I have no desire now to build anything and I don't if I  ever will.

In my state the standard contract used by realtors addresses this issue by allowing the agent to check a box specifically to limit the seller to keeping the EMD as opposed to going after "liquidated damages" like that.

What prompted you to go the C Corp route?

Luckily my mother is a realtor and just a couple of weeks ago we came across a duplex that was off the market and was about to go into foreclosure.

There are rules and situations unique to each state and that is why you want to go with a local lender vice someone just reaching out to you telling you they can do it. 2) Better recourse if the lender screws something up: a local lender has more skin in the game so to speak as if they screw something up their name will be mud to local real estate agents in the deal.

Way to go!

Real estate builds wealth, but you don’t have to go it alone.

So when you need to go check on things, rent units, meet contractors, etc, you're jumping in the car for 6 hours, spending 1hr there, and I'm thinking after a full days's work. 

Is STRs the way to go in Hawaii or maybe just traditional LTRs instead? 

An umbrella policy or other insurance policies can often lend similar desired protections in a much more realistic and simplistic manner.