Laurie Higashi

Laurie Higashi is a fourth generation Hawaii Islander, born and raised in Hilo. She earned her BA in journalism and mass communication at Drake University, then moved to San Francisco, where she enjoyed successful careers in the music business and wellness industry. After 25 years in the Bay Area, she returned to Hawaii to be closer to her family and to learn the real estate development business from her father, who has been developing subdivisions on the Big Island for four decades.

Since earning her real estate license in 2017, Laurie served as the exclusive listing agent for Honoli’i Ocean View Estates on the Hamakua Coast, Ola Hou Estates in Kea’au, and Waiakea Nani Estates in Hilo, the latter two of which she helped develop. She has also built and sold a few spec houses, which allowed her to experience the home building process firsthand. Building a home on the Big Island can be challenging, and Laurie is happy to share her knowledge with her clients.

An empath by nature, Laurie has a passion for helping others and believes in the importance of giving back to the community. She serves on the Board of Directors for Hawaii Island Realtors (2022-23) and is active on the Government Affairs Committee, working on issues that impact homeowners on Hawaii Island. She is an active member of the Hilo chapter of Zonta International, a global organization focusing on issues that affect women and girls. She is also a member of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, the Japanese Chamber of Commerce, and the Japanese Community Association.

When she’s not helping her clients find their dream homes or developing the subdivisions on which to build them, Laurie enjoys adventuring to new places, seeking out culinary experiences, supporting the arts, hanging out with her cats, and spending time with her husband and friends on this beautiful island she is lucky to call home.