Call — 808-989-3491Email Harry

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii · Principal Broker R(PB)

Harry Pritikin R(PB) is a Big Island Hawaii real estate specialist and licensed Principal Broker who has lived in Kailua-Kona since the 1970s. With over 50 years of Big Island real estate experience, he is known as The Hawaii Real Estate Professor.

Harry's Story

"When I got here, there wasn't even one stoplight."

That was Kailua-Kona in the 1970s. Harry arrived on the Big Island as a young man — a forestry degree from UC Berkeley, a surfboard, and a deep respect for the land. He came for the summer. He never left.

What kept him wasn't just the beauty. It was the feeling that this place was real — the volcanic soil, the trade winds, the tight-knit communities tucked between coffee farms and the ocean. Harry put down roots. Literally. His property in Kailua-Kona has been solar-powered since 1991, surrounded by a working tropical fruit orchard he tends himself.

When Harry talks about a neighborhood, a hillside, or a stretch of coastline, he's drawing on a lifetime of living here — not a database. That's something no algorithm can replicate.

Harry Pritikin at the ocean, Big Island Hawaii

5.5 Acres, Countless Varieties of Fruit

Harry's property in Kailua-Kona is a world unto itself — just five minutes from town, with three separate homes on the land, surrounded by a working tropical fruit orchard. He's been completely solar-powered since 1991, long before it was fashionable. When Harry talks to you about soil quality, rainfall, and what it means to live on the land in Hawaii, he's describing his Tuesday morning.

Growing on the property

LemonsLimesTangelosTangerinesThree varieties of orangesLoquatPink grapefruitThree varieties of mangoJaboticabaBrazilian plumWhite sapoteLycheeStar fruitPineappleBananasAvocadoBlueberriesPapayasSour sopWatermelon
Massive mango tree on Harry's propertyPicking citrus fruit on the farmFruit tree against blue Hawaii skyFlowering trees on Harry's 5.5 acre farm

A few snapshots of Harry's property.

What I bring to every transaction

Deep Expertise. Real Experience.

Professional Expertise

  • ✦First-time home buyer guidance
  • ✦Conventional & owner financing
  • ✦VA financing
  • ✦203K rehabilitation loans
  • ✦1031 Exchanges
  • ✦Chain of title issues
  • ✦Bishop Estate leasehold
  • ✦Use permits & building permits
  • ✦Ohana permits
  • ✦Agricultural zoning
  • ✦Contractor relationships

Personal Experience

  • ✦Real estate investor
  • ✦Owner/builder
  • ✦Fixer-upper projects
  • ✦Full remodels
  • ✦50+ years living on the Big Island
  • ✦Solar-powered property owner since 1991
  • ✦Working tropical fruit orchard

Fifty years. One island.

Harry's 5 Rules for Buying Smart

1

Fall in Love with the Island First.

Don't buy a house because it's a good deal. Buy it because you've spent time here, you know the neighborhoods, you've eaten at the local spots, you've driven the roads in the rain. The island will tell you where you belong. Then we find you the property.

2

Understand What You're Actually Buying.

On the Big Island, the land is as important as the structure. Lava zone, water source, zoning, access rights, title history — these things can make or break a purchase. I will walk you through every one of them before you sign anything.

3

Don't Rush the Process.

Good properties here take time to find. The Big Island is not a big market. Inventory is limited, and the right property for you may not be listed yet. I've been here long enough to know what's coming before it hits the MLS.

4

Get Pre-Approved Before You Fall in Love.

Financing on the Big Island has quirks — lava zones affect loans, catchment water affects appraisals, ag zoning affects what lenders will do. Know your numbers before you start looking. I can connect you with lenders who know this market.

5

Trust Your Agent to Protect You.

I am not here to close a deal. I am here to make sure you make the right decision — even if that means telling you to walk away. I've done it before. I'll do it again. That's what fifty years of doing this right looks like.

What clients say

Fifty Years of Trust

"Harry is the most knowledgeable real estate agent I have ever worked with. He knows the Big Island better than anyone. He is honest, responsive, and genuinely cares about finding you the right property — not just any property."

— Mark Dahmke

Verified Buyer

"Harry helped us find our dream home on the Big Island. His knowledge of the local market is unmatched. He guided us through every step of the process with patience and expertise. We could not have done it without him. Mahalo Harry!"

— Edward Malinowski

Verified Buyer

"I've worked with a lot of real estate agents over the years. Harry is different. He actually knows the island — every neighborhood, every lava zone, every quirk. He doesn't just show you houses. He educates you. If you're serious about buying on the Big Island, he's the one."

— lpljohn

Verified Buyer · January 2021

"We were nervous about buying so far from the mainland. Harry made the entire process feel manageable. He was patient, thorough, and never once pushed us toward something that wasn't right for us. That kind of integrity is rare. We're so glad we found him."

— Karen & Tom R.

Verified Buyers · Kailua-Kona

The people behind the work

Meet the Pritikin Team

The local experience, support, and behind-the-scenes knowledge that help make the buying process smoother.

Harry, Melissa, and Wendy — the Pritikin Team

Wendy Pritikin

Island Operations & Hospitality

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Wendy Pritikin has been an important part of the family's island businesses since 1987. Her experience with staging, advertising, hospitality, and personal connection brings a warm, thoughtful touch to everything the Pritikin team does. She also tends hundreds of orchids on the property — a beautiful reminder of the life they've built on the island.

Harry Pritikin

R(PB) — Principal Broker

Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Harry Pritikin is the heart of Pritikin Realty. He has been living on the Big Island since the 1970s and has over fifty years of real estate experience here. Harry does not just know the listings — he knows the land, the history, the market cycles, the lava zones, the neighborhoods, and the things mainland buyers need to understand before they make a move.

Melissa Judy

Digital Marketing & Brand

Palm Beach, FL & Kailua-Kona, HI

Melissa Judy supports the online side of the business through branding, digital marketing, and buyer-facing resources. She helps Harry's message, listings, and guides reach more people online in a clear and modern way.

Work with the Hawaii Real Estate Professor

Benefit from 50 years of insight. Let Harry guide you home.

Start a Conversation