Meet Dan Tousignant
I’m Dan, Principal Broker of Living on Big Island Realty. My approach to real estate comes from more than transactions. I’ve spent my life around construction, renovation, property ownership, and property management, and I bring that hands-on background into the way I help clients.
Here on the Big Island, I’ve personally bought, sold, renovated, and managed multiple homes and rentals. I understand the excitement of finding the right property, but I also know the practical questions that matter: condition, location, permits, water systems, lava zones, access, maintenance, insurance, and whether a property truly fits the life you want to build here.
My goal is to help clients make clear, informed decisions. Whether you’re buying a home in Hilo, considering a fixer in Volcano, looking at land, or trying to understand what makes East Hawaiʻi different, I offer straightforward guidance grounded in real-world experience, local knowledge, and honest communication.
Building a Life on the Big Island
I didn’t move to Hawaiʻi on a whim. Like many people who are drawn here, my wife and I were looking for a different pace of life, more meaningful work, and a place where day-to-day living felt more connected to the land and community.
After years on the mainland, followed by several rental-heavy years on Oʻahu, my wife and I made the move to East Hawaiʻi. We bought a fixer-upper in Hilo, started a hosted rental, and began building a life that fit us better.
Today, we live on the east side full time and we purchased and renovated 3 distressed rental properties in Hilo, Keaʻau, and Volcano. That experience helps me guide clients through the same kinds of questions we had to work through ourselves: where to live, what to buy, what to avoid, and what it really takes to make a home here.
That journey led me to write Moving to Big Island Hawaiʻi: Life on the East Side, a guide for anyone curious about making a real life here, not just a fantasy.
“This isn’t about selling paradise. It’s about helping people build a grounded, sustainable life in a place that will change you...if you let it.”
My Daily Work Mantra
I work with integrity, live simply, and earn enough to stay free.
My business supports my life, not the other way around.
I stay sharp. I stay selective. I stay true to what matters.
I have nothing to prove – only value to bring.
This is my time, my pace, my way.
What does that mean for my real estate practice?
It means I am intentional about who I serve and how I work.
I am not chasing every transaction. I am not trying to be everything to everyone. There are plenty of agents who focus on luxury homes, large investors, or outside buyers looking only at numbers on a spreadsheet. That is not the reason I do this work.
My work is more personal than that.
My ikigai is helping people find a home, not just a house. I love working with first-time buyers, local families, people relocating thoughtfully, and those who are hoping to make Big Island their long-term home.
I care about the land, the culture, the community, and the people who already call this place home. I try to bring respect for Hawaiʻi, the ʻāina, and local values into every conversation.
For me, real estate is not just about property.
It is about fit.
It is about belonging.
It is about helping people make thoughtful decisions in a place that deserves thoughtfulness.
Contact Us
Ready to explore your real estate options on the Big Island? Whether you’re just starting research or planning a visit, reach out. I’m happy to do a quick, no-pressure call to help you get clear on areas, budgets, and next steps..
Brokerage
