Michael Bonahan is a third generation builder. His grandfather, a master mason, credited his strong work ethic for bringing his family through the Great Depression. Working with his uncles from a very young age, Michael helped in building custom homes, commercial buildings, and resorts. No silver spoons here, Michael put himself through school, and with his brothers built their mother her first home when he was 17 years old right here in Hawaii.
Today, Michael Bonahan helms Kohala Creative Construction, but not from just a desk. And certainly not from the golf course. “Keeping the paperwork in order is very important, but being on the jobsite consistently is invaluable. You see things you can’t find in a superintendent’s report. It also helps keep up employee morale. Our crews perform better and take more pride in their work.”
With a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts, Ricci Racela’s award winning artworks are a part of the permanent collection of The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art and the Hawaii State Foundation on Culture and the Arts. Ricci has produced international photo ads for Time & Newsweek, and has even designed well known movie posters.
Ricci got involved in construction when she met Michael Bonahan in 1983. They were married 9 years later. Ricci brings a strong sense of design, coordination and expertise to the company. “I am so excited about what we’re doing now. Its art on a bigger scale,” she says. “I love being creative. Building homes, kitchens and bathrooms is what I call, “living art. I have a knack for helping owners choose their fixtures, finishes, stone and appliances. I bridge the gap that can exist between the architect and the interior designer.”
Business Philosophy
We measure our success by the smiles on our client’s faces. “We treat you the way we want to be treated,” says Michael Bonahan “with honesty, integrity, and responsibility.”
Ricci Racela says, “We think personalized service is really missing in this market. Our ability to cater to our clients’ unique requests sets us apart from other firms. We specifically don’t take on more than a few homes at a time so we can be personally involved in pleasing each homeowner.”
Business Practices
“We have an open book policy for all expenditures. Ongoing accounting and job audits are provided on a regular basis during a project. Our clients have access to every subcontractor invoice, overhead expense, and payroll record. Change orders are handled with aplomb. “There are no hidden fees, no marked up invoices, or fuzzy accounting,” says Bonahan. “That way everyone sleeps well at night.”
“Of course, we are fully licensed and insured. We have our own concrete, framing, and finish crews,” says Bonahan. “Our crews have been with us for years, and we depend on each other. There health and safety is very important to us. Our safety program keeps our WC rates well below industry averages. We also have a select list of subcontractors we use repeatedly and they are always available for our projects.”
Costs, Value Engineering and Quality
Kohala Creative Construction generates highly detailed budgets for all projects. We work with architects and owners to find ways to build smarter and more efficiently. Kohala Creative Construction never compromises quality when value engineering a custom home.
