Welcome
Thoughtful financial support starts with understanding the full picture.
Hi, I’m Samantha.
I believe good financial work begins with curiosity, care, and attention to detailing the full picture.
I am the owner of Counting Olives LLC, a Hawaii-based bookkeeping and tax practice serving individuals and small business owners. I know financial records can quickly become overwhelming. Sometimes the books have fallen behind. Sometimes everything appears current, but something doesn’t quite look right. Sometimes a business owner has been doing the best they can with the time and information they have, but they have reached a point where they need support. My role is not to judge where you are starting. It is to understand what is happening, identify what needs attention, and help determine the right way forward.
My Background
Before entering bookkeeping and tax, I spent approximately 13 years working in insurance claims.
That work involved much more than processing paperwork. Over the years, my experience included detailed case review, gathering and evaluating information, investigating, medical coding, training, auditing, and identifying inconsistencies that required a closer look.
That background continues to shape how I work today.
I am naturally analytical. I ask questions. I compare information. I notice when something does not make sense. And when I do not know the answer, I believe in researching, learning, and getting the information needed before moving forward.
Those habits are now central to the way I approach bookkeeping and tax preparation.
Why Counting Olives?
I started Counting Olives because I wanted to build a practice centered on thoughtful, careful work, and genuine support for small business owners. I understand that behind every set of books is a real person making decisions, carrying responsibilities, and trying to build something that matters to them. That is why I do not believe in treating financial work as simply moving numbers from one place to another. Whether I am reviewing a bookkeeping file, working through a cleanup, or preparing a tax return, I want to understand the story behind the numbers and make sure the information in front of me makes sense.
What You Can Expect When Working with Me
Thoughtful Questions
If something is missing, inconsistent, or unclear, I will ask. I would rather take the time to understand than make an assumption simply to move the work forward.
Careful Review
I approach financial information analytically and pay attention to details that may require a closer look.
Clear Communication
I believe clients should understand what is needed, what the next step is, and when additional information is required.
A Commitment to Learning
Bookkeeping and tax work require continued education, research, and professional growth. I take that responsibility seriously and remain committed to strengthening my knowledge and serving clients well.
Building a Practice With Care
Counting Olives is growing intentionally.
My goal is not to serve everyone. It is to work with individuals and business owners where there is a good mutual fit and where I can provide thoughtful, reliable support.
For some clients, that means ongoing bookkeeping.
For others, it means working through books that have fallen behind, creating a better financial system, or preparing a tax return with careful attention to the information provided.
Whatever the service, my approach remains the same:
Understand the full picture. Ask the right questions. Handle the work with care.