The Best Kitchen Remodeling Contractors in Hawaii

Last updated on May 22nd, 2024 at 05:03 am

Having one’s kitchen renovated isn’t the easiest or cheapest but if done right, it can immensely improve day-to-day life. According to Remodeling Magazine, kitchen remodels provide, on average, 85.2% on initial investment. It is one of the best investments one can make for a home. ​​

In Hawaii in particular, homeowners are treated to a variety of kitchen designs suiting the warm and tropical environment. Flora and fauna are common designs in their kitchen remodels, balanced with functionality. Many remodelers also enjoy adding craftsman elements to their kitchen projects. This style is characterized by wooden furniture, such as cabinets and drawers.

The kitchen remodelers on this list were chosen based on their awards, features in the media, expertise and longevity in the area, as well as beauty and functionality of their remodels. Clients have options from this list ranging in price, allowing them to choose a remodeler that will create the kitchen of their dreams, while staying within their budget.

If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.

13) Kitchen & Bath Remodeling

2333-C Alahao Pl Honolulu, HI 96819

Troy Tanaka’s 16-year-old firm, Kitchen & Bath Remodeling, specializes in creation and installation of new kitchen cabinets, as well as wooden and thermafoil doors—a certain kind of surface finish thermoformed to wood to form a finished product like a fiberboard. The firm also constructs and installs new kitchen countertops with stainless steel and solid surface sinks. Kitchen & Bath Remodeling also offers more affordable options for clients such as refacing. With this option, clients can get a new look for their kitchens without completely remodeling.

Kitchen & Bath Remodeling’s doors and cabinetry are actually warrantied, so clients are assured of quality follow-up service even after their kitchen remodels have been completed.  The firm generally works in the craftsman style.

12) Canaan Builders

1122 Makepono St. Unit #300, Honolulu, HI 96819

41-year-old luxury remodelers Canaan Builders has the distinction of building palatial island homes in areas like Diamond Head, Manoa, and Lanika. The firm has been building using modern practices and designs since 2014. Canaan Builders’ kitchen remodels are some of the most spacious, opulent, and luxurious in the state of Hawaii, with large marble countertops and islands, high ceilings, and elegant designs.

Principal Raymond Suiter holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering, and has become one of the most noteworthy remodelers in the state. Suiter has also worked in different construction fields in Hawaii since 1978.

11) R Clary Builders

970 N. Kalaheo Ave. Suite C-310 Kailua, HI 96734

Rick Clary was in the Hawaii construction industry for three decades before establishing his own firm. He was a journeyman carpenter before becoming a carpentry foreman, job site superintendent, and finally project manager. Clary then managed projects for the state’s two largest residential developers for over 10 years. He subsequently founded R Clary Builders in 2003, which has since served the O’ahu area.

R Clary’s kitchen remodels have ranged from industrial to modern and contemporary. The firm’s luxury remodels have large marble center islands and wooden cabinets. Ovens and stoves installed by the firm are generally of industrial strength.

10) Lifestyle Design Studio, Inc

401 Kamake’e St. Suite #301, Honolulu, HI 96814

Lifestyle Design Studio, Inc has remodeled some of the most exquisite kitchens in the Hawaiian islands and in the Pacific Rim. Principal Roxanne Okazaki believes in making every room she touches as unique as possible. Lifestyle Design believes that its attention to detail and good customer relations have made the firm the award winner it is.

One of the firm’s most beautiful designs is a kitchen-cum-library. Filled with natural light and open spaces, the kitchen’s island is filled with books and designer objects. The counters and cabinets are all sleek and minimalist, with the former made up of marble and the latter painted white. This kitchen is integrated with the outside sitting area, as there is no partition between the two, and one can have a view of the tropical plants and wicker chairs outside.

9) D&E Kawelo

91-1276 Kaiokia St., Ewa Beach, HI 96706

D&E Kawelo stands out in this list due to its commitment to combine quality kitchen remodels with affordability. D&E Kawelo can compromise to any client’s set budget while still delivering an excellent kitchen remodel. This Honolulu County-based firm has been remodeling kitchens since 1995. The firm can complete a diverse set of projects, from complete kitchen rehauls to smaller additions like cabinet installations. For more minor requests, the firm can also install granite countertops, flooring, and backsplashes. D&E is confident in the quality of its work, and assures that all projects are built to last.

Like many principals, David Kawelo began as a carpenter, and founded the firm in 1995 with his brother, Eugene. Currently, David’s sons Ko’olau and Lukela manage the day to day operations of the firm.  

