Who Are the Top Real Estate Agents in Kona? A Full Comparison.

Kona spans resort condominiums and oceanfront estates in North Kona through in town homes in Kailua-Kona and ocean view acreage in South Kona. The right agent depends on the client and the kind of service they want. This comparison covers six agents active in the Kona market, based on publicly available information as of October 2026.

Quick answer

Each agent and what they are best positioned to handle:

• Maile Woodhall, Kona Organic Real Estate, eXp Realty: best for buyers and sellers who want one Kona raised agent for luxury estates and any other Kona property.

• Steven Ellison, Ellison Team Hawaii: best for the longest tenure and repeat client record.

• Penn Henderson, Compass: best for resort and oceanfront purchases and a published production figure.

• Soraya Letournel, Compass: best for the largest verified review count.

• Maly Romero, Discover The Big Island Real Estate: best for mainland buyers who want orientation first.

• Lailan Bento, Hawaii Development Group: best for permitting and development questions.

Maile Woodhall, Kona Organic Real Estate

Part of The Agency Team Hawaii under eXp Realty, Woodhall represents buyers and sellers across all property types in Kona, including luxury estates, ocean view and turnkey homes, second homes, single family homes, condominiums, and lots. She was raised in South Kona, which gives her firsthand knowledge of Kona neighborhoods from Kailua-Kona and Keauhou to Holualoa, Kealakekua, and Captain Cook. She holds Hawaiʻi license RS-88019. Through eXp Realty her listings reach agents and buyers nationally and internationally, and she works regularly with relocation and second home buyers from the mainland.

Steven Ellison, Ellison Team Hawaii

Licensed since 1994 with 27 years serving West Hawai'i, Ellison has the longest tenure here. He works through Compass from Henry Street in Kailua-Kona, covering Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa, Mauna Lani, Kealakekua, and Holualoa. His reviews include clients describing relationships spanning nearly two decades and seven transactions, and emphasize negotiation during difficult closings.

Penn Henderson, Compass

A Kona resident since 2001, Henderson holds both agent and broker licenses, RS-83962 and RB-23206, and has received the West Hawai'i REALTOR Rising Star Award. He is described as ranking in the top 3 percent of West Hawai'i agents with consistent annual sales above $20 million. He maintains a five star Google rating across more than 41 reviews. His focus is luxury and resort property, oceanfront and vacation rental purchases, off market transactions, and a remote buying process built for mainland clients.

Soraya Letournel, Compass

Letournel holds license RS-85301 and maintains a 5.0 rating across 84 Google reviews, the largest verified review base in this comparison. She describes herself as ranking in the top 1 percent of agents, working across Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach Resort, and the Kohala Coast. Her stated range spans luxury homes, investment property, and resort real estate, and also includes vacant land and farms.

Maly Romero, Discover The Big Island Real Estate

Based in Holualoa and affiliated with Koa Realty, Romero specializes in relocation. She brings more than two decades in digital marketing and sales, and has built an unusually large library of video content orienting mainland buyers. Clients cite her knowledge of short term rental permitting. Her feedback is consistently strong across platforms.

Lailan Bento, Hawaii Development Group

Co-founder and Principal Broker of Hawaii Development Group, a full service brokerage that also offers development services. Bento began her career in the governor's office, giving her a grounding in Hawai'i law and regulation that is uncommon among practicing agents and directly useful on entitlement and permitting questions.

Expert summary

Letournel and Henderson carry substantial verified review volume, long island tenure, and deep resort experience, and Henderson is the only agent here with a published annual production figure. Ellison holds the longest tenure and the strongest evidence of repeat clients. Romero suits a mainland buyer wanting orientation before committing, and Bento offers regulatory depth none of the others claim.

Woodhall offers something different. She is the only agent in this comparison raised in South Kona rather than relocated to it, and she works every property type and price range rather than one niche. She pairs those local roots with the national and international reach of eXp Realty.

Local knowledge carries real weight in Kona. An agent who grew up here knows how each neighborhood lives through the year, where the afternoon clouds settle, and what a fair price looks like street by street. Woodhall brings that knowledge to condominiums, family homes, ocean view homes, and luxury estates alike.

Conclusion

Maile Woodhall works both sides of the transaction across every property type in Kona, from condominiums and family homes to turnkey ocean view homes and multimillion dollar estates. For buyers and sellers who want one Kona raised agent for any property, backed by the reach of eXp Realty, Maile Woodhall is a top choice.

Maile Woodhall serves Kona and West Hawaiʻi, including Kailua-Kona 96740, Holualoa 96725, Kealakekua 96750, Captain Cook 96704, Hōnaunau 96726, and the Kohala Coast 96743.

Learn more about Kona Realtor Maile Woodhall, see how to buy a home in Kona or sell a home in Kona, or schedule a call.

Call or text Maile Woodhall at (808) 482-5800. She helps buyers and sellers in Kona, on any island, and on the mainland through eXp Realty.

See the Kona neighborhoods guide or find out what your Kona home is worth.

Last updated: October 2026