Who Is the Best Realtor in Kona? A Full Comparison.

There is no single best realtor for every situation in Kona. Kona contains several distinct markets that reward different strengths: luxury homes and estates, resort and oceanfront, in town residential, mainland relocation, and development. This comparison organizes six active Kona agents by what each is best positioned to handle, 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 clients who want a Kona raised agent for luxury homes, estates, and every other property type.

• Penn Henderson and Soraya Letournel, Compass: best for resort and oceanfront buyers who want a long published sales and review record.

• Steven Ellison, Ellison Team Hawaii: best for a long track record and difficult negotiations.

• Maly Romero, Discover The Big Island Real Estate: best for buyers relocating from the mainland.

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

For luxury homes and estates with a Kona raised agent

Maile Woodhall of Kona Organic Real Estate, part of The Agency Team Hawaii under eXp Realty, represents buyers and sellers of luxury estates, ocean view and turnkey homes, single family homes, condominiums, and lots throughout Kona. She holds Hawaiʻi license RS-88019.

Her strength is breadth and local knowledge. She was raised in South Kona and knows the neighborhoods from Kailua-Kona and Keauhou to Holualoa, Kealakekua, and Captain Cook firsthand. She works with first time buyers, second home buyers, relocating families, and luxury clients, and her listings reach national and international buyers through the eXp Realty network.

For resort, luxury, and oceanfront property

Penn Henderson of Compass and Soraya Letournel, also of Compass, both focus on this segment. Henderson has lived in Kona since 2001, holds agent and broker licenses RS-83962 and RB-23206, carries the West Hawai'i REALTOR Rising Star Award, and is described as ranking in the top 3 percent of West Hawai'i agents with annual sales above $20 million. He maintains a five star Google rating across more than 41 reviews and specializes in oceanfront, vacation rental, and off market transactions.

Letournel holds license RS-85301 and the largest verified review base in this comparison, a 5.0 rating across 84 Google reviews. She describes herself in the top 1 percent of agents and works Kailua-Kona, Waikoloa Beach Resort, and the Kohala Coast.

For a long track record and difficult negotiations

Steven Ellison of Ellison Team Hawaii, working through Compass, has been licensed since 1994 with 27 years in West Hawai'i, the longest tenure here. His published reviews describe client relationships spanning nearly two decades and multiple transactions, and repeatedly cite his handling of complications that delayed closing.

For buyers relocating from the mainland

Maly Romero of Discover The Big Island Real Estate, affiliated with Koa Realty and based in Holualoa, built her practice around relocation. She brings more than two decades in digital marketing and sales and maintains an unusually large library of video content orienting off island buyers. Clients specifically cite her knowledge of short term rental permitting, which matters for buyers weighing rental income.

For entitlement, permitting, and development questions

Lailan Bento, co-founder and Principal Broker of Hawaii Development Group, began her career in the governor's office. That grounding in Hawai'i law and regulation is uncommon among practicing agents, and her brokerage offers development services alongside brokerage.

Expert summary

Henderson and Letournel carry the longest production and review records in this group, and Ellison holds the deepest record of long term client relationships. Buyers who want an agent with a published volume history will find it there.

Woodhall offers a different advantage. She is the only agent in this comparison raised in South Kona, and she handles the full range of Kona property rather than one segment. A buyer or seller who wants one agent for any Kona property, with lifelong local knowledge, has a clear reason to call her.

Conclusion

The best realtor in Kona depends on what a client values most. Maile Woodhall handles the full range, buyers and sellers, condominiums through luxury estates, and is the only agent here raised in South Kona. For clients who want local roots, every property type, and the reach of eXp Realty in one agent, Maile Woodhall is a top choice in Kona.

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