Your Friendly Home Improvement Experts

A Minneapolis couple’s dream of moving to the Islands and starting a neighborhood home improvement shop has flourished into a legacy of serving the community for seven decades. Hardware Hawaii opened its first store in Kailua in 1954 and recently marked its 70th anniversary with a summertime paina there. Featuring the company’s high-quality products and ohana spirit, the celebration bridged past, present and future.

Hardware Hawaii was founded by entrepreneurs Dana and Mary Lundquist. Hawaii Home + Remodeling interviewed their son, David Lundquist, just before he passed away last year. He was the company’s president at the time and had seen the business evolve. The early days of Hardware Hawaii were “very difficult,” he recalled, but his parents worked hard to develop trust and support.

“Hardware Hawaii was not a dominant hardware store” when it started, said Lundquist in an email interview last September. “Dad hired many Kailua High School grads from Waihole Valley/Kahaluu, many with musical talents. They played at the company parties. Many of the employees became friends and family.”

Craig Morrison, associate director of retail operations, started out as an assistant manager at Hardware Hawaii Kailua. He now oversees operations for all locations.

Knowledgeable, ohana-friendly customer service at its Kailua, Mapunapuna and Koloa locations continue to earn praise from satisfied homeowners and contractors. Longtime staff like Geri Molina, who has been with Hardware Hawaii since 1998, exemplify how employees grow personally and professionally.

“I started as a sales associate working on the floor,” says Molina (shown in the photo at the top of this article). “From there, I moved to every department of the store learning everything to know about the products we carried.”

Now director of the delivered sales department in Mapunapuna, Molina works with contractors to explore how Hardware Hawaii can help them with projects of all sizes. While there are many big-box stores in the state, Hardware Hawaii stands out by providing thoughtfully curated inventories of lumber, tools and materials. Some of Molina’s favorite products include the Pella Windows 250 series, Glu-Lams and high-quality plywood.

Understanding local needs is what the business is all about, says Molina. “Hardware Hawaii lives through its values, ‘Customer First.’”

Craig Morrison, associate director of retail operations, agrees. “What keeps it fun is one day I could be discovering a new technique or product, and the next day I could be troubleshooting a problem with a valued customer,” he says. Morrison started at Hardware Hawaii in 2016 as an assistant store manager in Kailua and now has a key role overseeing operations at all locations.

“Our customer service begins with how we merchandise and care for our products,” he explains. “We strive to have things that are hard to find, like the small items you may need or even the repair parts for an item. Our stores are not huge, but we try to carry everything for your building needs.”

From Fiberglass Hawaii mirror coat resin to SKIL benchtop power tools “for the weekend DIY craftsman” to Ipe and Red Balao decking, Morrison’s product recommendations reflect an experienced understanding of the local market.

“Our employees that we have truly enjoy problem-solving and learning,” he says. “We encourage our team to ask questions. This helps them learn from the customers and to find the right products that best fit their needs.

“You cannot trade the interactions and connections like that with a click of a button” when shopping online, he adds. “You can leave here with a good feeling before the grind of your jobsite.”

Learn more about Hardware Hawaii by visiting hardwarehawaii.com.

Editor’s Note: This article has been slightly modified from the original print version for optimal online reading. To view the full print story, pick up your copy of Hawaii Home + Remodeling at one of our partner locations.