8) Designer Kitchens & Baths

1018 Smith St. Honolulu, HI 96817

Another one of Hawaii’s veteran kitchen remodelers, Designer Kitchens & Baths is owned by Judy Dawson, who has over 25 years of experience. Dawson has been featured by media outfits. The veteran designer has been part of the Board of the NKBA (National Kitchen and Bath Association) Aloha Chapter for many years. Designer Kitchen & Baths kitchens are able to combine classic wooden looks with modern designs. Many of its kitchens feature wooden cabinets, counters, and islands. Marble covers the countertops and yellow lighting is placed strategically.

Designer Kitchen & Baths has won many design awards for its kitchens. In 2009, it won the Hanohano Award for the Elegant Update at Kahala View Estate-Kitchen at the NKBA Hawaii Kitchen & Bath Design Competition. It was also the Technical Merit Award Winner in the same competition that year, also for the Elegant Update at Kahala View Estate-Kitchen.

7) CV Construction Hawaii, LLC

1095 Dillingham Blvd 1-7, Honolulu, HI 96817

A firm that has completed iconic projects such as President Obama’s 2010 Hawaii Vacation Home in Kailua, CV Construction Hawaii has been in construction and remodeling for almost two decades. The Oahu-based remodeler has won impressive awards, like Star Hawaii Advertiser’s Best 2013 People’s Choice Awards. CV Construction is also proud of the fact that it has a 99% on-time record for its projects.

A kitchen by CV Construction Hawaii can be described as sticking to the classics when it comes to style, but also utilitarian because it can still get the job done. CV Construction kitchens are usually craftsman, with wooden  cabinets, white walls, and yellow lighting. Classic furniture and appliances, such as steel ovens and refrigerators, usually accent the kitchens.

6) Atlas Construction

2222 Kamehameha Hwy., Honolulu, HI 96819

Atlas Construction is another multi-awarded kitchen remodeling firm. The firm is the winner in the Builders & Contractors category in the 2018 Best of Hawaii Home + Remodeling Awards. It was also voted Best Hawaii General Contractor by the Star Advertiser, 2013-2016 and awarded Honolulu Magazine’s Best Contractor Award, 2015-2016. The firm has also been featured in media Hawaii Home Remodeling and on StarAdvertiser.com.

Atlas Construction kitchens are usually characterized by their elegance. The featured work has dark wood cabinets and open beam, as well as stainless accents. The firm is proud of the fact that clients are able to enjoy these amenities at a more reasonable price than the usual. Principal Bruce Kim is an expert in the industry, having been in construction for nearly 30 years. A fourth generation builder, Kim wanted to change the image of the contractor by being excellent in customer service and providing fair dealings.

5) Armstrong Builders LLC

80 Sand Island Access Rd. Suite #209, Honolulu, HI 96819

Armstrong Builders, LLC has been servicing Honolulu for 43 years. The firm has been successful in its long run, winning many awards like the BIA Hawaii Renaissance Awards for Subtle Elegance (Artful Kitchen) as well as the Grand Award for Vintage Kitchen Manoa for its Kitchen Projects more than $100,001. The firm has also been featured in Hawaii Home Mag, Star Advertiser, and Honolulu Magazine.

Vice President Rodney Kim has explained to Star Advertiser that the firm’s principles are anchored on family. A family-run business of four generations, Armstrong makes sure to support the entire ohana. Honolulu Magazine has also commended the firm for its free seminars and monthly public sessions that walk clients through the process of creating their projects; these sessions cover the entire process, from creating a budget to adding a new space for multigenerational living.

4) Homeowners Design Center

1030 Kohou St., Honolulu, HI 96817

Homeowners Design Center began as a tiny and cramped office in 1969 as a flooring company. It then built and moved into its own building in April 1991 and increased size to become a center for interior finish products and services. Providing kitchen remodeling services to Oahu and outer islands for 40 years, Homeowners Design Center is one of the most trusted firms in the state. The firm has worked with various homeowners, designers, contractors and architects. Homeowners Design Center’s specializes in countertops, using materials like granite, Corian, and Staron. These materials are used to create the most aesthetically pleasing and functional kitchens for clients.

Cabinets are also another of Homeowners Design’s specialties. The firm offers a variety of colors, from light woods to nautical hues. It can also do contemporary or tropical style, depending on client’s tastes and needs. Aside from achieving the look that clients want for their kitchens, the firm also achieves functionality and storage. Homeowners Design can offer the best kind of cabinets at all price points, so owners who want more affordable cabinets can have them in their kitchen remodels. Homeowners Design Center is so strict on the quality of its cabinets that all its cabinets have been tested for strength by the Kitchen Cabinet Manufacturer’s Association of America (KCMA) and are warrantied by manufacturers.

