Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Hawaii's Financial Emergency Assistance Programs ハワイにある緊急の経済援助プログラム


Hope everybody is being vigilant about staying safe!
As we are wondering how this help from government will pan out realistically, I would like to share the 5 financial institutions and a few local non-profit organizations that are offering a help during this difficult time.

Herein, I listed :1. Hawaii National Bank, 2. HomeStreet Bank, 3. Hawaii State Federal Credit Union, 4. American Saving Bank, and 5. Central Pacific Bank. Plus, a few of non-profit organizations that offer grants, rental assistance programs and so on. There might be other financial institutions that are offering similar type of emergency assistance program yet these are the ones that explicitly trying to help their customers. Please contact them directly for the details of their programs.

皆さん、おとなしくお家で待機されていますでしょうか?
昨日、トランプ大統領から経済援助の内容の発表がありましたが、ロックダウンの状況の中、ハワイの銀行からのアシスタンスプログラムを以下にリストします。直接各銀行お問い合わせ下さい。



1. Hawaii National Bank / hawaiinational.bank

"WE’RE HERE TO HELP.
The spread of COVID-19 to Hawaii has drastically changed the way we live, work and play. We understand that this may have also changed the financial situation for you, your family and your business. We are committed to assisting our customers and communities, and encourage you to contact your branch, relationship officer, or call us at (808) 528-7800 to discuss the ways we can help." 
2. HomeStreet Bank / homestreet.com
"Home Loan Assistance
If you are having financial difficulties due to the Coronavirus, HomeStreet Bank may be able to help. While we are required to follow your loan investors' guidelines, with a simple telephone call we can generally provide you with important information about possible loan payment options. Please contact one of our dedicated Loan Counselors at 1-844-544-9071. Our hours of operation are Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pacific Time. If you are not able to reach us during these hours, you can also email us at loanservice@homestreet.com and advise us of the best method and time to arrange a call. You may also visit our FAQs page.
Business Lending Assistance
We know this is a very difficult time for businesses and we want you to know we are committed to supporting the communities we serve. HomeStreet Bank may be able to grant existing borrowers’ temporary relief in some circumstances. Please contact your HomeStreet banker or email us at Assistance for Business Loans at ABL@homestreet.com.
The Small Business Administration is offering Disaster Loan Assistance to businesses impacted by COVID-19 with loans up to $2 Million to eligible businesses. Please reach out directly to SBA for SBA Disaster Loan Assistance at disasterloan.sba.gov/ela. " 
3. Hawaii State Federal Credit Union / hawaiistatefcu.com
"Emergency Assistance Loan*
Need financial help? Get access to money with a low rate personal loan with no prepayment penalty for qualifying members.
Deferral of Loan Payments**
Get relief from making scheduled monthly payments, Hawaii State FCU loan payments may be deferred for one to three months for qualifying members. Available on auto and personal loans, including share-secured and term share-secured loans.
Penalty Free Term Share Withdrawals***
Make withdrawals from your term share after the first 6 days of the account term without an early withdrawal penalty. Minimum withdrawal is $500. If your account falls below the $1,000 (minimum balance requirement) the account must be closed. Let us know how we can help. Call (808) 587-2700 for more details.

Disclosures
Program subject to change without prior notice. Certain terms and conditions apply.
* The Emergency Assistance Loan features 0% interest rate and no payments for the first 3 months, with a subsequent interest rate of 8.000% for the remaining 3 years. The blended APR over the entire 39-month term of the loan is 6.845%. A loan of $1,000 will have 36 payments of $31.34 per month, and total interest paid of $128.11. This Emergency Assistance Loan is available to affected Hawaii residents who have been members as of 12/31/2019. Members must meet minimum qualifications established for this special program. This program and rates are effective as of 3/23/2020 and are subject to change at any time without prior notice. Speak to a Hawaii State FCU representative at (808) 587-2700 or at any branch for more information.
** Speak to a Hawaii State FCU representative at (808) 587-2700 for more information.
*** Withdrawals will reduce earnings on the account. Penalty free withdrawals do not apply to IRA Term Shares. Speak to a Hawaii State FCU representative at (808) 587-2700 for more information. "
4. American Savings Bank / asbhawaii.com

