In July 2012 LUVA was established by four creative and innovative individuals, Jean and Yuki Laliberte and Rick and Missi Goldstein. They realized after being on the island for a few years that something was missing from the real estate market that they could help provide. A special touch was needed that they all brought with them from different areas of life and prior careers…Hospitality, Entertainment and Fashion.

LUVA Real Estate isn’t just any real estate company, it’s a company based on hospitality. The founding team members feel that the key to service is exceeding guest and client expectations, being extremely organized and understanding guest and client needs prior to them knowing they need it. Also, an important factor, the founding team members will hire like minded team professionals with the same vision of providing concierge style service.
Jean, Yuki, Rick and Missi have been in the market for a combined twelve years and they understand the real estate and luxury rental market.

“LUVA focuses on real estate sales, property management and luxury vacation rentals combined with excellent client concierge services,” Rick Goldstein explains. “We are proud to create a new real estate company in West Hawaii that encompasses all real estate services under one roof.”

LUVA Team Member Information

Rick Goldstein
Rick recently obtained his Hawaii real estate license when he helped create and open LUVA as a luxury vacation rental and real estate sales and management brokerage in Kona, Hawaii.

From 1995 to 2007, Rick worked in Las Vegas and Los Angeles with celebrity and entertainment figures, offering property management services, butler services and concierge services for individual luxury residences. From this experience, he learned the skills of exceeding guest and client expectations and found a passion for creating impeccable and tailored experiences for people seeking excellence in service within the vacation and real estate environment.
Rick obtained his Bachelor’s Degree in Finance from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas in 1996. Prior to making Hawaii his permanent home, he spent twenty years in the retail, human resources and food and beverage industries. During his college tenure, he honed his skills at MGM Resort International, one of the largest hotel and gaming companies in Las Vegas.

After thirteen years with MGM Resorts International, Rick was appointed the Vice President at the Monte Carlo Hotel and Resort, Las Vegas. After almost twenty years in the entertainment and hospitality management business, he gained valuable industry insight and experience for his next move. In 2011, Rick, responsible for property management of a large celebrity estate in North Kohala, Hawaii was approached to create a company that would incorporate the management and marketing of unique international vacation properties with real estate sales in Kona, Hawaii. As a managing partner, Rick brings his experience in delivering indelible service to celebrities, managing luxury vacation homes and sales and marketing to LUVA by creating a one-of-kind brokerage that caters to clients seeking exceptional service, solid real estate advice and access to a full concierge service for their vacation rental needs.

Melissa Goldstein
Missi brings a passion for teamwork and client service excellence to LUVA. Her extensive background in customer service and team leadership at successful hotel and restaurant establishments created the desire to obtain her Hawaii real estate license and co-found LUVA in 2012, along with her husband, Rick Goldstein.

At the young age of eighteen, Missi began working for Hyatt Hotels and Resorts, Lake Las Vegas. Utilizing a natural talent for management, she was promoted after six years to General Manager of their leading restaurants. She then moved to MGM Resorts International managing multiple restaurants and later worked for Golden Gaming Inc., Las Vegas, where she was in charge of one of the top producing gaming establishments for the company.

Working for years within the hospitality management business provided Missi with incredible customer relations skills, which she leverages, for each client at LUVA, either in sales, rentals or vacation property management. Missi resides in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii with her husband and daughter Ella.

Jean “John” Laliberte
Bringing an international business background from Montreal to LUVA, John provides energy and uncompromising pursuit of perfection to ensure LUVA’s clients have every need met. An active licensed REALTOR, John brings his hospitality background and broad business experience in co-founding LUVA.

Since 1984, John worked extensively in the entertainment business, traveling the world creating and developing new markets in North America, Europe and Asia with Cirque du Soleil. John enjoyed particular success in producing Cirque du Soleil VIP events, which were noted for achieving spectacular guest satisfaction. John later went on to create his own successful special event production company in Montreal, Canada, providing upscale events with unforgettable attention to detail and superior results.

John moved to Hawaii with his wife, Yuki in 2007 to raise his two children. He speaks fluent French and enjoys working with international clientele.

Yuki Laliberte
Yuki Laliberte, a co-founder of LUVA, balances her passion for fashion and design with her talent for helping her clients find the Hawaiian home of their dreams.

Yuki studied at the Fashion Institute and Technology (FIT), New York and spent thirteen years working as a Senior Director of Production and in research and development for leading designers such as Michael Kors, Ralph Lauren and Tommy Hilfiger. Having spent this time with great fashion leaders, Yuki’s talent of cost and value in products is invaluable to the LUVA team and to her clients who value design expertise in their REALTOR. Yuki is well traveled, having lived in different locales such as Japan, Vietnam, Australia, New York, and Montreal. Yuki speaks fluent Japanese and enjoys working with both American and international real estate investors. Yuki is currently enjoying the Aloha living in Hawaii with her family.