Kirsten Connell & Jasmine Bell: Your First Step To Homeownership | Pre-Approval Guide
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Release Date: 07/08/2026
How One Single Mom Bought Her First Home in Hawaiʻi (And You Can Too)
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Can you really afford to buy a home in Hawaiʻi? For many first-time buyers, military families, and veterans, homeownership feels impossible. High home prices, rising HOA fees, insurance costs, and uncertainty about mortgage rates often keep people renting longer than they planned. In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with Uliya Sparks to discuss what it really takes to become a homeowner in Hawaiʻi—and why waiting for the "perfect time" isn't always the best financial decision. Uliya shares her incredible journey from being born in Russia,...
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Buying a Home in Hawaii? Here's What Military Families Need to Know
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Kirsten Connell & Jasmine Bell: Your First Step To Homeownership | Pre-Approval Guide
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
What makes a great Realtor? According to Jasmine Bell and Kirsten Connell of Hawaiʻi Home Group, it's not about selling homes—it's about helping clients make confident, informed financial decisions. In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with two of Oʻahu's top real estate professionals to discuss what it means to put clients first. From military relocations and negotiating incredible deals to helping homeowners maximize equity through strategic renovations, this conversation is packed with practical advice for buyers, sellers, investors, and...
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How Jade Medeiros Balances Four Kids, Client Relationships, and Mortgage Life in Hawaiʻi
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Men’s Mental Health Crisis: Suicide, Depression & Military Mental Health With Mike Melso & Dr. Jenny
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From Growing Up in a Garage to Becoming a Homeowner at 24 with Izaiah Dillion
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Kanani Ching on AI Integration, Small Business Growth, and Running Toward Change
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In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Kanani Ching, a longtime real estate professional and business transformation consultant, to talk about stepping outside your comfort zone, embracing change, and using artificial intelligence to help businesses work smarter without losing the human connection. Kanani shares how her journey from hospitality to real estate leadership eventually led her into the AI industry. She talks about discovering ChatGPT in 2022, recognizing its potential beyond simple writing tasks, and building a business focused on helping...
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In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry sits down with Dearonne Bethea, CEO of Band of Brothers Investment Group, to talk about the journey from humble beginnings in Enfield, North Carolina, to building businesses, investing in real estate, and creating a family office structure with more than $200M in personally managed assets. Dearonne shares how a second chance through the U.S. Army changed the direction of his life. After joining the Army at 19, he found mentorship, discipline, and a new way of thinking about money. A pivotal lesson from his command sergeant major...
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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,...
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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_outlineWhat makes a great Realtor? According to Jasmine Bell and Kirsten Connell of Hawaiʻi Home Group, it's not about selling homes—it's about helping clients make confident, informed financial decisions.
In this episode of In Search of Excellence: Island Style, Larry Gonzales sits down with two of Oʻahu's top real estate professionals to discuss what it means to put clients first. From military relocations and negotiating incredible deals to helping homeowners maximize equity through strategic renovations, this conversation is packed with practical advice for buyers, sellers, investors, and real estate professionals alike.
Jasmine and Kirsten explain why they view themselves as a GPS for their clients—providing expert guidance while empowering buyers and sellers to make the decisions that best fit their goals. They also share how they built Hawaiʻi Home Group, why fiduciary duty is at the center of everything they do, and how long-term relationships matter far more than simply closing transactions.
Whether you're buying your first home, relocating to Hawaiʻi, investing in real estate, or preparing to sell, you'll walk away with valuable insights that can help you make smarter financial decisions.
In This Episode
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Why fiduciary duty should come before commissions
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How Hawaiʻi Home Group was built on trust and teamwork
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The importance of educating—not selling—clients
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Helping military and PCS families make smart housing decisions
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Negotiation strategies that have saved clients tens of thousands of dollars
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How renovations and project management can dramatically increase a home's value
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Why staging and marketing are critical in today's Oʻahu market
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Annual property reviews and treating your home like an investment portfolio
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Giving back to the community through the Hawaiian Humane Society and local charities
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Building lifelong client relationships that extend far beyond the closing table
Episode Chapters
00:00 – Realtor GPS Mindset
01:55 – How Jasmine & Kirsten Got Started in Real Estate
06:58 – Building Hawaiʻi Home Group
10:34 – Fiduciary Duty Before Commissions
19:37 – Understanding the Client Before the House
22:21 – Military Relocation & Referral-Based Business
24:23 – Renovations That Create Equity
29:38 – Giving Back to the Community
36:27 – Winning in Today's Oʻahu Housing Market
42:43 – Why the Relationship Doesn't End at Closing
47:07 – Money, Relationships & Life Lessons
52:06 – Final Thoughts
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