"Financial Hardship
We're here for you, and are offering solutions to help customers who may be facing financial hardship due to COVID-19. Customers may receive a loan forbearance, deferment or extension of up to 3 months. We encourage customers who may be impacted or need assistance to reach out by emailing hardship@asbhawaii.com or by calling (808) 846-4645 (unsecured loans –i.e. Personal Unsecured Loans or Lines) and (808) 846-4626 (real estate secured loans – i.e. Mortgages or HELOCs). Please note that we are experiencing high request volume at this time. Our team is working hard to respond to requests as soon as possible. "



5. Central Pacific Bank / cpb.bank
"COVID-19 RELIEF PROGRAMS FOR CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS CPB HAS SEVERAL RELIEF PROGRAMS TO HELP CUSTOMERS AND BUSINESS OWNERS THAT MAY NEED ASSISTANCE GET THROUGH THESE CHALLENGING TIMES. Employment Disruption Loan: Hawaii residents whose employment status has been interrupted may be eligible for our low interest rate, unsecured personal loan from $1,000 to $8,000 with terms of 12 or 24 months. Consumer Loan Deferral: If you are struggling with payments on your Term Loan or Revolving Line of Credit, you may qualify for our 3-month deferral. 
Residential Mortgage Payment Deferral: If you need relief from your residential mortgage payments, our partner, Dovenmuehle (DMI), will work with you on a program.
SBA DISASTER LOAN: The Small Business Administration (SBA) has low-interest, long-term disaster loans available to businesses of all sizes, private non-profit organizations, homeowners, and renters.

Banking Signatories, Online Authorities and Entitlements 
Review your current banking signatories and online authorities and entitlements to ensure banking transactions will not be disrupted.

Hawaii Chamber of Commerce Resources
The Chamber has a frequently updated hub and is hosting webinars for business owners to keep updated during COVID-19.
Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) 
The CDC has recommended strategies for businesses and employers to plan, prepare and respond to COVID-19.
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) 
OSHA offers guidance on preparing a worksite to avoid possible risks.
If you have questions regarding our programs to assist customers dealing with the impact of COVID-19, contact us at COVID19@cpb.bank
To apply, call us at 808-544-0500. To request a deferral, please download pdf here. To request a mortgage payment deferral, call Dovenmuehle (DMI) at 800-669-4268 or visit their loan solution center to register and submit a request - www.loansolutioncenter.com If you have questions regarding our programs to assist customers dealing with the impact of COVID-19, contact us at COVID19@cpb.bank 
BUSINESS BANKING PROGRAMS AND TIPS / SMALL BUSINESS SURVIVAL TIPS Financial Concerns:Contact your trusted Central Pacific Bank Business Officer, Branch Manager and/or Financial Planner to discuss your current situation and financial concerns.(Reference: https://www.cpb.bank/landing/covid-relief-programs)
Other Resources:
Hawaii Home Ownership Center (www.hihomeownership.org)
Helping Hands Hawaii (helpinghandshawaii.org)
Legal Aid Hawaii(legalaidhawaii.org)
(Picture Reference: helpinghandshawaii.org)

For those who need more assistance relating homes(Rental,housing, mortgages, other great programs in Hawaii), go to Hawaii Home Ownership Center (www.hihomeownership.org). HHOC is a non-profit organization that strives to help with home ownership and provides educations. They might be able to navigate you through this challenging time. Please feel free to forward this article to the ones who can benefit from this information. Please stay safe and thank you so much for reading/sharing this info!
上記の銀行以外に、非営業団体のハワイホームオーナシップセンターも参考にされてください。(hihomeownership.org)
皆様くれぐれも身体にご自愛下さい。



Go to my website for quick search! 

*Olena At Hoopili Affordable Housing Application Due on Friday



No Image  
Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone/Text: 808.554.3410






Sunday, March 22, 2020

We should all wear masks and here is why. でかける時はマスクをしましょう!


Hello everyone, hope you are staying safe in this Coronavirus pandemic. My heart drops every time I see the new updates on the wild spread of the virus...

