Hanalei North Shore Properties gets back to Hanalei, finally

It was deja vu all over again as the leaders of Hanalei North Shore Properties finally were able to establish an office in the town bearing their name.

A blessing was held last week for the new Hanalei office of Hanalei North Shore Properties, located in the historic Tahiti Nui building right along Kuhio Highway in the heart of town.

Hanalei North Shore Properties has come a long way since being established by Roberta Haas and Mimsy Bouret in Princeville in 1980 in the Haas garage.

Haas, principal broker of Hanalei North Shore Properties, established in 1977 in Hanalei a North Shore branch office of Kauai Realty in a converted tool shed on property owned by the late Larry Ching, Haas said.

At that time, there were only three real-estate professionals on the North Shore, Susan Wilson and Jack Ewing, Tom Alburger, Haas recalled. The late Tom Alburger was broker in charge, and Haas remembers having a hard time convincing the Lihu‘e-based leaders of Kauai Realty there was enough business on the North Shore to justify having an office there.

“Within three years, it was flourishing,” Haas said of the Kauai Realty North Shore branch. After Larry Ching saw the success Haas was having, he asked her in 1978 to teach his son Mike Ching the real-estate business, which she did.

Mike Ching, now vice chairman of the Kaua‘i Police Commission, went on to be founder of NaPali Properties, at the same location as the Hanalei branch of Kauai Realty.

In 1980, Hanalei North Shore Properties was founded, the founders, Gordon Haas, Roberta Haas and Mimsy Bouret, established their first office in Bouret’s spare bedroom, and then into Haas’ garage in Princeville, unable to find space in Hanalei. Gordon Haas, Roberta Haas’ husband, was the first broker of Hanalei North Shore Properties, and introduced Roberta Haas to Mimsy Bouret. The two women have been partners in Hanalei North Shore Properties for nearly 25 years.

Princeville officials encouraged them to move into the Princeville Shopping Center, which they eventually did, in 1986. “And it was the best thing that ever happened to the company,” Roberta Haas said.

The business grew so quickly that the ladies found themselves having to hire additional agents, bookkeepers and secretaries. For a time, Hanalei North Shore Properties was the North Shore’s only vacation-rental company, Haas said. It is still the oldest real estate company on the North Shore, celebrating 25 years in January of 2005.

Today, Hanalei North Shore Properties has 18 real-estate agents, five employees, and over 100 rental properties under management.

In the first quarter of 2002, the company placed first in residential sales volume on the island, and for two years in a row was named 11th on a statewide list of women-owned businesses in Hawai‘i, as part of Pacific Business News’ “Women Who Mean Business” recognition program.

Today, there are over 550 real-estate professionals on the island, and probably 100 or more working on the North Shore, she said. When Hanalei North Shore Properties was founded, there were probably 50 agents on the island, and just three to five on the North Shore.

“After 24 years, we’re finally getting back to Hanalei,” said Haas.

Also in the Tahiti Nui building, managed by Christian Marston, are the Tahiti Nui bar, Planet Activities and Hanalei Trading Company. The late Louise Marston came from Tahiti, and established Tahiti Nui around 40 years ago. Over the years, the successful operation expanded to include a weekly lu‘au, Haas said. Haas said the Princeville Shopping Center headquarters will remain operational.

Co-managers of the Hanalei location of Hanalei North Shore Properties are Courtney Haas Welborn and Bob Lendahl. Contact them at 826-7703, fax 826-7706, e-mail hnsp07@hiinfo.net. Around 40 people turned out for the blessing, conducted by Kelvin Ho.

Paul C. Curtis, associate editor, may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@pulitzer.net.