about ovrsea
Ovrsea offers unique solutions for the unique challenges posed by Hawaiian land ownership. Somewhere between property management, land management, and contracting, Ovrsea coordinates care for undeveloped land. Read on to learn how Ovrsea came to life and what it stands for.
history
"By the time the Big Island boom came to a halt in the mid-1970s, 80,000 lots had been created on an island whose population was somewhat less than 80,000. Big Islanders bought fewer than 12% of the lots sold by 1975 ... the post WWII middle class of the United States in the national boom years of the late 1950s and 1960s had money to spend, and they also had increased leisure time ... by the mid-1970s, one American family in 12 owned a piece of this sort of land. At the same time among both developers and buyers there were also speculators, meaning that millions bought into subdivisions which 25 and 30 years later remained largely vacant and without minimal site improvements."
- Land and Power in Hawaii, Cooper & Daws, 1985
Founder Kendra Tidwell lives on the same dirt road she grew up on in rural Puna, across the street from the house her father built in 1990 . During construction she lived with her family under tarps, watching her mother faithfully go into town for work each morning and helping her father pound nails after school. She has lived the joys and challenges of rural Hawaii life, and now as a homeowner, understands all the intricate moving pieces of property management.
During her time working within Hawaii County's Legislation, Kendra learned much about her home's problematic history, all while amassing a network of community activists and entrepreneurs. Shortly after, Kendra managed the Hawaiian Shores Community Association, and worked with dozens of off-island property owners lost amid confusing rules or regulations, unable to get a sense of the state of their land.
Ovrsea is born of service to bridge the gap between distant land owners and local service providers. Though ultimately, as a student of Hawaiian culture and language, Kendra hopes that Ovrsea facilitates a deeper connection to and care for the land, even if property owners have never set foot on it.
Who We Are
Founder kendra tidwell
Aloha Kākou!
Dad surfed at Kalapana back in the day, so he brought me and Mom to Hawaii and built our home in Puna. I proudly graduated from Pahoa High School and then went on to receive my BA in Communication from the University of Hawaii at Hilo.
While working in local government during the 2018 eruption I fell into a natural networking role, and saw the importance of connecting people in need with helpful resources. I've maintained this skill in my personal life and now as a homeowner, I especially put it to use when navigating the difficulties of maintaining a property and coordinating reliable help.
My colorful employment history includes tech, retail, sustainable agriculture, legislative government, luxury construction, and business development. I am actively freelancing in a business development capacity while growing Ovrsea; more information can be found on my consultant website here.
I believe Ovrsea fills a need I've observed in my home community for years. With my knowledge of best business practices from the years I've spent consulting, and inspired by the entrepreneurs I've worked with, I'm committed to the success of Ovrsea and its mission.
trade partners
Working with Ovrsea means you're supporting a vast network of local businesses. Partners of Ovrsea are hand-selected to be locally owned and operated, vetted, insured, and licensed to do work in the State of Hawaii. Furthermore, they have proven quality track records and glowing reputations. To become a partner or to learn more about who Ovrsea works with, click the button below.
mission
Connecting neighbors of Hawaii to each other and to the land
What: Ovrsea is first and foremost a provider of coordination services, working to connect customers and partners with each other to complete projects on undeveloped rural properties.
Who: Every property in Hawaii is connected to another, and by extension, everyone who lives in or owns land in Hawaii has a neighbor.
Why: Many indigenous perspectives, including Hawaiian, emphasize the importance of a relationship with the land. Ovrsea hopes that by connecting people to each other in caring for the land, a relationship with the land itself is remembered and restored.
values
being on it
More than integrity, being "on it" means an overarching awareness of a situation that allows for needs to be met before they're realized. Being "on it" means efficiency, reliability, and honesty are prioritized relentlessly. Ovresa takes prides in its professionalism and follow-through, and being "on it" at all times comes naturally.
connection to place
Ask people why they've moved to Hawaii and they'll often say they were "called" or "drawn" here, or it's because of the aloha spirit or Hawaii's beautiful culture. Preserving this part of Hawaii begins with a connection to the land.
Ovrsea believes that wherever you find yourself on the planet, you can maintain that connection.
dreamers
The clients and partners of Ovrsea share a wonderful quality - they're Dreamers. Whether it's planning for a home in Hawaii or starting a business, someone took a risk to pursue a dream. This indicates great vision, courage, and ambition, which are qualities highly valued at Ovrsea.