I heard about the shortage of this and that, I would like to do my part to stay away from others, so I won't be the one to bother being helped.

 I have been thinking, seeing not many are already wearing masks, maybe they think it's ok to not wearing one as they are healthy. However, I feel like they are missing the point of the "keeping distance" order. Now that we know some won't show the symptom, those "healthy ones" should also consider wearing masks to stop the spread unknowingly.

Although there is argument about the regular masks not being effective to protect you, or only the ones with symptoms should wear the masks type of recommendations out there, as long as THE MASKS REDUCES THE CHANCE of spreading/getting the virus, why not implementing it?

The below picture is from Smart Air, who educates on antipollution globally and sells the filtration items/devices(smartairfilters.com). I have no affiliation to this organization at all yet I do admire what they do.

The picture shows how small the virus particle can be...

As I live in high rise condo, where we tend to be trapped in the elevator whenever we get to a car, go downstairs to check mails, go shopping...etc...my fear is to get virus in the elevator where there is no way to get 6 feet distance from each other. So, with my clear conscious, I tell my husband to wear masks.

Particle Sizes - Virus Labelled
(Reference from https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/)


Now, with the shortage of the masks happening and all, if you are crafty, or would like to try making one, those are the materials to consider making the mask with. From Vacuum Cleaner Bag to T-shirt, Pillow cases...I am sure you have one or two of them that you can use from the list below.

I tried making one with dish towel, and my husband was cracking up as it looked so humongous on my face, so I will try improving on it. :) My goal is to make a few washable ones so I can re-use it again and again. (As Pastor Wayne's service said, "God is asking for creativity" by enewhope.org.)

Dish towels are by the way, not the most softest material(therefore not so comfortable) that you place on your face, so consider doubling up with T-shirt/ Cotton material as lining.

Homemade Mask Materials Particle Capture Effectiveness

(Reference: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/best-materials-make-diy-face-mask-virus/)

Please stay safe, try covering your mouth/nose in public as the virus can live in the air more than 3 hours. We don't know if there was someone passed the area you just passed has potential of having the notorious virus.

Prayer to the end of all this...
God bless us all.




Go to my website for quick search! 


No Image  
Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone/Text: 808.554.3410

Wednesday, February 12, 2020

What is 1031 Exchange? How it can save you money on Tax? 1031エクスチェンジと呼ばれる税金対策

Tax season again! How's everybody doing with filing process? It feels like just yesterday that we had to go through with it, yet the time of the Tax filing came once again! Tax time makes us think more about saving on tax, and do better for the next filing period. 
税金申告の時期がやってまいりました。皆様いかがお過ごしでしょうか?
時間の立つのは早いもので、税金申告したかと思えば、又時期がやってきました。税金対策の見直しを考えさせられます。

Speaking of which, have you heard of 1031 exchange for investment properties? If you own a property that you are renting, you have an investment property. How's your investment property performing? Are you considering an option to change the investment property? Would you sell it and buy? Or EXCHANGE it if that's an option for you? 

IRS code 1031 allows investors to exchange the property you own with "Like-kind" property with deferral benefit on capital gains taxes on the sold property.
The crazy thing is  that you can exchange properties as much as you would like. 
アメリカの不動産投資物件の税金対策として、1031エクスチェンジという方法があります。ハワイで賃貸物件を所有しており、違う物件に投資をするような場合、現在の所有物件を売って、おいおい違う物件を買うよりもエクスチェンジをすると売却したときの利益にかかる税金の支払いを遅らせることができます。(交換した物件の所有が続く限り税金の支払い期限が来ない。)

However, of course it has rules on the days and if the situation doesn't meet the dead line, you will owe the tax on the capital gain. The whole process from selling the relinquished property to acquiring the replacement properties has to happen within 180 days. 

