For Julie Hamilton, creativity and community have always gone hand in hand. After two decades of teaching communications, technology and art in California, Hamilton and her husband returned to Hawai‘i to pursue a longtime dream. The couple, who once met on O‘ahu when her husband was stationed at Pearl Harbor, settled on the Big Island with space to garden, raise llamas and Silkie chickens, and launch a new business: Island Celebrations.
What started as a small operation designing custom event signage and photo backdrops quickly blossomed into a full-service rental company offering high-end tableware, designer lounge furniture, custom builds for weddings, corporate gatherings and private events across the state. Julie’s approach was simple: listen to the needs of local planners and fill the gaps, not the competition.
But as her business grew, so did her logistical challenges. “Event planners from the mainland always asked if they could visit our showroom, and of course, we didn’t have one,” Hamilton says. “We had everything packed into several storage units, and that just wasn’t working anymore.”
That’s when she found Tashanna L.K.O. LoSasso, a commercial real estate advisor at Big Island Commercial Properties (BICP).
LoSasso, born on Kaua‘i and raised between Hau‘ula on O‘ahu and Hilo on the Big Island, brought with her a lifetime of lessons rooted in hard work, faith and community. She joined BICP in 2023 after decades of business experience across government, nonprofits and the private sector.
“BICP is a space where collaboration, innovation and aloha come together,” LoSasso says. “We’re commercial real estate by investors, for investors, and we pair that experience with the smart use of technology.”
When Julie Hamilton reached out after failed attempts with other agents, Tashanna immediately recognized the need for a warehouse that wasn’t just four walls, but a hub for growth. Julie was looking for a practical, well-located base with access for staging, clients and efficient operations.
The search wasn’t easy. A promising warehouse near Costco fell through when the owners decided not to sell. Leasing presented its own challenges, with few available options that met Hamilton’s strict criteria: power, plumbing, dedicated parking and proximity to resorts and the airport. However, Julie faced an urgent shipment of inventory with nowhere to store it.
When the current space was found, it ticked all the boxes, but it was a sublease, and the process took a lot longer than expected. Tashanna ushered it through like a pro and even found a temporary space for Island Celebrations to lease.
Thankfully, Tashanna leveraged BICP’s resources to secure a temporary warehouse for 45 days. “This gave her the breathing room she needed to receive her shipment and keep operations running while we finalized her permanent space,” Tashanna adds.
Julie credits Tashanna’s responsiveness as the difference-maker. “Clear communication and prompt replies are a must-have,” she says. “Tashanna was like having my own personal commercial real estate ChatGPT. I could call, email or text and always get a fast, professional reply.”
Both women reflect on their professional journeys with gratitude. Hamilton, who holds a master’s and doctorate in education, says she is thankful to have found a niche where her skills in design, teaching and technology converge. “I’m able to work in some of the most beautiful places on this island. Plus, being a part of so many joyful occasions is incredibly rewarding,” she shares.
LoSasso shares a similar outlook. “I’m thankful for the entire journey—its challenges, tragedies and victories. My faith, the love and support of my husband and children, my courage and the incredible people around me gave me strength,” she says. “Every experience prepared me for the work I do today with BICP, helping others succeed on the Big Island.”
Their shared desire extends beyond personal success. For Julie, Island Celebrations represents a chance to create jobs and partner with other local businesses, helping the Big Island economy thrive. For Tashanna, it’s about honoring culture and land while fostering opportunities for the next generation. “It’s about legacy—not just what we leave behind, but what we perpetuate forward,” she says.
Island Celebrations now operates out of its Kona showroom at 74-555 Honokohau Street, open by appointment. Its curated selection of décor, furniture and tableware has become a resource for both local and destination clients.
Meanwhile, BICP continues to support businesses across the Big Island, combining investor expertise, market data and community values. For Tashanna, the mission remains clear: to support growth that uplifts the island and its people. “Guided by my faith and the values I learned from my own family, I hope to give back by supporting a community that is strong, connected, and filled with aloha.”
In a place where the spirit of aloha shapes daily life, both women are proving that business can be more than transactions. It can be about connections—between creativity and community, challenge and opportunity, past and future.
BigIslandCommercialProperties.com | IslandCelebrationsHawaii.com.
Tashanna was like having my own personal commercial real estate ChatGPT. I could call, email or text and always get a fast, professional reply.
"Every experience prepared me for the work I do today with BICP, helping others succeed on the Big Island." —Tashanna L.K.O. LoSasso.