How One Single Mom Bought Her First Home in Hawaiʻi (And You Can Too)
In Search of Excellence, Island Style
Release Date: 07/22/2026
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info_outlineCan 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, choosing adoption at a young age, serving in the U.S. Army, and building a successful federal cybersecurity career before purchasing her first home in Ho'opili using her VA home loan benefit. She explains how refinancing at the right time helped lower her payment, the lessons she learned about homeowners insurance and HOA costs, and how long-term planning made homeownership possible.
The conversation goes far beyond real estate. Uliya also opens up about leaving the security of a GS-14 federal career to follow a greater purpose through entrepreneurship, launching her nonprofit Cyber Seeds and cybersecurity consulting company Reckless Technologies. Throughout the episode, Larry and Uliya discuss faith, courage, leadership, resilience, and trusting God's direction during life's biggest transitions.
Whether you're thinking about buying your first home, transitioning out of the military, building a business, or simply looking for encouragement to take your next step, this episode is packed with practical wisdom and inspiring perspective.
In This Episode
- Buying a first home in Hawaiʻi
- VA loans and military homeownership
- Affording life in Hawaiʻi
- Refinancing and mortgage strategy
- HOA fees, insurance, and hidden ownership costs
- From Russia to America: Uliya's adoption story
- Army service and building a federal career
- Leaving a GS-14 career for entrepreneurship
- Cybersecurity, AI, and protecting people online
- Faith, surrender, leadership, and finding purpose
Episode Chapters
00:00 Meet Uliya Sparks
00:33 Buying Her First Home in Hawaiʻi
03:25 Refinancing at the Right Time
05:20 Sticker Shock: The Reality of Hawaiʻi Home Prices
06:07 Growing Up in Russia & Choosing Adoption
07:07 Why She Joined the Army
10:08 Army Life & Logistics
12:38 Building a Career in Cybersecurity
14:41 Becoming a Single Mom
15:17 Advancing to GS-14
17:46 Why She Rented Before Buying
20:02 Homeowners Insurance Challenges
27:57 HOA Fees & Community Living
33:29 Making Hawaiʻi Affordable
34:16 Leaving Government for Entrepreneurship
36:16 Following a New Calling
37:05 Young Adults & Financial Mindset
39:14 Taking a Leap of Faith
40:10 Parenting in a Technology-Driven World
44:04 Surrender Over Fear
46:28 Building Community
49:31 Anger, Ego & Personal Growth
58:49 Mentorship & Trusted Relationships
1:03:29 Burnout & Discovering Purpose
1:07:16 Launching Reckless Technologies
1:11:51 Final Thoughts
Connect with Uliya Sparks
🌐 Cyber Seeds
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