Now, the current Hawaii market is actually very favorable to try doing the 1031 exchange as the inventory has been stable, which triggered buyer's market. With the on-going low rate on home loans, equity, re-fi and commercial loan rate are relatively lowing also. This might just be the timing for you to consider shopping for good rates IF you need loans. As we always say at our seminars, 1% drop in interest rate saves you significant dollar amounts over time. 
1031エクスチェンジをする場合、全ての条件を満たさない場合はもちろん税金が発生します。交換のプロセスは、既存の物件を売って、代わりの物件の購入までをすべて180日以内で行うことが条件であり、現在のハワイの不動産市場がとても良いため、(市場に十分な物件がある、住宅ローンの利率が良くなっている)

Are you a 1st time home buyer? Need down payment assistance? E-mail me for details.
Buyer's education program is also available through Hawaii Home Ownership Center.

Would you like to help your favorite on-profit organization? Refer us to help the buyers/sellers that you know. We will donate 10% on the proceedings in your name to your favorite non-profit organization!

初めて不動産売買される方必見! 頭金補助プログラム及び購入者のための無料セミナーもございます。(次回セミナー:3月18日)まずはメールにてお問い合わせください。
非営業団体の皆様、今年もご紹介頂き契約が成立したときの利益の10%の寄付を行っています。お友達、お知り合いの方で不動産の売り買い、投資のヘルプ及びサポートが必要な方をご紹介下さい。

#realtorwhocares #philanthropyrealtors #Honoluluhomes #Honoluluhawaii #Hawaiihomes #Hawaiirealestate #c21iproeprtieshawaii #1031exchangeinhawaii #Helpinghawaiibuyerssellers #ハワイに住む人を助ける #ハワイの不動産情報 #ハワイの投資物件 #投資物件の税金対策


Go to my website for quick search! 


No Image  
Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone/Text: 808.554.3410

Thursday, February 6, 2020

Mortgage Rates are falling! This means a discount on the House of your dream! 住宅ローンの金利低下でお家のコストをセーブする!


Hope everybody has been staying safe and well! Due to the Corona Virus breakout (Among other things), the mortgage rates have been dropping to favor the current home buyers/ exchangers /investors. What does this mean for Hawaii real estate? Herein, the stats from January market result and report from Honolulu Board of REALTORS®.

皆様お元気でいらっしゃいますでしょうか?コロナウイルスのニュースが広がる中で、住宅ローンの利率が落ちてきています。ハワイに不動産購入(住居、投資)を考えられている方には好ましい傾向ですが、ハワイの実際の不動産状況も見てみましょう。以下、ホノルル不動産協会からの2020年1月の結果のレポートです。

“We continue to see a healthy real estate market with a moderate uptick in sales and a small increase in median days on market,” said Tricia Nekota, president, Honolulu Board of REALTORS®. “Both single family home and condominium sales were most active in the affordable to mid-range price categories, which is encouraging, especially for first-time home buyers.” Although new listings were down 18.9% compared to last year, the new listing volume in January 2019 was notably higher than any other January since 2009. Median days on market was 35 days for single family homes and 33 days for condos last month marking the first time since 2014 that monthly median days on market has been above 30 days. Approximately 41% of single-family home sales occurred in the $600,000-$799,999 price range. This price range also represented the most significant jump in sales volume at 19.8% or 18 more sales compared to January 2019. The most substantial portion of condominium sales occurred in the $300,000- $499,999 price range, while a 51.7% increase in sales volume occurred in the $400,000-$599,999 price range." 

概要:一軒家、及びコンドミニアムの売買が共に活発な中、やはり人気のある価格帯は3千万円辺りから6千万円辺り。新しく市場に出てくる物件が前年度と比べると18.9%少なくなっているものの、前年度2019年の市場の物件数はあまりにも多く、その数は2009年以来の高い数値でありました。市場に出ている物件の日数が30日以上であるのも2014年以来。

The sales data shows the popular price range of $300K-$600K. Due to the hype of luxury condos in Honolulu, people in general tend to feel timid on the price point when it comes to home purchases, especially in Hawaii, yet you might just be pleasantly surprised when you find out what you can afford with today's low interest rate. It wouldn't hurt to start talking to your loan officer and see where it takes you. Time is money!
結局、人気のある価格帯は3千万円から6千万円代。高級コンドミニアムが多く売買される中で、ハワイは物件が高すぎるというイメージがありますが、現在の下がってきている利率で、もしかすると意外に買える物件がでてきているかもしれません。これを機会にローンの査定をしてみてはいかがでしょうか?

