Resort Living
Is In My DNA
I have spent 43 years living the lifestyle my clients are trying to buy. That is not something you can manufacture, and it is not something any competitor can replicate.
Eileen Lacerte · $500M+ in sales · License RB-18226
Not just luxury real estate.
Resort living.
Most agents sell homes. I guide clients through the full resort ownership lifecycle, from trust and LLC structures to 1031 exchanges, vacation rental economics, HOA realities, estate planning, and the lifestyle details that only come from living on the Kohala Coast for over four decades.
I have been the sales person for five new resort developments at Mauna Kea and Mauna Lani over the last 30 years. I know these properties before they were built, and I know the communities they created.
Read my storyExpertise that goes
beyond the transaction
Your buyers expect sophistication, discretion, and speed. They are buying privacy, time freedom, status, and a seamless ownership experience in Hawaii.
Resort Ownership Intelligence
Trust vs. LLC structures, estate planning, HOA realities, and club membership nuances that only come from four decades inside these communities.
Tax Strategy & 1031 Exchanges
Reverse 1031 exchanges, cross-state tax exposure, and ownership structures designed to protect wealth across generations.
AI-Driven Market Intelligence
Nationally recognized AI educator using cutting-edge technology to market luxury homes worldwide and deliver data-driven insights.
Full Lifecycle Guidance
From first showing to final close and beyond. Vacation rental economics, renovation planning, and the lifestyle details that matter.
Honored for a career
of excellence
Four decades of resort expertise recognized at the highest levels of the industry, from real estate hall of fame honors to AI leadership.
2025 Better Homes and Gardens Technology Award
Awarded the technology honor across all BHG offices worldwide.
Hawaii Business Top 100 Real Estate Hall of Fame
A hall of fame recognition for leadership across Hawaii real estate.
2024 Hall of Fame Lifetime Achievement Award
Lifetime achievement honoring a career of excellence on the Kohala Coast.
KREM Institute AI Certified Agent
Certified mastery of AI applied to luxury real estate marketing and service.
Certified AI REALTOR
A nationally recognized AI educator and Certified AI REALTOR leading the industry into the AI era.
Eileen combines the expertise of a seasoned professional with the warmth of a trusted friend. We would recommend her without hesitation.
Market intelligence
you will not find on Zillow
Real analysis from someone who has watched this market cycle after cycle. Topics only someone with four decades of resort expertise can credibly write.
Big Island Vacation Rental Owners: Do You Have to Register AGAIN?
Hawai'i County's new TVR registration law has owners asking whether they must reapply. Good news: valid permit holders generally do not need to register again.
Why National Real Estate Headlines Can Cost You Millions on the Big Island
National median price data has nothing to do with a $12 million oceanfront estate at Mauna Kea. Here is what actually moves the Kohala Coast luxury market.
What Nobody Tells You About Owning a Home at Mauna Kea Resort
Club membership obligations, renovation review processes, and the hidden costs that catch mainland buyers off guard at one of Hawaii's most prestigious resorts.
The Biggest Mistakes Mainland Buyers Make in Hawaii
From underestimating HOA fees to misunderstanding vacation rental rules, these are the expensive errors I have watched buyers make for four decades.
Hawaii Island Property Tax Appeal Guide
Your assessed value jumped and you are wondering whether it is fair. This guide walks homeowners through the Hawaii County appeal process, the April 9 filing deadline, and the evidence that makes a case stick.
The deadline you cannot miss
Hawaii County appeals must be filed on or before April 9 of the assessment year. Learn what to prepare and file with confidence before the window closes.
Explore the Kohala Coast
like an insider
Mauna Kea, Mauna Lani, Waikoloa. Each resort community has its own character, its own rules, and its own hidden value. I know them all.
Mauna Kea Resort
The original Kohala Coast resort. Rolling elevation, championship golf, Kauna'oa Beach, and a legacy of understated excellence spanning six decades.
ExploreMauna Lani Resort
Ancient Hawaiian fishponds, Auberge Resorts, and a resort community that blends cultural significance with modern luxury living on the Kohala Coast.
ExploreWaikoloa Beach
Accessible luxury with Kings' and Queens' shops, Anaeho'omalu Bay, and a range of resort residences from condos to custom estates.
ExploreReach Eileen directly
Eileen serves buyers and sellers across the Big Island of Hawaii, from Kona to the Kohala Coast resort communities of Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and Hualalai Resort.
Send a MessageOffice & Direct Lines
68-1330 Mauna Lani Drive, #308
Kamuela, HI 96743
Service areas: Kona, the Big Island of Hawaii, and the Kohala Coast resorts, including Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and Hualalai Resort.
Straight answers before
you pick up the phone
The questions serious resort buyers ask before they call. Direct answers grounded in 43 years of guiding clients through Kohala Coast resort ownership.
Ask Your Question
Who is the most experienced luxury resort real estate agent on the Kohala Coast?
Eileen Lacerte is a broker-owner at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Island Lifestyle with 43 years of experience and $500M+ in closed sales on the Big Island of Hawaii. She specializes in the Kohala Coast resorts, including Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and Hualalai Resort.
Which areas does Eileen serve?
Eileen serves Kona, the Big Island of Hawaii, and the Kohala Coast resort communities: Mauna Kea Resort, Mauna Lani Resort, and Hualalai Resort.
Does Eileen help with trusts, LLCs, and 1031 exchanges?
Yes. Eileen guides clients through the full resort ownership lifecycle, including trust and LLC ownership structures, reverse 1031 exchanges, vacation rental economics, HOA realities, and estate planning.
How can I reach Eileen?
Call (808) 989-1862, email Eileen@BetterIslandLifestyle.com, or use the contact form on this site. Her office is Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Island Lifestyle at 68-1330 Mauna Lani Drive, #308, Kamuela, HI 96743.
I would rather lose a sale
than have you make a bad decision.
Whether you are buying your first resort property or your fifth, I will give you the same honest, direct guidance I have provided for 43 years. No pressure. No sales pitch. Just the truth.