Honolulu realtors are cranking up an expanded HOPE homebuyer push this spring, tying a new agent certification to workshops and financial help in an effort to move more Oʻahu renters into houses and condos. The initiative bundles agent training, lender tools and commission credits, all aimed squarely at chipping away at the upfront costs that keep many local families on the sidelines.
According to KHON2, the Honolulu Board of REALTORS plans to roll out a HOPE realtor certification in 2026 and is initially training 100 agents. Those agents will be asked to pledge a portion of their commission to buyers, with KHON2 reporting that HOPE-certified realtors will credit roughly 25% of their commission toward closing costs. The expanded effort also includes a slate of consumer workshops on Oʻahu that begins in March.
Built on a community education model
The HOPE program - short for Housing Opportunities Are Possible for Everyone - runs in partnership with the Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center and has been operating on Oʻahu since 2019. The model is already influencing other counties: the REALTORS Association of Maui is launching a KĀKOU homeownership program built on HHOC’s Oʻahu-based HOPE curriculum, according to Maui Now, signaling that the approach is spreading across the islands.
KHON2 reports that since its 2019 launch the HOPE program has served more than 800 local households, with roughly 74% of participants either buying a home or entering escrow within 18 months. The outlet also notes that more than 600 families have moved toward ownership or into escrow in that period, a sign that the coach-and-connect model is working as intended by linking would-be buyers with lenders and down-payment assistance.
State mortgage tools are part of the package
Training for HOPE-certified agents will cover the state-run Hale Kamaʻāina mortgage program along with other first-time buyer resources, giving agents practical ways to match clients with lower-cost loans. The Hawaii Housing Finance and Development Corporation describes Hale Kamaʻāina as a below-market 30-year fixed mortgage that can include down-payment assistance and early-adopter incentives, according to the HHFDC program page.
Workshops, coaching and next steps
Consumer workshops and one-on-one coaching will be offered through the Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center, which lists March sessions and free first-time buyer workshops on its calendar. Prospective buyers looking to tap into the expanded effort can sign up for orientation and start the intake process through HHOC, where they are matched with coaches who walk them through credit, budgeting and lender options.
Why this matters now
Housing affordability in Hawai‘i continues to shove would-be buyers off the field, which makes programs that mix education, lender access and relatively small-dollar assistance more critical than ever. A 2024 report from Hawaii News Now underscored how tough the market has become and noted that counseling-and-assistance programs can provide a viable route to ownership for local families.
“Having a safe and stable home is foundational to a thriving community,” said Reina Miyamoto, executive director of the Hawai‘i HomeOwnership Center, as reported by Maui Now. Organizers say the expanded HOPE effort is designed to turn education and coaching into actual closings so more kamaʻāina can put down roots and stay in the islands.
