I began my real estate career in Hawaii in 1998, working in brokerage, management, and investment before ultimately viewing the profession through the lens of a principal rather than a practitioner. Early in my career, I acquired and restored distressed properties and went on to develop condominium projects, estate properties, and private infrastructure systems—experience that shaped a long-term, operator-level understanding of real estate markets.
In 2008, I co-founded Hawaii Life with a clear vision: that real estate marketing, data transparency, and consumer experience were about to change fundamentally. From the outset, Hawaii Life invested heavily in technology, design, and data—becoming one of the first firms in the state to aggregate statewide MLS listings, integrate public-record data, and build proprietary search software tailored specifically to Hawaii.
Today, Hawaii Life is a locally owned, fiercely independent brokerage with more than 300 agents across 20 offices statewide. The firm has represented over 20,000 buyers and sellers, brokered some of the largest residential transactions in Hawaii’s history, and operates one of the most heavily trafficked real estate websites in the state.
In 2020, Hawaii Life co-founded Forbes Global Properties in partnership with Forbes Media, creating a global network of elite, locally owned brokerages. I currently serve as Chair of the Board.
I remain an active practicing broker, working directly with clients in Hawaii’s top-tier residential market. My work is focused on complex, high-value transactions that require discretion, market fluency, and long-term perspective. I often advise clients whose decisions in Hawaii sit alongside broader portfolio, lifestyle, and legacy considerations.
In addition to my brokerage work, I serve as Chair of the Board of Forbes Global Properties, a global consortium of elite, locally owned brokerages, and remain actively involved in leadership and philanthropy across Hawaii.
Aloha,
Matt
