Born and raised in Kailua, Donlei's natural beauty and grace were recognized when she represented Kailua in the Miss Hawaii Pageant. Northwest Airlines recruited Donlei to be an ambassador for promoting Hawaii's aloha spirit. She proudly danced the hula for many admiring audiences as a way to share our magic islands.

It was during one of her dances her future husband fell in love with her. For 30 years, as an Army family, they worked and lived around the world and raised three children before returning and settling back in Kailua.

In 1984, Donlei's close friend, Connie Carvill, sought Donlei to be her assistant. Already a leader in the local real estate community, Connie needed an assistant that was good with people, trustworthy, reliable and a professional. With Connie's encouragement, Donlei studied to gain her own license, which she did in 1991 and then went on to get her GRI and CRS designations.

Her first full time realtor position was with the prestigious Conley Dew real estate firm. After Carvill and Co. was launched in 1996, Donlei became the first agent to join Connie's new real estate business.

Today Donlei is well known and respected for her tenacity in finding the right property for any budget and special requirements. She has a soft, yet effective way in finding mutually satisfactory solutions for buyers and sellers. Other realtors also find working with Donlei a positive and productive experience. While the Windward side of Oahu is the area of her greatest activity, she is also active in all parts of the island, including Waikiki and Makaha.

Nothing satisfies Donlei more than a happy client. Going the extra step is one of the comments her clients say, but other agents are also quick with praise for her ability to work out road blocks to the successful completion of a sale.