When Danny Graham launched Graham Builders 35 years ago this month, he couldn’t possibly have envisioned its future.
In 1990, Graham, a McKinley High School graduate who had served in the Air Force, had successfully built a realty company and a water purification business.
Then, Graham volunteered his time with RICO (Regulated Industries Complaints Office), the agency that reviews complaints about individuals who provide regulated services — like construction — without a license.
Graham heard many stories about incompetent, unscrupulous unlicensed contractors in Hawaii. He decided to launch a residential design/build firm, one of Hawaii’s earliest, that offered great customer service, quality workmanship, and integrity in its operations.
On the eve of its 35th anniversary, Graham Builders has completed almost 900 home remodels and new builds all over the Hawaiian Islands. It has received numerous readers’ and peoples’ choice awards from multiple publications, including this one.
And Graham Builders remains the only contractor in Hawaii honored by the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics in small business, presented to companies with demonstrated commitment to high ethical standards, leadership character, positive workplace culture, and community support.
Recently, three longtime employees shared their thoughts about different aspects of their work with the Graham Builders team.
Personal and professional support
As controller, Faith Yamagishi ensures that financials are produced on a timely basis, enabling the company to operate more efficiently, provide excellent services, and stay ahead of industry curves.
Yamagishi had been working at a Honolulu HVAC company when she was approached by Graham Builders 22 years ago. “I was hesitant to make a change because change is scary when you’re comfortable,” she says. “But I’ve stayed because GB has become like family, supporting me both professionally and personally. They’ve pushed me to believe in my own capabilities.”
Cutting-edge technology
When Rufino Bautista first joined Graham Builders as architectural designer 13 years ago, its Auto-CAD software was used primarily for drafting two-dimensional drawings.
“We now use Revit, a building information modeling (BIM) software for 3D building design,” Bautista says. “With Revit, we can show both the floorplan and interior and exterior 3D models and renderings to homeowners, who achieve a much better understanding of the design.”
Bautista says the collaborative design and building process is invaluable. “Experiencing the project, from the initial design phase to the development of construction documents, and eventually seeing a completely built house, offers a unique learning opportunity.”
Improving lives through design
Lead designer Malia Yee has worked in the architectural field for nearly twenty years, designing homes worldwide. After nine years with Graham Builders, she is uniquely qualified to talk about the company’s culture.
“We are passionate about our work!” Yee enthuses. “We really want our homeowners to be happy.” Graham Builders, she adds, takes the time to understand what its clients want — and, just as importantly, why they want it.
Yee deeply enjoys multi-generational home design, which sometimes includes ADU or ohana units, or simply extra space for extended families. Recently, her team designed a home for a family that included grandparents and two adult children with their families. Their design provided private spaces for each family unit and a large community kitchen, dining, and living area.
“At the end of the project,” Yee says proudly, “the grandmother exclaimed that she had never imagined she’d have such a beautiful home.”
This year marks 35 years of excellence for Graham Builders, one of Hawaii’s very first residential design/build firms and the only contractor in Hawaii to receive the Better Business Bureau’s Torch Award for ethics in small business.You’re cordially invited to attend Graham Builders’ FREE “Building Your Home for Life” seminar on November 1st, from 9–11 a.m. Register at grahambuilders.com
or call 808/593-2808.