S. Tanaka Construction, LLC

The building inspector at my house (formerly), while my construction was going on, told me that S.Tanaka was THE BEST and most honest contractor in Hawaii. He was right.

We have never been through any major home remodel or build out, so needless to say, we were very worried about who we could trust to design and build a home for our family. While still living on the mainland, my wife and I found a few companies online as well as getting referrals from some friends who had recently finished their homes. After sitting through presentations, phone calls, and site visits with more than five local companies, it was clear to us that S. Tanaka came out on top for our needs. Our first priority was to work with someone with excellent communication, who seemed to genuinely care about our project, had a history of quality work, and could clearly articulate their process. From the beginning and through to the end, Tanaka presented all of those qualities and made us feel confident that what was promised would be delivered.
Ryan, the owner, patiently worked with us via video chat, text, email, in-person site visit, and in-office to answer all questions, point out areas of potential for the site, and most importantly give us STRAIGHT FORWARD answers. Not once did we feel like we were being sold or pushed into any decision, Ryan and Jen always acted as consultants and helped us to distinguish our needs from wants in order to stick to our vision. Once we put our plan on paper Tanaka worked hard to put us in control of the budget and stuck to their promises, no hidden fees or surprises at all - a BIG part of the project which they made VERY easy to understand.. Any changes which would be extra were clearly explained and communicated.
As with all big projects, alterations will need to be made along the way. Despite all of the complexities of a house build, Tanaka was quick to respond to our changes and always found a reasonable solution to our request. The team's professionalism and experience definitely made up for our lack of knowledge about the homebuilding process. My wife was at the job site weekly to understand what steps were coming up, probably a bit frustrating for the workers; luckily all the subcontractors and in-house craftsmen were friendly and patient.
We have been in the house for almost a month now and have been loving the final result! We still have regular communication with Tanaka for small touchups - it is nice to know that the team is still there to take us all the way through to the end and beyond. Hope our 2 cents helps those who are unsure about the home buidling process. Definitely put Tanaka on the top of your call list when considering a contractor for your home project!

When my wife and I first started this process, we were interested in doing an extensive renovation on my grandparents’ home. We met with several contractors and got estimates for both renovations and new builds. When we met with Ryan, he informed us that his company specializes in new builds. Not thinking that we could afford a new build (since the other contractors quoted us so high), we still asked for a quote. Within a short timeframe, Ryan came up with a great design and an estimate that fit within our budget. What surprised us the most were the little things he picked up from our initial meeting that he included in the design. That’s how we knew he was someone who truly listens to his clients.

The quality of service did not end there. Whenever we had questions or concerns, Jen, Weylin and the team at S. Tanaka Construction responded to us very quickly. As we watched our house being built, we found that all of the subcontractors we met were hard workers and really nice. And whenever things would come up, Ryan, Jen and Weylin always kept us in the loop. This is a company that takes pride in making sure their customers are comfortable and happy.

We can wholeheartedly say that S. Tanaka Construction exceeded every one of our expectations. In the end, our home was completed well within our timeline and our budget. My wife and I are so in love with our house. It’s been almost 2 years since we completed the build, but S. Tanaka Construction is still there for us whenever we need them. This is a company you will not regret working with.