Founder of L&L Drive-Inn/L&L Hawaiian Barbecue and local real estate investor, Eddie Flores, Jr., and his wife Elaine made a $1 million gift to the Shidler College of Business at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. The $1 million will endow a new Eddie and Elaine Flores, Jr. Real Estate Lecture Series and name the Shidler courtyard.

The annual Flores Real Estate Lecture Series will address issues and trends in the real estate industry in Hawaiʻi and beyond, and provide practitioners the opportunity to learn, and network with like-minded professionals. Renowned real estate developer and Shidler alumnus Jack E. Myers kicked off the inaugural Shidler College of Business Real Estate Lecture Series on April 20 to a crowd of 250.

This is Flores’ second $1 million gift to the college. In 2007, Flores established a $1 million scholarship endowment at the college. Their gift has provided more than 160 scholarships to undergraduate students. Flores received his Bachelor of Business Administration degree from the Shidler College of Business in 1970. He was inducted into the college’s Hall of Honor in 2005 and was honored as a University of Hawaiʻi Distinguished Alumni in 1999.

In 1972, Flores established his own brokerage firm Sun Pacific Realty, and currently operates a real estate school. He also authored several articles and books on real estate and investment, a testament to his passion for real estate. In 1991, Flores was named the ‘Educator of the Year’ by the Hawaiʻi Association of Realtors.

Flores also supports a number of educational and cultural organizations in Hawaiʻi. Most notably, he helped to establish the Filipino Community Center and Chinatown Community Center.

“I am a very proud graduate from Shidler College of Business,” said Flores. “The college taught me everything and provided all tools to be successful in business. This gift is my way of giving back to the college and to the community.”

“This lecture series would not be possible without the vision and support of Eddie and Elaine,” said Vance Roley, dean of the Shidler College of Business. “Eddie is a successful entrepreneur and an accomplished real estate investor, author, and educator. To honor their commitment, we are proud to name the courtyard in the Flores name; we are proud to have the L&L legacy attached to the college forever.”