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Justin Willingham

To Waianae from Michigan

Justin was a beloved member of Team Lally who WE tragically lost much too early in 2011. Although he is gone, We’ve chosen to include his interview in this book in order to help his spirit and expertise live on.

Please tell me a little bit about yourself.

I’m a single 21 year old with no children. I repair computers for RE/MAX as well personal computers. I was born in Macomb, Michigan, which is highly known for General Motors.

How long have you lived in Waianae?

I’ve lived in Waianae for 6 months. But when I was younger I lived here for 3 years.

Is your home a house or condominium?

My rental home is a 5-bedroom, 1-bathroom house.

Where is Waianae and what is it like as a community?

It’s set far back toward the west side of the island. It’s in a very quiet location.

Is Waianae more of an urban or suburban environment?

I think it’s more suburban because it’s not a huge city. It’s also very laid back.

Do you worry about crime in Waianae?

Yes, crime is everywhere. I just do not choose to seek it out.

Was it hard to meet people when you moved to Waianae?

It was hard because I normally stay to myself. But soon I started to love the people and began to open up.

Do you work in the city of Honolulu? What’s your commute like?

I currently work in Kapolei and the bus takes a while but it’s actually nice to have “me” time.

Would you have any advice for the newcomer regarding transportation or traffic in Waianae and the city of Honolulu?

For Honolulu, don’t be a person with “Road Rage” because from 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. the traffic is horrible. Really the bus is the most amazing thing on the Island. It’s cheap and much less expensive then gas.

What surprised you most about moving to and living in Waianae?

The cost of rent for the 5-bedroom house I live in is $1,750 per month.

What would you say is the one “can’t miss” event or place that a family living in Waianae and Hawaii should be sure to experience?

I guess the “can’t miss event” is during the holidays. The people of Hawaii band together to take care of each other. That is really a true event … to see people helping each other.

What places should you avoid if you don’t want to see a lot of tourists?

Ha, ha. Waikiki. But really the Island is a mixture of everything and without tourists Hawaii would not be Hawaii. So WE must take pride that WE are not in as bad of shape financially as the rest of the U.S. So WE embrace the tourists!

Did you live in Hawaii before you moved to Waianae and, if so, how would you compare where you lived before and living in your neighborhood?

The funny thing is I’ve always lived in Waianae, even when I lived here before as a child. Being from the mainland I’d much rather live in a city environment. The quiet calm area just isn’t enough for me.

Do you have a favorite restaurant in Waianae or in other parts of Honolulu?

Yes, a small little place called Waianae Chinese Kitchen. They have the most amazing food. Also, in Ala Moana the Curry House is a place that I’ve just discovered.

Is there anything that you don’t like about living in Waianae or living in Hawaii?

The fact that it takes almost 2 hours to get into town, and an hour to get to Kapolei.

Testimonials

“Aloha, I am in the Coast Guard and my husband is a self employed landscaper, together we are very hard workers, but we aren’t the only ones. Team Lally is a hardworking real estate team who deliver exception customer service, care about their customers needs, remain patient and cater to customers ultimate desire. We purchased a beautiful home in Makakilo August 2012. When Team Lally showed us the house for the first time, we said “this is the one we want and we will wait a year if we have to.” Team Lally understood our end desire, accommodated us, and didn’t try to detour us into another purchase. They remained patient and informative through the short sale process and in the end, six months later, we got the house we wanted and felt relieved that we had an outstanding team who assisted us in making our dreams come true. Thank you Team Lally, I will always refer your team and I hope others will trust in your team as we did. Mahalo Crystal & Sandro”
Crystal & Sandro