COMMUNITY
CORNER Commercial Properties Pulling Together On behalf of BOMA Hawaii, we would like to share this update with BMH readers: To respond to the COVID-19 crisis in Hawaii, BOMA has: • Worked with Gov. David Ige and Mayor Kirk Caldwell to ensure the safe continued operations of commercial facilities as critical infrastructure during this time of crisis. • Transitioned educational programming to webinar formats and online services. • Established a job board for open positions and job seekers in the commercial real estate sector. • Provided information about commercial cleaning related to high-touch office areas. The stay-at-home orders have affected some segments of the commercial real estate industry more severely. BOMA Hawaii supports companies that continue to operate in the face of risk to promote the safety of the broader community and supports companies that have chosen to or been forced to suspend operations. The COVID-19 crisis is unprecedented, but the ability of the commercial real estate industry sectors to work together collaboratively is well-developed. BOMA Hawaii is confident that Hawaii’s hiki no (can do) spirit is alive and well, and that the industry will emerge stronger than ever. Holly Morikami President, BOMA Hawaii
Holly Morikami
BEATING COVID-19
IREM Updates Help for Managers Residential and commercial managers have increasingly become more important than ever as they navigate through the many challenges and changes brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and continue to make a difference in the lives of so many people. The Institute of Real Estate Management’s (IREM) No. 1 focus at this time is to help real estate industry professionals manage through the coronavirus crisis by providing education, content and industry resources. IREM has added a Coronavirus Resource Page to its website, irem.org. There are Kristi Hirota-Schmidt invaluable resources made available to the public such as: • The Pandemic Guide for Real Estate Managers (in English and Chinese) which was developed to assist in COVID-19 planning efforts and future pandemics. • CARES Act Summary. • Select on-demand courses, 10- to 15-minute videos and live webinars. • IREM advocacy: According to IREM International, “IREM has signed on to several letters to the White House, Congress, the Treasury and IRS advocating for aid to residents and businesses, as well as extending the deadline for 1031 like-kind exchanges and Opportunity Zone participants.” In addition, “IREM is participating in a Call to Action as part of a broad coalition of real estate providers representing the entire industry to ask for additional relief for the real estate industry.” • IREMs Community Room which is an online forum to connect real estate professionals with each other. Our IREM Hawaii Chapter Board of Directors has been meeting more frequently via Zoom to properly plan for future educational offerings and events. We started hosting a webinar series titled “COVID-19: A Call to ARMs,” which are panel discussions to provide timely information on managing one’s property during the COVID-19 crisis. We’ve also launched WhatsApp, a cross-platform mobile messaging app, for our ARMs and CPMs to collaborate, ask questions, share information and provide recommendations to each other. This has been a great communication tool for our managers, especially during this time. In addition, we’ve needed to make the following changes to our calendar of events: • April 15, General Membership Meeting at Hale Koa has been postponed to a date TBD. • I REM Scholarship Golf Tournament at Hoakalei Country Club is tentatively rescheduled to Sept. 25. • ARM (Accredited Residential Manager) Track scheduled for May 4-9 on Oahu and May 11-16 on Maui will now be held as a virtual live classroom on May 4-9. IREM and CCM scholarships are available. • Waiea property tour scheduled for May 21 has been postponed to a date TBD. IREM will continue to provide updates and valuable resources to help our fellow managers locally and around the world. For more information about IREM, contact IREM Hawaii’s president Kristi Hirota-Schmidt at 539-9502 or IREM’s executive director Lauren Kagimoto at (877) 447-3644 or iremhawaii@gmail.com. www.tradepublishing.com/building-management-hawaii 49
