Posts: 73
Threads: 18
Joined: Dec 2005
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
Posts: 942
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Joined: Aug 2005
Thanks, Cat! You're right, its tough to find good, reliable people and when you do find them, keep 'em. It's too early for me to need rock wall people on my next construction project, but I will definitely keep this person in mind. Thank you for sharing the information!
John Dirgo, RA, ABR, e-PRO
Island Trust Properties, LLC
808-987-9243 cell
Posts: 2,402
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Joined: Apr 2005
Thanks Cat for this useful information. One question if you know, do they do stairways? I have seen many rock stair ways in old town Hilo, just 2 or 3 stairs up to the main entrance of a home, with a few wall here and there for gardens. I love the old time look and thought you might have the answer. Mahalo, Mella
mella l
mella l
Art and Science
bytheSEA
Posts: 94
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Joined: Feb 2006
Cat that is great. Did they supply the rocks or did you have on your property? Charge by the hour or job? I will be needing work done in the future.
Maholo
Posts: 73
Threads: 18
Joined: Dec 2005
Sorry I've been off line for a while -
As to the stairwells, I don't personally know - but these guys have been at it for 20 years, and from what I've seen of their work here, and in the neighborhood, I don't think there is much that they can't do!
Cindy - they used all the stone from right here on site. You know how these new construction projects look like: it's a mess here! One of the things I wanted to do, in the process of healing the land, was to put into use as much as I could from what the contractor had torn up. Ama was very receptive - and it certainly made the job go faster.
They charged by the job. I paid for the cement, and the sand that they arranged to have delivered. And when the job was pau, I paid them for their labor. I still have sand and cement left over, which will be used when they come back in a couple of weeks to continue the wall up into my driveway.
Hope that helps, and again, I'm sorry I didn't answer you right away!
PunaCat
Posts: 2,189
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Joined: Sep 2004
AWESOME. I love seeing everyone share information like this. It is part of what this forum is so valuable for... what works well, who does a good job, etc. Mahalo PunaCat!
Just another day in P A R A D I S E !!
I want to be the kind of woman that, when my feet
hit the floor each morning, the devil says
"Oh Crap, She's up!"
Posts: 73
Threads: 18
Joined: Dec 2005
Hey - this is what it is all about! Right? Right!
It's funny, but I just spoke to Ama tonight, and they are coming back week after next to do some more work for me. If anyone is interested in meeting them and wants to check out their work, you're more than welcome to stop by. Just email me.
It takes a lot to impress me, and these guys impressed the heck out of me. 
PunaCat
thewingates@earthlink.net
Posts: 138
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Joined: Aug 2004
Ama just returned my call. We're meeting tomorrow to discuss rock posts that we'd like to install at an entry gate. He sounded great over the phone and we're excited to met him.
I've had a looooong drawn out experience with another rock wall builder - close to 1 year of construction for a wall around a half acre lot. I just heard back from this other guy and he's promised to complete the job this week. The delay is holding up our final pool inspection and the opening of our vacation rental.
Our lesson with this first experience to not be too premature with the payments, to hold a good percentage for the final completion. You also have to monitor the progress closely. On a couple of occasions, I had to have them restart a section after finding that the rocks were laid on a thick cushion of ironwood needles!
Getting smarter at every turn...
Noel
Posts: 73
Threads: 18
Joined: Dec 2005
Excellent Noel - How did it go with Ama?
They'll be back at my place tomorrow!
Sorry to hear about your experience with "the other guy". There's a lot of that everywhere, unfortunately. For myself, I'm trying to pace what I want done. Trying to avoid making mistakes by rushing in and hiring untried folks to do things here. The down side of that, is that one project hinges on another, that depends on another. I'm excited to get things done, to watch my little piece of paradise take shape. It's not easy to be patient, to wait it out and to meet the right people. But it certainly pays off in the long run!!
Finding this forum has been a real blessing. I have gotten a lot out of it, met some wonderful people and found a great, loving support system. It pleases me that I can contribute something positive and useful! And I've only been here since March! Ha! Ha!
PunaCat
Posts: 2,899
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Unfortuneately the rock waller we hired recently at our HPP home took our downpayment and split. I would not recommend Martin Atwood (owner) of Kau Rock Builders to anyone.
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