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We also hired a landscaping/masonry contractor "Higa Masonry" owner "David Higa" about 9 months ago. We hired him to build a rockwall, put in a contcrete driveway, and install a chainlink fence on our property on 5th street. We wanted someone who was a licensed contractor to do the work. Well they started off fine....but then they started slowing down to maybe once a week until after about 6 weeks they just didn't show at all. Thats right....we got taken. They just disappeared after paying them half down to start and getting less than 1/4 of the work done (part of the rockwall, no chainlink fence and no concrete driveway). We then checked his business license number, and it turn out to be a bogus number. His phone number and cell phone that had worked before doesn't work now and his address is also bogus.
We then went to see a lawyer and the lawyer told us that it would cost us $5,000 up front to do all the paperwork to try and get this guy, but even if we did find him, the odds are slim that we would be able to get our money back.
So I guess what I trying to say here is: If anybody the park ever encounters this company or this man, DO NOT HIRE HIM! Report Him !
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Whoa, I am so sorry to hear your story!!! Thanks for the heads up - I'm sure your sad tale will help someone later on down the line.
I know it's little comfort, but I believe that what goes around comes around.
Mahalo for sharing!
PunaCat
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Hi PunaCat,
I met with Ama a few days ago. He also showed me walls that he has built and I found them to be well built (from what I can see).
It turns out that my rock wall guy finally finished his task (yeah!) and we're ready to move on to the next phase.
I think we'll be holding off building the rock columns at the other home until after we get more urgent things done like landscaping. When we're ready, I may call Ama back.
Thanks for the referral.
Noel
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Hi All! When we were visiting Lee & Ana last week we got a real treat of a tour of their new home there in Ainaloa! They have wonderful rock walls around their entire property. They got a quote intially that was in the stratosphere and then ended up with a real hardworking family that gave them an amazing deal.
Tony & I are gonna do some rock walls in front and possibly the remaining side of the property since our neighbor has already done the other property line. With what we saw at Lee's place, we're gonna try to get their rock people to do ours.
Aloha!
Carrie
Oh and Macuu - that's horrible what happened and that there's not even a repercussion for you considering you would have to further put out more money with the likelihood of no real satisfactory outcome! I think it's important for Punawebbers to remember these names and incidents and as Punaweb grows this type of element may feel the effects of the bonds created here. Sorry for your experience.
Edited by - Carolann R on 06/28/2006 21:47:25
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Just be careful with that rock wall, you would not want to encroach into the neighboring property(ies.)
Aloha,
John S. Rabi, ABR,CM,CRB,FHS,PB,RB
http://www.JohnRabi.com
Typically Tropical Properties
75-5870 Walua Road, Suite 101
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740
(808)327-3185
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Thanks John...the property lines are still pinned...so I think we'll be okay...but will be careful nonetheless.
Carrie
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Carolann
Your right...there was nothing we could do with regard to getting our money back....but we did get the satisfaction of reporting him to both the IRS and the Hawaii Department of Commerce (and from which I was told ....they did find him and fined him)
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Very cool. At least they are catching up to him...his reputation precedes him here, though.
Carrie
http://www.cafepress.com/dreamhawaii
http://www.hellophoenix.com/art
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quote:
Aloha!
I just had some rock walls put in, and wanted to share my story in case anyone else out there was looking for someone to do the same.
I stopped at a jobsite last week to talk to the men putting in the stone wall there. I had been asking everyone I knew (and didn't know!) for recommendations, but couldn't get any info at all....
I couldn't be more happy or more please with my choice, as random as it was.
This gentleman came down to my house that afternoon, and by the next day - NEXT DAY - had his crew at my house, starting the project. They were completely finished in 3 days. I've hired them to come back and make some more walls leading up the driveway to finish the look.
I came to find out, these guys have been around for twenty years, building all kinds of walls around the area - including work up at the Volcano Nat'l Park.
They did a most beautiful job, and as you can tell by now, I would highly recommend them. It can be so difficult today to find reliable, hard working people that can also do such a good job - it pleases me to pass along his name:
Amalani Tu'a (goes by "Ama"
938-6544
If anyone has any questions, please feel free to email me.
Puna Cat
