Some regions of the world recognize patron saints — guardians who guide and watch over people as they go about their business each day.
Here in Hawai‘i, the patron saint of West O‘ahu might very well be the late Tom Gentry, visionary founder of Gentry Homes.
“I think my first love is in developing new ideas and going places no one has ever been before,” Gentry said. His pioneering spirit led to the development of more than 14,000 homes in Hawai‘i and is also the inspiration for Ka‘ulu by Gentry, a new master-planned neighborhood in Kalaeloa.
According to a Hawai‘i State Senate commendation presented to Gentry Homes President and CEO Quentin Machida during a recent blessing ceremony for the project, “Ka‘ulu by Gentry helps to fulfill a vision of a new livable, sustainable community [and] aligns with the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority Kalaeloa Master Plan.”
Rick Hobson
Steve Colón
A dining area in a Hoku model home showcases nine-foot ceilings and high-end finishes available at Ka‘ulu by Gentry.
PHOTO COURTESY GENTRY HOMES LTD.
COMMUNITY UPGRADES PLANNED
Imagine parks and open green spaces. Inviting walkways. Plantation- and Craftsman-inspired neighborhoods with upscale energy systems in every home.
“There will be 36 two- and three-bedroom attached townhomes, and 12 single-family detached homes completed and available for move-in by the end of the first quarter of 2024” at Ka‘ulu, says Rick Hobson, Gentry Homes sales and marketing vice president.
Once complete in Fall 2026, the project will offer nearly 400 homes to new residents, many of whom will likely commute to work in urban Honolulu.
Hunt Development Group Hawai‘i, like Gentry, is helping to drive growth within this metroplex-in-the-making. According to company President Steve Colón, land development work continues as Hunt will complete “$5 million in roadway infrastructure in 2024.”
Hunt also plans to start another $20 million of roadway infrastructure this year and next, with approximately $2.5 million more set aside each year for tenant improvements and maintenance of its Kalaeloa holdings.
CONNECTING VETERANS WITH MEDICAL CARE
Some of these new roadways will support the new Daniel K. Akaka Department of Veterans Affairs Community-Based Outpatient Clinic in Kalaeloa. Nan Inc. is general contractor on the $120 million development initiative, which is scheduled to open in April.
“The state-of-the-art multi-specialty campus will offer primary and mental health care, laboratory and diagnostic services, specialty care, X-ray and a pharmacy, addressing the growing demand for services on the island,” says Colón.
All Ka‘ulu homes feature attractive architectural elements visible from every angle.
a proclamation was presented by Hawai‘i State Senator Mike Gabbard, House Rep. Rose Martinez and Rep. David Alcos III to Gentry Home’s President and CEO Quentin Machida (third from left) at the blessing of Ka‘ulu in Kalaeloa.
Hunt Development Group Hawai‘i and subcontractor Goodfellow Bros. widened and upgraded sidewalks and added landscaping along Franklin D. Roosevelt Ave. and Boxer Road next to Kalaeloa’s new VA clinic. PHOTO COURTESY THE IMAGE GROUP/GOODFELLOW BROS.
Beachside Roofing began work on a single-ply roofing project at the clinic in January 2022 and is expected to wrap early this month. PHOTO COURTESY THE IMAGE GROUP/GOODFELLOW BROS.
Most importantly, he says, the clinic “will allow the VA to provide medical care to more than 88,000 veterans on O‘ahu.”
The approximately 90,000-square-foot clinic will also play a key role in Kalaeloa’s future commercial growth. According to Hobson, a neighborhood shopping complex is planned for the area directly adjacent to campus.
Nan Inc. expects to complete installation of synthetic turf at Honouliuli Middle School in February. PHOTO COURTESY NAN INC.
Steve Kelly
UPCOMING KAPOLEI PROJECTS SHOW PROMISE
In nearby Kapolei, another community-building project is in its last stages. Nan Inc. is installing synthetic field turf at Honouliuli Middle School in support of its football and soccer teams, with work expected to wrap in February.
