Hiring a Property Manager in Hawaii: Important Do’s & Don’ts for Owners

Hiring a property manager in Hawaii is one of the most important decisions an owner can make — especially for those who live out of state or rent their property long-term or as a vacation rental. Hawaii has unique legal, safety, and operational requirements, and choosing the wrong property manager can quickly become expensive. Below is a practical list of do’s and don’ts for hiring a property manager in Hawaii, based on real-world experience managing properties across the islands.

Do Hire a Licensed Property Manager in Hawaii (It’s the Law)

In Hawaii, do hire a property manager or a trusted representative to be your local, boots on the ground. This is for security and safety reasons, should something happen. Flood and fires are real. You also want someone who is making sure routine services are getting done properly, like repairs and yard service. When owners are away for extended periods of time, things can go wrong or often do not get done to standard, when they are not monitored and checked. Shoddy repairs are also real if not checked before payment is disbursed.

Why Local, On-the-Ground Property Management Matters

Most owners will find out very quickly that appointing an unlicensed person to oversee their house requires a lot more work than that person has bargained for if they are not compensated for it. The end result is that things get overlooked and deferred because the person who is appointed doesn’t feel like it’s worth their time if they are not getting paid adequately or at all. Worse, they are not trained and don’t know how to work through issues and challenges that could lead to costly and litigious expenses for an out of town owner.

Hawaii Property Management Fees: What Is Normal?

Property management fees in Hawaii vary depending on the rental type and level of service. Typical market rates are:

• 10% for long-term rentals
• 25% for short-term or vacation rentals (under 180 days)

Hiring a professional, full-time property management company ensures your asset is protected, compliant, and performing at its highest potential.

What Professional Property Management Services Should Include

• Tenant screening and background checks
• Coordination of repairs and maintenance
• Cleaning and turnover management
• Monthly bookkeeping and financial reporting
• GET and TAT tax filing assistance
• Monthly bill payment for vendors (yard, pest, pool, etc.)
• Guest and tenant communication
• Emergency response (fires, floods, damage claims)
• Coordination with insurance adjusters
• Market rent analysis and rate optimization

Our team is extensive. We have reservationists for short-term rentals, a full-time accounting staff, vetted vendors who service our properties, as well as a dedicated upper management team that keep us updated regularly on market trends, new laws, and issues we need to know about to best service you.

Don’t Hire an Unvetted or Unlicensed Property Manager

Don’t hire someone without verifying licensing, references, and experience managing properties in Hawaii. Property management here is complex, and untrained or unlicensed individuals often miss critical issues that lead to deferred maintenance, tenant disputes, or legal exposure. We can provide you with a list of properties we successfully manage and testimonials from very happy clients.

We are trained, licensed, and full-time. This is what we do day in and day out with over 30 years of combined experience. We have an extensive portfolio on Oahu and have experienced many different scenarios that have led us to our success in handling any task that comes our way. We have units in high-rise condominium buildings, low-rise resort areas, and beautiful estates woven throughout Oahu’s gorgeous shoreline, as well some of the most prestigious neighborhoods on the island. We offer a very personal level of service to our clients and manage our properties as we would manage our own. Nothing less than the best.

What Our Clients Say About Our Hawaii Property Management Services

“As a long-time Realtor and investor, I know the value of a good property manager. Attention to detail, good communication skills, and a proactive and responsive attitude are just a few of the characteristics I seek when it comes time to employing a professional who will be managing one of my biggest assets. Fortunately, I’ve found two of the best professionals in the business – Diana Ricciuti and Jill Lawrence. They’re not only experienced and consummate professionals, they are also wonderful human beings who truly care for their clients, the properties they manage, and the communities in which they serve. I have complete trust in their ability to provide the utmost in professional service, and even more importantly, peace of mind knowing that my properties are in their capable hands.”

Cherie Tsukamoto, R, ABR, CRB, CRS, GRI, SRES
Broker-in-Charge (RB-14911)
Hawaii Life

Here is a link to just a few of the gorgeous properties we manage in our portfolio:

• Lei Ali’i
• Castle Surf PH#61
• Turtle Bay #150 East
• Turtle Bay #146 West

Why Experience Matters in Hawaii Property Management

Do contact us for a personal chat about our services. We are not pushy sales people and we are not interested in a massive portfolio to add to our numbers. We are seeking quality owners who expect quality agents to personally manage their assets with an upscale boutique approach. See this link for our presentation with details about what we can do to help you achieve success.

When to Hire a Property Manager (Don’t Wait)

Don’t put off hiring a seasoned professional. Once you do, you will soon realize that you will be on the winning streak to start earning untapped potential and eliminating a lot of unnecessary headaches that an expert, trained agent is able to handle for you. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hiring a seasoned property manager in Hawaii isn’t an expense — it’s an investment in peace of mind, compliance, and long-term performance. The sooner you bring in an experienced professional, the faster you eliminate stress and unlock the full potential of your property. See our related blog about investments on Oahu.