3) Hawaii Kitchen and Bath

201 Kapaa Quarry Pl, Kailua, Hawaii 96734, US

Based in Kailua, in Honolulu County, Hawaii Kitchen and Bath has been one of the leading remodelers in the area for more than two decades. It also services areas like Kaawa, Kahalu’u, and Maunawili. The firm specializes in kitchen and bath countertops, custom solid surface shower pans, shower and tub walls, as well as custom cabinet production for both residential and commercial projects. The team is proud of having experts in countertops and cabinets, including Kevin San Miguel, who has been the lead fabricator and installer for 15 years. Hawaii Kitchen and Bath uses modern technology for its remodels, such as laser technology and computer drafting software.

Hawaii Kitchen and Bath has been featured in issues of Hawaii Home & Remodeling Magazines. The firm has been mentioned in articles on new storage solutions, kitchen and bath trends, insider’s guide to remodels, and celebrating kitchen and bath month.  An environmentally-friendly firm, its accreditations include the LEED Green Association and the US Green Building Council. As an expert in countertops and cabinets, it is also a Certified Solid Surface Fabricator/Installer and Certified Quartz Installer.

2) John Cook Kitchens

94-117 Malakeke Place #102 Waipahu, HI 96797

John Cook Kitchens has been serving the Waipahu and other major cities like Honolulu and Pearl Harbor for 30 years. A winner of multiple accolades, John Cook Kitchens has received the 2014 BIA Renaissance Grand Award, the 2012 NKBA Highest Technical Merit Award, and the 2010 NKBA Phil Zweedyk & Highest Technical Merit Award. The firm also received the 2018 Award of Merit for Single Space for its works. The firm is known for designs that are minimalist and spacious, with colorful accents showcasing Hawaiian flora and fauna.

John Cook Kitchens’ president Mark Olson has worked hard for a rockstar team. One of his prized talents is award-winning designer Shelley Tanner, who has been praised by clients for her meticulous drawings. Tanner has been with the firm for 22 years, and has been working in the kitchen and bath industry for the past 26 years. Another stand-out talent of Olson’s is Laura Jon “LJ” Cornel, who returned to the firm in 2016, and has contributed much from her 11 years of kitchen and bath experience.

1) Homeworks Construction Inc.

2111 S. Beretania St (2nd Floor) Honolulu, HI 96826

Homeworks Construction Inc. has completed more than 1100 projects and has won numerous awards in its 21 years. The firm won Best Contractor, Best Builder, and Best Kitchen and Bath Designer, as voted by the readers of Hawaii Home & Remodeling. It has also won multiple Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA) Renaissance Awards in the whole house, kitchen, and bath remodeling categories and has been voted the 2018 Contractor of the Year. Homeworks Construction Inc. has also been ranked among the country’s Top 500 residential remodelers by Qualified Remodeler Magazine since 1999.

Marshall Hickox, the President and RME, graduated with a degree in Building Materials and Wood Sciences from the University of Massachusetts. Hickox has 20 years of building experience, with five years of government contracting experience. Among his many recognitions include being an NKBA award-winning designer. He is currently the 2019 President of the Building Industry Association of Hawaii and he was also named top 40 businessmen by Pacific Business News in 2007.

One of the firm’s most noteworthy projects includes an award-winning vintage kitchen. This is the Vintage Addition Manoa which was given the Grand Award prize by the BIA of Hawaii for the categories Residential Remodeling Projects from $200, 000-$450,000. Another Grand Award Winner is the Vintage Kitchen Manoa which won in the category for Kitchen Projects more than $100,001. This kitchen is part of a vintage house built in 1942. Many love this home for having an “old Hawaii” feel. Homeworks was able to renovate this kitchen while still retaining the old Hawaii ambience.  The finished product has crown molding in high ceilings, ohia wood floors, beadboard doors and cabinets, as well as frosted glass candle holders. There is even an attached lanai, to give the look of the kitchen a traditional Hawaiian roof.

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The Best General Contractors in Hawaii

About Our Rankings

This list takes a range of ranking criteria into consideration, including but not limited to: work history, customer satisfaction, awards and recognition, geographic area of work, cost, building permits, and clientele. We spent over 40 hours researching local contractors before calculating the final ranking for this post. If there is additional information about your business that could affect these rankings, please fill out this form and we will take it into consideration.

Get Bids For Your Build

If you are thinking about remodeling your kitchen, we recommend checking each builder’s license with the local licensing board, speaking to past clients, and using our bidding system to get competitive quotes from at least 3 contractors. Getting multiple bids is the best way to ensure you get a fair price and that bids include the complete scope of work.