HAWAII ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS

EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES PROVIDED TO ELEVATE AND MAINTAIN THE PROFESSIONAL STANDARDS OF PERSONS ENGAGED IN THE REAL ESTATE BUSINESS. PROVIDED REALTOR DESIGNATION COURSES THROUGH PARTNERSHIP WITH SPECIALTY INSTITUTES, AND LOCAL BOARDS FOR GRI AND STRATEGIES. IN 2023, A TOTAL OF 60 CLASSES WERE OFFERED WITH 1,045 ATTENDEES. A STATEWIDE EVENT ATTRACTED 173 IN-PERSON ATTENDEES AND 29 VIRTUAL PARTICIPANTS. ADDITIONALLY, 8 WEBINARS ON RELEVANT REAL ESTATE TOPICS, LEGAL ISSUES, AND SUBJECTS SPECIFIC TO PRINCIPAL BROKERS AND BROKERS-IN-CHARGE WERE HELD, DRAWING 813 ATTENDEES.

THE HAWAII REALTORS GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS DIVISION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR PROTECTING, PROMOTING, AND ADVANCING THE PUBLIC POLICY INTERESTS AND OBJECTIVES OF REALTORS THROUGH POLITICAL ADVOCACY AND MEMBER PARTICIPATION IN LEGISLATIVE ACTIVITIES, SUCH AS MAINTAINING OPEN LINES OF COMMUNICATION BETWEEN STATE AND GOVERNMENT OFFICALS ON REAL ESTATE ISSUES, BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO CREATE SUPPORT, AND WORKING DIRECTLY WITH MEMBERS TO DETERMINE WHAT ISSUES ARE OF CONCERN TO REAL ESTATE IN HAWAII. THE PRIMARY EFFORT OF THE HAWAII REALTORS' GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS IS AT THE STATE LEVEL, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO THE LEGISLATURE, EXECUTIVE BRANCH AND STATE AGENCIES. HOWEVER, THE DIVISION MAY, FROM TIME TO TIME, BE INVOLVED WITH ISSUES AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL THROUGH THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF REALTORS AND AT THE COUNTY LEVEL. IN 2023, THE GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS COMMITTEE FOCUSED THEIR EFFORTS ON ENSURING INFRASTRUCTURE IS AVAILABLE TO CONVERT ALL CESSPOOLS BY 2050. DURING THE SESSION, THEY TRACKED OVER 781 BILLS, TESTIFIED 135 TIMES, AND COMMITTED OVER 3,908 VOLUNTEER HOURS.