Malakai Construction, Inc. DFW

The Who’s Who in Building & Construction
Issue:  South Florida
Editorial Story
Featuring:  Malaka’i Construction, Inc.
Author:  Tracy Torma

Taking it to the Next Level

Malaka’i Construction, Inc.: 35 years of delivering quality projects

by: Tracy Torma

J Han grew up around the construction industry watching his father build a plumbing, HVAC, and electrical firm into a small construction company in his native New York City. Han followed in his father’s footsteps, but has taken his own company, Malaka’i Construction, Inc. to the next level.

“My father insisted on his business staying small. I learned a lot about construction and business from him throughout the years, but I wanted our company to become nationwide and possibly international. We’re on our way,” says Han, CEO/Chairman.

Founded in 1986, Malaka'i Construction, Inc. is a full service commercial and industrial architectural and engineering construction company with experience in many market sectors, including ground up construction, hotel construction and renovation, commercial construction, and buildouts and renovation for office buildings, medical facilities, and retail spaces/malls. The company also provides architectural design and civil and structural engineering services to commercial clients. Additionally, Malakai provides design-build and renovation services for residential clients, whether it be a small cottage or a luxurious mansion.

The company employs around 250 people in seven strategically located offices across the United States. Headquartered in Honolulu, Hawaii, the company has locations in Chicago, Illinois, and Austin, Houston and Dallas, Texas, Manhattan, New York. Han is now bringing his three decades of construction and construction management experience to Florida. With their newest office location in Miami, One Brickell Building. 

One-of-a-Kind Spaces

Over the last 35 years, Malaka’i Construction, Inc. has delivered landmark building projects for corporations and government entities, as well as luxury home construction for residential customers. They have completed more than 200 design-build projects and many from the ground up structures.  

Some of their standout work has included construction projects for Chicago Lakeshore Hospital, Bank Of America, Great Lakes Naval Base, Hilton Hotels, O’Hare International Airport,  American Apparel’s 20 locations nationwide over the course of six years and major remodels for high-rises, like the BPI Head Office Building in Makati, Philippines, and First Hawaiian Center in Honolulu, the tallest building in the state, and many more.

“We are passionate about creating one-of-a-kind spaces that support our customers’ passions,” says Han, “whether that’s a retail space, office building, manufacturing facility, medical office or an inviting home or estate.

“We offer high quality work at very competitive prices. We come to work every day to be the construction company of choice for our customers, the employer of choice for our people and to set the highest standards for ethics, quality and safety,” Han says.

The company’s newest office location in downtown Miami is located at One Brickell, where key staff includes Architect Sergio Astorga, Superintendent Hoang Nguyen, Office Manager/Administrator Nellie Kathane and Lead Estimator/Project Manager Jay Brooks.

In the past two years, the team has completed a variety of projects, from a Dollar General store build-out in Miami to a doctors’ offices remodel and build-out for Sanitas Medical Center in West Palm Beach.

Han says the company is currently beginning plans for a large development in the Brickell area of downtown Miami estimated to cost between $1 billion to $2 billion. The company is also starting the complete retrofit of 62 YouFit health clubs, with 42 of the locations in Florida.

Building Relationships

Han says his team prides itself on developing relationships with its customers. “I know a lot of other companies get too busy and don’t get back to their customers in a timely manner or just don’t give enough time to their clients. We do.” Han says. 

The firm’s goal is to develop reliable construction budgets, and they work diligently to deliver even the most complex projects on time and on budget. “We are able to build rock-solid budgeting practices through ongoing feedback with our on-site teams, suppliers and subcontractors. By maintaining open channels of communication throughout our organization, we ensure the most up-to-date costing and project forecasting,” he says.

 

Han, himself, takes an active role on the project team. He regularly meets with clients, often visiting them on the property or meeting them for lunch or dinner. “I work hand in hand with my clients. We keep in touch throughout the project. We don’t leave them stranded,” he notes.

He’s also upfront about project costs. “Oftentimes, a construction company will underbid a project to get the job. They will drop their bid 10% - 15% whether they can realistically do the job for that price or not, then hit the client with additional work orders to make up the money. Our bids are accurate. I’m honest with my clients about actual costs.”

For the past eight years, Malaka’i Construction, Inc. has used building information modeling (BIM) on nearly all of its complex projects. “BIM increases efficiencies, reduces late changes during the course of construction and minimizes rework that results in additional cost or extensions to the construction schedule,” Han says. “And, it improves operational efficiencies throughout the life of the building.”

 

Safety is also an important part of the culture. The company’s core safety program relies on a simple approach and message: “No One Gets Hurt.” As such, the company creates site-specific safety programs for each project. All site supervisors carry OSHA 30-hour safety training cards and have completed a fall protection program. All on-site workers have OSHA 10-hour safety training, as well as scaffold training. “We implement detailed safety checklists and require safety training on a regular basis. We also have weekly toolbox meetings on all projects,” Han says.

“The most important thing we can do every day is to send our men and women home in the same shape as when they arrived.” he adds.

Sustainability in Action

Malaka’i Construction, Inc. employees advocate for green design and construction practices to help its customers create environmentally conscious facilities. The team has completed multiple LEED-certified projects and is working on numerous projects to be registered with the U.S. Green Building Council. “Our approach to sustainability has ranked our company as the nation’s 15th largest green contractor,” Han notes.

The company’s commitment to sustainability will be evident in its new future LEED Platinum corporate headquarters expansion in Honolulu. Han says many of the finishes used in the building will include recycled, non-toxic and low-emitting materials.

“We have LEED-accredited professionals on staff to work closely with each customer to meet their own sustainability needs,” Han adds.

Community Service, Near and Far

Whether it’s helping communities where the company has offices or sending donations across the globe to help in times of need, Malaka’i Construction, Inc. gives back. 

Han says that the company put up tents at its offices in Chicago and Houston for administering COVID vaccinations this year. In Houston, the company helped community members obtain temporary housing, shelter and food. after Hurricane Harvey in 2017 

And Han has personally provided financial resources for students in the Philippines and he also provided monetary donations for relief help after a typhoon struck that country in early 2021. 

Always on the go, Han says he tried to semi-retire 15 years ago, but the lure of the construction industry brought him back after two years. These days, Han says he keeps his hands in most things as the company continues to grow, traveling from office to office to meet with clients, whether in Hawaii or the mainland.

“I get involved with each client. Before we start a project, I sit down and discuss their needs with them. When we put a proposal together, I present it to the client. And we stay in touch through project completion. This intense commitment to our clients is the reason 80% of our projects represent repeat business,” he adds.

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AUTHOR BIO: Formerly a newspaper reporter, Tracy Torma is a multiaward-winning author and editor who’s been penning people’s stories for 40+ years.

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