Announcement! FREE First Time Home Buyer Seminar from Abe Lee Seminar Room!
Join us for the 1st time home buyer seminar on March 18th, 2020 (6p.m.~) at Abe Lee Seminar Room. We will also introduce Down Payment Assistance Program from Hawaii Home Ownership Center. Please RSVP to hitomi808ozawa@gmail.com or hihomebuyer808@gmail.com. 

初めてハワイで物件の購入をお考えの方、ぜひご参加下さい!参加は無料!
3月18日(水曜日)午後6時 ハワイで初めてお家を買う方のためのセミナーをエイブリーセミナールームにて行います。要予約。参加無料。お友達、ご家族とお気軽に参加下さい。非営業団体のハワイホームオーナーシップセンターからのローンオフィサーをお呼びして、頭金援助プログラム等、特別なプログラムの紹介もございます。Eメールにてご予約下さい。hitomi808ozawa@gmail.com/hihomebuyer808@gmail.com


StatsInfo_Jan2020.png (800×626)

Are you a 1st time home buyer? Need down payment assistance? E-mail me for details.
Buyer's education program is also available through Hawaii Home Ownership Center.

初めて不動産売買される方必見! 頭金補助プログラム及び購入者のための無料セミナーもございます。(次回セミナー:3月18日)まずはメールにてお問い合わせください。


Go to my website for quick search! 


No Image  
Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone/Text: 808.554.3410



Friday, January 24, 2020

Our heroes living in Hawaii needed this! NO LIMIT ON VA LOAN!!

Happy Chinese New Year! It's said that the year of Rat has a meaning of trying something new, what's the new thing you would like to try this year? 

ハッピーチャイニーズニューイヤー!ネズミの年というのは、新しいことにトライするという年らしいですが、皆様は何か新しいことを試す予定などありますか?

Well, VA(Veterans Affair) loan also has something new! Everyone was talking about this new rule. Let me list it herein:
アメリカでは、以前軍人として働かれていた、あるいは現在も軍人として働いているという方に特有のベテランアフエアーローン(VAローン)というものがあります。今年の新しいルールをお教えします。

The most significant change is that there won't be any limit to the full entitlement VA loan. What does it mean?? If you are eligible for VA loan and qualified, you can take out however much you need it. Last year, the limit was $726,525. It makes sense for Hawaii not having the limit to the VA loan as the house price in Hawaii, is already more than the amount than it was allowed.
(VA limit $726,525< Average house price in Hawaii $820,000) You can see the graph below as a reference how stably value of properties go up in Honolulu, Hawaii. Although there is no limit on the VA loan itself, please consult with a loan officer how much you can comfortably afford the house of your dreams!

一番の大きな違いはやはり、そのローンに限度額がなくなったということ。以前は借り入れの限度額が$726,525でした。ハワイは物件の価格が他の州に比べとても高いため(一軒家物件価格の平均は$820,000)限度額を設けていないという変更はとても良いですね。下記のグラフでもおわかりいただけると思いますが、毎年物件の価値が順調に上がり続けるのはハワイだからこそのメリットと言えるでしょう。

Median sales prices also increased for both single-family homes and condominiums in December, up 4.1% to $820,000 for homes, and 6.8% to $425,500 for condos. - Honolulu Board of Realtors Market Report)




Are you a 1st time home buyer? Need down payment assistance? E-mail me for details.
Buyer's education program is also available through Hawaii Home Ownership Center.

初めて不動産売買される方必見! 頭金補助プログラム及び購入者のための無料セミナーもございます。(次回セミナー:3月18日)まずはメールにてお問い合わせください。



Go to my website for quick search! 