Significant expansion of the neighborhood’s infrastructure and light industrial base is also underway, with work spearheaded by James Campbell Company (JCC).
“[Kapolei] has the room to accommodate future growth in a variety of product types whereas Honolulu and other areas of the island do not,” says Steve Kelly, president of JCC’s Aina Nui Corp. “The only large-scale business park and industrial growth availability is in Kapolei. The same holds for new residential development of any scale and diversity of product type.”
Paradigm Construction is building Phase 1B of the State Harbor Access Road on nearly 14 acres in Kapolei Harborside. PHOTO COURTESY PARADIGM CONSTRUCTION LLC
In addition, JCC broke ground last May on a new 102,000-square-foot warehouse at Kapolei Harborside, next to Kalaeloa Barbers Point Harbor. The project architect is Sueda & Associates and Honolulu Builders is the general contractor.
“We expect delivery of the building in summer 2024,” Kelly says.
The company is also building a
new four-lane highway connecting Kapolei Harborside with the nearby H-1 Freeway.
“For now, the highway is referred to as the State Harbor Access Road,” Kelly explains. “We expect permanent naming to be handled in conjunction with the state Department of Transportation. The new highway will be built in phases.”
The first phase, completed by Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. Inc., was completed in 2018, according to Kelly. Phase 1A was completed last year by Royal Contracting Co. Ltd., with Paradigm Construction LLC breaking ground on Phase 1B in October.
Valued at $35.7 million, Phase 1B “is a major backbone roadway project that will … run 3,800 linear feet parallel to Kalaeloa Boulevard,” says Alex Kwon, Paradigm president.
“We expect the current phase to be completed in early 2025,” Kelly adds. “There are two remaining phases to complete the highway — Phase 1C and Phase 2. We are currently designing those phases.”
A CLOSER LOOK AT KA‘ULU
Ka‘ulu by Gentry’s single-family and multifamily homes all feature:
Open-concept kitchen and living areas
Nine-foot ceiling heights in most living areas
Luxury vinyl plank flooring Plush wall-to-wall carpeting in all bedroom Modern kitchens with solid-surface kitchen countertops
GE appliance packages
Kohler “Task” stainless steel kitchen sinks and plumbing fixtures throughout
Walk-in closets in primary bedrooms
Sterling brand Vikrell tubs and shower surrounds
Coaxial cable in all bedrooms and living areas
Fiber-optic cable and CAT-6 wiring in all living areas
USB outlets, structural data panels and wiring for high-performance networking
“Gentry Homes is widely recognized for its VIP (Value Included in Price) program, which includes many energy-efficient features in each home as a standard feature that results in real savings every month,” says Rick Hobson, Gentry Homes sales and marketing vice president.
Energy-efficientfeatures include:
Low-E impact-resistant vinyl windows
High-efficiency rating SEER2 central air conditioning
Digital thermostats
Solar water heating systems with 80-gallon tanks
Spray foam insulation
LED lighting packages
Insulated garage doors
Electric vehicle-ready garages
Energy Star appliances
Phase 1A of the State Harbor Access Road Backbone project, valued at $26.2 million and completed by Royal Contracting in December, covers 15.5 acres and includes drain, water and sewer utilities. The concrete slab at lower left is for Campbell’s new 102,000-square-foot warehouse, currently underway by Honolulu Builders. PHOTO COURTESY ROYAL CONTRACTING CO. LTD.
UPCOMING PROJECTS
The company has other big projects on the drawing board.
“We are currently in design for Building 2 in Kapolei Harborside,” Kelly says. “It is being designed by Lowney Architechture. Construction could begin in 2024.
“We hope to ramp up our building development platform to deliver one new industrial building per year, depending on demand,” he says. “We are also working on a variety of other projects and investments outside of our industrial development platform.
“What we’ve seen over the last 30 years in Kapolei has been truly remarkable,” he adds, “and we feel that was only the beginning stages of community, business and employment growth here.
“We believe Kapolei will continue to be the fastest-growing area in the state of Hawai‘i.”
