Chicken Coops To Grand Champion Homes
BIA’s 2006 Parade of Homes pays tribute to those who literally built Hawaii
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BIA president Bill Paik studies a blueprint with Merle
and Scott Higa of Robert M. Kaya Builders Inc.
Talk about humble beginnings. Homebuilder Robert M. Kaya’s first project was a $25 chicken coop for a neighbor in Punaluu. That was in 1937.
It was an inauspicious start for someone who later dramatically changed the scope of residential construction in Hawaii. His leadership in organizing the Building Industry Association (BIA) and the first Parade of Homes is legendary, making Kaya synonymous with progress.
The pioneering spirit of Kaya lives today, as BIA puts the spotlight on the state’s leading home construction projects. With the theme “Showcasing 50 Years of the Best of Hawaii’s Builders,” it celebrates the 2006 Parade of Homes, Oct. 7-8 and Oct. 14-15.
It’s an appropriate tribute to Kaya and others who literally built Hawaii. The residential, commercial and public structures on our Islands are monuments to the craftsmanship and dedication of builders.
As the Parade of Homes begins its 50th year, BIA takes the occasion to remember Hawaii’s housing heroes. The past is a firm foundation, members say, on which to build hopes and dreams of the future.
Before we march into this year’s Parade, let’s take a stroll down memory lane to meet a homebuilder-pioneer. Recollections of the late Robert Masayoshi Kaya are relayed to us by his daughter and grandson, principals in a three-generation family construction business.
Kaya was a first-generation issei who migrated from Yamaguchi, Japan, to work in the Waialua cane fields. He attended Hauula Elementary, Central Intermediate and McKinley High schools (McKinley class of1932). In 1937, he started a contracting business in Punaluu.
Robert Kaya
Merle Higa is one of four daughters born to Robert and Florence Kaya. She married her high school sweetheart, James Higa, who served as president of Kaya Builders from 1981 to 1989. The couple’s eldest son, Scott I. Higa, is president of the construction company today.
“My father was a go-getter, not afraid of challenges, and liked being involved in organizations like BIA, General Contractors Association and Japanese Chamber of Commerce,” Merle says. “He took leadership roles because he wanted to make changes.”
Kaya’s foresight in having a trade organization came in 1955 when he joined nine colleagues - William Blackfield, Bert Kanzaki, Earl Kato, Ward Kegin, Robert Kuniyuki, James Lai, Melvin Muraoka, Richard Sato and Kenneth Shioi - to charter the Home Builders Association of Hawaii. Kaya was its first president.
The local association affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), one of the largest, most influential trade associations in the country “These visionaries fore-saw the importance of the building industry in the explosive growth of Hawaii and understood the value of bonding together in an association to promote the home building and construction industry,” says Karen T. Nakamura, BIA chief executive officer.
Along the way, Hawaii became the 50th state in the Union, and the Home Builders Association of Hawaii grew and expanded its reach, ultimately becoming the Building Industry Association of Hawaii in 1979. Members are developers, contractors, suppliers, realtors, architects, financial institutions and other professionals who service the building industry.
Kaya’s contracting business expanded as well, moving from Punaluu to McCully, Kakaako, Dillingham Boulevard, and eventually to its present headquarters at Kokea Street in Kapalama. His wife, Florence, was at his side every step of the way.
In 1981, son-in-law James Higa became the company’s president. Higa was instrumental in expanding the family business beyond homebuilding, into government contracts and major commercial projects.
The company built Ward Centre, Manoa Marketplace and the first phase of the Japanese Cultural Center. In 1994, it garnered a Parade of Homes Grand Champion title for work on Iwalani-Village 5 in Kapolei. To date, the contractor has received four Grand Champion awards for homebuilding projects.
“I was at school (University of the Pacific) when my dad was running the company,” Scott says. “He asked me to come back to Hawaii to work for the company, and I jumped at it.”
That was in 1987, the 50th anniversary of the company. Scott was 24 years old.
“I rode around with the superintendents as an assistant and helped to manage projects,” Scott recalls. “I thought I might start in the field to get experience, but I was told my job was to provide leadership, direction and to make decisions. It was frustrating at first, not being familiar with the business.”
But it was fortuitous that Scott was put on a fast-track learning curve. Two years later, his dad died, leaving the company management in his young hands. Kaya came out of retirement to mentor his grandson.
Today, Scott Higa, 43, runs Robert M. Kaya Builders Inc. with the help of his mother and three brothers. Dane, 41, is accountant; Brad, 39, is a journeyman-carpenter foreman; and Ward, 38, is executive vice president.
What legacy did Kaya leave to the family business?
“He had the reputation of providing quality,” Scott says. “People must be happy with the results. The job has to be done right.”
Merle agrees. “My father was a perfectionist,” she says.
“Materials have changed a lot since I first started,” Scott reflects. “At that time, it was wood or masonry construction. Now it’s steel construction with exterior finishes like vinyl or composite siding. Before, we built homes with jalousie windows; now it’s vinyl or aluminum installations.”
“My main thing is to maintain the reputation that was built by my grandfather,” he says. “It’s the key driver of all of my decisions.”
That’s an enviable standard by any measure. Home buyers want the confidence of a well-built, quality-oriented residence.
That’s why Kaya would be proud of this year’s Parade of Homes. There are 25 entrants who offer the best of new home design and construction. These are the pacesetters of local home-building.
Carefully inspected by a panel of judges, the most outstanding projects are declared “Best of
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