No Image  
Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone: 808.554.3410


Thursday, January 16, 2020


Happy New Year of 2020!
May this year be the most joyful and prosperous year for you! (..and if it was the best year you've ever seen at the end of this year, I will wish the same for the next year too! :) )
新年あけましておめでとうございます。今年の皆様の喜びと繁栄に満ちた年をお祈りさせていただきます。

So we had the recap on the Kakaako Developments and updates on the New Developments at Honolulu Board of Realtor meeting.
As the Central Ala Moana (The recent affordable housing project) has been completely sold out, the honorable developer Sam Koo was requested to provide a speech and it was...emotional. (Well..to me at least)
ホノルルの不動産協会のミーティングで新しいプロジェクト及び既存のプロジェクトのアップデート等のプレゼンテーションがありました。弊社の中低所得者向けに発売されたThe Central Ala Moana の完売を祝して、開発者のサムクー氏からの挨拶がありました。(とても良いスピーチで、感動しました。)

I have been a licensed realtor only for 7 years and have seen people coming and going as I have witnessed how strong Hawaii Oahu market has been.

The partnership of the developer of Sam Koo and real estate licensing /continuing education educator and owner/broker of Century 21 iProperties Hawaii(www.century21ipropertieshawaii.com), Abe Lee was the perfect marriage to say the least. They both aimed to serve this community with 1000% dedication to fill the critical affordable housing needs in the heart of Oahu. This project was 60% affordable units while other affordable projects were averaging 30-40% affordable units in the building. Also, what was so touchy was that he stated that interior designs are exactly the same throughout the units, either affordable or market units. So the neighbors who interact each other either going to visit market units or affordable units won't see any difference (Other than having the restrictions on the affordable housing rules like 10 year buy back and equity sharing).
この中・低所得者をターゲットにして開発されたセントラルのプロジェクトは、不動産プロフェッショナルの教育及び育成に携わるエイブリー氏とのとてもふさわしいコンビで、ハワイ不動産業者の手本となる住民を助けることをまず第一に考えたプロジェクトでした。通常低所得者のためという文句で宣伝しているプロジェクトでも、せいぜいビルの30%ー40%のユニットがターゲットで、サムクー氏のコミュニティーを助けるという熱い思いがマーケットユニットとの差別をしないデザインにまで反映されました。

Sam Koo mentioned that there will be another project coming in the future. I bet everybody is anxious to see what's next.

次回の中・低所得者を対象にしたプロジェクトも弊社とのコンビでプランをしているということなので、ご興味のある方はメールにてお問い合わせ下さい。


(Source: hicentral.com Oahu Monthly Statistical Report, December 2019)

This report is extracted directly from the Honolulu Board of Realtor website to show what price range has the most sales, and THAT's what our community needs for the most working population.
ホノルルの不動産協会からのレポートです(12月2019年結果)。一番売れている値段の枠が人気のある価格帯であることがわかります。


初めて不動産売買される方必見。頭金補助プログラム及び購入者のための無料セミナーもございます。まずはメールにてお問い合わせください。


No ImageHitomi Ozawa Simmons
                      ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)
Email : hitomi808ozawa@gmail.com
Mobile/Text : 808-554-3410
Office : 808-791-1020
www.ipropertieshawaii.com




Saturday, August 10, 2019

Continue to show the Buyer Favored Market!


How's everybody doing in this hot summer?
Oahu Real Estate Market is also showing the favorable factors for both sellers and buyers.
Oahu Real Estate has been showing the stable growth both sellers and buyers would like to see, and plus low interest rate on home loans work perfectly to get into real estate or trade up.
暑い夏が続いていますが、皆様お元気でいらっしゃいますでしょうか?
7月のオアフ不動産統計、売り手にも買い手にも良い条件がそろっていたと言えるでしょう。順調に成長し続けています。さらには引き続き住宅ローンの金利が控えめトレンドのため、売買をされる予定のある方はぜひローンオフィサーと相談されて見てください。ローンオフィサーの紹介も承っております。

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Are you a 1st time home buyer? Need down payment assistance? E-mail me for details.
Buyer's education program is also available through Hawaii Home Ownership Center.
初めて不動産売買される方必見! 頭金補助プログラム及び購入者のための無料セミナーもございます。まずはメールにてお問い合わせください。



Go to my website for quick search! 




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Hitomi Ozawa Simmons
 ([RA] RE Lic# RS-74864)

1585 Kapiolani Blvd, Suite 1533
Phone: 808.554.3410