Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate is pushing towards more growth in 2026. They are expanding in Hawaii with the announcement of a new partnership on O‘ahu. Refined Real Estate LLC, a local brokerage with five years of experience on the island, has joined the national brand, which will now be known as Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Refined.
The brokerage is led by co-owners and brokers Eric Yamamoto and Dennis Noah-Casison. They are industry veterans whose professional backgrounds span real estate, hospitality, and service-based leadership. With the affiliation now in place, the partners say their focus is firmly on growth, specifically increasing agent productivity, recruiting selectively, expanding their footprint, and opening a new office in Honolulu within the next year.
A strategic move toward national support
Founded in 2019, Refined Real Estate built its business around localized market knowledge and hands-on leadership. However, Yamamoto and Noah-Casison said that as the firm matured, it became clear that scaling effectively would require broader operational support, more advanced technology, and a brand with national recognition.
That realization ultimately led them to affiliate with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, a move they describe as both strategic and values-driven.
According to Yamamoto, the decision came down to the brand’s ability to pair modern tools with a people-first philosophy. He noted that the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate platform offers centralized technology and marketing systems designed to help agents operate more efficiently while expanding their reach to new clients.
With those resources now in place, Yamamoto said the firm is better positioned to deliver consistent service across O‘ahu’s diverse neighborhoods, from urban Honolulu to more residential and military-connected communities, while maintaining the personalized approach that originally defined the brokerage.
Leadership Rooted in Service and Operations
Yamamoto’s professional background includes nearly two decades in the food services industry, where he managed six corporate locations before transitioning into real estate in 2016. That operational experience, he said, helped shape his leadership style in brokerage management, particularly in areas such as systems, accountability, and customer service.
His work has been widely recognized in Hawaii’s business community. Yamamoto was named to Pacific Business News’ 40 Under 40 list in 2020 and was also honored by Honolulu Magazine as one of its Best in Real Estate recipients from 2020 through 2022.
Noah-Casison, who joined Yamamoto in leadership, brings a complementary skill set shaped by both real estate and hospitality. Active in the industry since 2012, he also held roles in the hospitality sector, applying his academic background in business administration and marketing to client-facing and operational roles. Like Yamamoto, Noah-Casison was recognized by Pacific Business News as a 40 Under 40 honoree.
Together, the partners say their shared emphasis on efficiency, collaboration, and people-centered leadership has been key to the brokerage’s growth, and closely mirrors the culture they see reflected across the Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate network.
Emphasizing Community and Cultural Connection
Beyond transactions and expansion goals, Yamamoto and Noah-Casison say community involvement remains central to their business model. Both leaders are deeply engaged in O‘ahu-based charitable and nonprofit initiatives, viewing local engagement as inseparable from long-term success in Hawaii’s real estate market.
The brokerage has been a long-time supporter of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawai‘i and the Hawaii Health and Harm Reduction Center, reflecting a broader commitment to social impact and local wellbeing.
Noah-Casison said the decision to affiliate with Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate was reinforced by the brand’s understanding of regional identity and community character, an especially important factor in Hawaii, where local culture plays a defining role in how business is conducted.
He noted that aligning with a national brand that respects and elevates local values allows the brokerage to grow without losing the trust and relationships it has built within the community.
A Team with Deep Local and Military Ties
The firm’s agent roster includes professionals with strong connections to O‘ahu, many of whom also have military backgrounds. Those ties are particularly significant given the island’s large military presence and the unique real estate needs of active-duty service members, veterans, and their families.
According to the brokerage, its agents are well-equipped to guide military clients through relocation, VA loan processes, and the nuances of buying or selling in a market shaped by limited inventory and high demand.
In addition to serving military buyers and sellers, the firm’s agents handle a wide range of property types, including traditional residential homes, new construction developments, and luxury listings across O‘ahu. That breadth of experience, leadership said, positions the brokerage to compete effectively across multiple segments of the island’s housing market.
National Brand Sees Opportunity in Hawaii
Leadership at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate also expressed enthusiasm about the new affiliation and what it represents for the brand’s continued growth in Hawaii.
Ginger Wilcox, president of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate, said the partnership strengthens the company’s ability to serve clients in one of the country’s most sought-after and complex real estate markets. She cited Yamamoto and Noah-Casison’s proven track record, local expertise, and commitment to community as key factors behind the brand’s decision to expand alongside their team.
Wilcox added that the affiliation aligns with the company’s broader strategy of partnering with entrepreneurial leaders who understand their markets deeply while leveraging national-scale resources.
Growth Plans Take Shape
Looking ahead, Yamamoto and Noah-Casison said their immediate priorities include improving productivity across their agent base and growing the firm intentionally rather than rapidly. Selective recruiting will play a major role, with an emphasis on bringing in professionals who align culturally and share the firm’s client-first mindset.
Over the next year, the partners aim to double the size of the brokerage and establish a new office in Honolulu, further solidifying their presence in O‘ahu’s core real estate corridors.
As Hawaii’s housing market continues to change in the midst of shifting buyer demand, inventory constraints, and affordability challenges, the leaders of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Refined believe their affiliation provides the tools and support needed to navigate the next phase of growth, while staying rooted in the local values that have defined their success to date.
