1 rich Libsyn https://www.libsyn.com 90 600 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. &amp;nbsp; 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. &amp;nbsp; 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. &amp;nbsp; 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. &amp;nbsp; 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. &amp;nbsp; 🤙 Follow Larry Gonzales and In Search of Excellence: Island Style for more conversations with Hawaii leaders, entrepreneurs, and industry experts. In Search of Excellence, Island Style https://sites.libsyn.com/613475 <iframe title="Libsyn Player" style="border: none" src="//html5-player.libsyn.com/embed/episode/id/41058315/height/90/theme/custom/thumbnail/yes/direction/forward/render-playlist/no/custom-color/88AA3C/" height="90" width="600" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen webkitallowfullscreen mozallowfullscreen oallowfullscreen msallowfullscreen></iframe> https://assets.libsyn.com/secure/content/201310405