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Po Brothers is owner-operated out of Haiku. Ten years, one full-time employee, and a phone that gets answered by the person who will be running the machine.
How it started
Construction and landscaping, and I was always drawn to the heavy equipment. I was fortunate enough to have a boss named Gary who taught me to run his machines — and that became my job on the crew.
I spent several years at Mama's Fish House, and did all the groundwork at Maui Tropical Plantation for the new restaurant there. After that I felt like I had enough experience to branch out on my own.
I started by putting the word out, taking excavation jobs and using rental equipment. The company grew from there, and I started buying machines. That was ten years ago.
Still a small operation. Me as the owner-operator, and one full-time employee — Rusty, my right-hand man, who I trust to run jobs on his own. When the schedule is busy we split up, bring in our subcontracting operators, and each take a job.
Rusty is intelligent, capable, punctual and reliable. That is not filler; on a two-man operation it is the entire business.
Two excavators, a diesel truck and a dump trailer. All of our large trucking is outsourced to two companies we have worked with for essentially the whole ten years.
On top of our own machines, we hold rental accounts with every equipment rental company on the island, so we can bring in any piece of equipment regardless of size or utility to suit the job. When we bid, the rental of any additional equipment is included in the price as its own line — so you can see exactly what you are paying for.
A conversation on the phone first, about what you want to do. Then we set a time to meet in person and do an on-site check — walk the property, talk through the project, take the measurements. Then I go home, do the volume calculations, work out the equipment and the time frame, and send you an itemized estimate, generally within three to five days of the appointment.
A new home house pad cut, septic system and yard grading on a two-acre lot in Pukalani. About a three-month project. We moved over 800 cubic yards of soil and hauled off roughly 600 tons of it; the rest was spread to create the finished yard grade and the step down for the driveway and the house.
Being a small owner-operated company where my name is literally the business, I take a lot of pride in being reliable, communicating properly, and showing up when we said we would. That is what has kept this business running for ten years on word of mouth.
Eight reviews, eight towns
Ten years on word of mouth — real jobs, and the town each was in.
“Nothing but Excellence! Hands down 10 out of 10 recommendation! Akua and his crew showed up ready to work and get the job done!! Their professionalism and experience are second to none .From the first moment I met him I knew me and my ohana were in great hands! Highly recommend anyone trying to get the job done the right way. Hire no one else but Po Brothers!”
Kamalu E.Land clearing and runoff controlPukalani“Akua and Rusty are professional, capable, trustworthy and excellent at what they do. We needed a large backyard area cleared of old chicken coops, construction debris and old machinery, sheds and plant material. They arrived promptly and immediately came up with a plan to maximize their time and resources. They are smart problem solvers working with patient and positive attitudes and were able to remove 22,000 lbs of waste/trash from the property in 3 days. The invoicing was clear and the price was fair. I highly recommend Po Brothers! They exceeded all expectations. I will absolutely call them again.”
Jen J.Land clearing and waste removalPukalani“My back yard, on a 45 degree angled slope, was overgrown with brush at least twenty years old. Some branches were reaching over onto the second story of my house. The whole thing posed a fire hazard. Akua and Rusty cleared a “forest” worth of brush with there small excavator and chainsaws. There was not enough space to fit large equipment. These two men worked hard and efficiently. They were on time and professional. Communication was excellent and the price was fair. All of this wood had to also be chipped and hauled away. When done, they left the project site clean as if they weren’t even there. I could not be more pleased with their service and I highly recommend this company.”
Irene O.Clearing for fire preventionKahului“The guys at Po Brothers are top notch professionals! They did an excellent job putting in a long driveway and graveling it. They showed up when they said they would and finished the job ahead of schedule. We will definitely call them again and highly recommend them. Our long sloped driveway is perfect!”
Dave R.Gravel drivewayHaiku“We are very pleased with the excavation work. Akua was very professional and communicated throughout the process. I would highly recommend Po Brothers and will definitely use them again.”
Robert H.Excavation and gradingKula“Super professional, smart &efficient - did everything as agreed upon within allotted time & budget - highly recommended!!! Also gave sound advice when needed- very pleasant to work with!”
Claudia G.Lava rock retaining wall and trenchingKeokea“We are so very happy with our finished project. Akua did everything he said he would do. He gave us a detailed invoice so we knew exactly what materials were being used. He came when he said he would and even gave us a courtesy call the day before. He was punctual and came 3 days in a row to finish the project. It was finished when he said it would be. He is a breath of fresh air. And his estimate was thousands less than the other estimates. We highly recommend him and respect his integrity.”
Marie Anne T.Landscape retaining wallKihei“Akua gave me the lowest bid by a large margin. He also bid the job by the days it would take and we had time to do extra work within the same timeframe which made a huge difference. His professional manner and great communication was a great comfort and his expertise on his machinery was miraculous. The placement of rocks and going the extra mile in doing all the final touches of landscaping and racking was beyond my expectations. He had another man watering and doing small things that kept my neighbors happy things running smoothly. He is the best.”
Kirk D.Boulder wall and gradingKiheiNo call center, no sales rep. Akua answers the phone, walks your property, and does the work.
