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, My name is Bryon Tucker. My wife and I sold our home via Short Sale with Remax Team Lally. We are very pleased with the sale! I have had the pleasure of working with Adrienne & Attilio for the past several years. They work hard and educate themselves. There is nobody in this business that works harder, studies more, and has the experience to sell your home.! And their marketing systems is second to none!! They make it easy….they handle the banks for you…so you don’t have to! When it comes to selling your home in distress, do what I did! Sell your home with Remax Team Lally! Yay!!!!”
“Mrs Lally was very aggressive with advertising and putting our home out there. She sold our house 5 days after listing. Wow! We were excited and very impressed with her quick sale. We will definetly use her services again when we sell our next home.”
“Team Lally is an excellent team! They know their stuff, they are true professionals, and they care about their clients needs before they care about making themselves that extra $$$$. They treat you like family even after the sale of you home!”
“Team Lally did a wonderful job selling our home and answering all of our questions and concerns! Howard and Christopher have been there for my every need even after the sale of my home! A wonderful crew over there!”
“My husband and I worked with Cherie Fikani. Amazing customer service. She was always available to answer questions in person, emails, texts and phonecalls. My husband and I never had to wait on a response or ask for an update. She was always well prepared.I like that she was patient… understanding even. She listens to the specifics and works with us on it without rushing us through. This experience could have been a scary ride but Cherie made sure nothing takes away the excitement of buying a home.Mahalo Nui Mrs. Fikani I would most definitely recommend TEAM LALLY to family and friends.”
“Adrienne, Attilio, and Howard worked hard and patiently to get my condo sold. Despite working through hours where it was difficult to reach me in Boston. Their phone calls, emails, and use of the docusign system set the stage for the sale in a tough market. Thanks once again for your helpfulness and professionalism.”
“I walked away from my property three years ago and assumed that it would get foreclosed upon or just disappear….Three years later I was contacted by a tenant that was being rented the condo from a company that was operating illegally and claimed to have ownership of it….I contacted Team Lally and they were able to navigate these very difficult waters: me not having paid my mortgage for three years, a company claiming ownership, the condo association not happy because they were not paid for three years…Team Lally worked through all of this to complete a short sale of the property and I paid virtually nothing…I worked with other real estate companies in the past and Team Lally blows them away, I would highly recommend them for all your real estate needs”
“We had a friend that asked who could help their move to paradise. It sounds cool however they were stressed. After making a couple of calls, I knew who they needed to call. Team Lally exceeded their expectations and after the first call the stress level went way down. Thanks for your help. We can’t wait to make our visit and give you a hug in person.”
“Team Lally sold a condo-hotel unit for us in Hawaii. We live in California and did not actually know or observe what was happening with the sale. They took care of the showings, finding buyers (3) and negotiating with the bank. They took care of all of the paperwork – sending us what we needed and arranging for docusign whenever possible. We were kept in the loop as much as possible and as much as we needed to be. It was a very stressful time for us and they (patiently) explained procedures to us, since we often did not know what was necessary or what the next step was. Team Lally was very professional in all dealings with us and we are very grateful for their consideration of us as stressed absentee sellers and for negotiating a great deal for us.”
“As first-time home buyers, I couldn’t have asked for a better realty than Team-Lally!Three months prior to moving to Hawaii from the mainland, we began our search online by looking at pictures and viewing videos of current listings in Kaneohe and Kailua. We were so fortunate to have Team Lally as our agent. Team Lally was knowledgeable, patient, and honest; they even went out of their way to record videos of a few homes. Via e-mail and over the phone, they addressed all my questions and concerns. By the time we arrived, we were so well prepared and closed on the house we wanted in no time! If we buy or sell again, we are definitely calling Team Lally”