waiting for rates may cost buyers more long term
39:20 – Building wealth through ownership and sacrifice
42:20 – Bringing aloha into leadership and business
43:40 – Final thoughts on excellence, culture, and legacy
🌺 Enjoyed this episode?
Make sure to subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone who’s passionate about leadership, real estate, and building a better future in Hawaii.
🤙 Follow Larry Gonzales and In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations with Hawaii leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts.