Blake Kolona

Young painting contractors Blake (left) and Scott Kolona have built successful Kolona Painting from the ground up.

Kolona Painting: Two Brothers with a Dream

By Carrie Lyn Higa, September 26, 1997

“This company is two brothers with big dreams and big hearts trying to survive in the tough world,” say Blake and Scott Kolona, who own Kolona Painting. “Our customers like the roots part of us the down- to-earth business.”

The Kolona brothers have built the business with determination. At 23, Blake Kolona managed to earn his contractors license, becoming one of state’s youngest contractors at the time. Scott is a master instructor in the painting trade for the Association of Builders and Contractors (ABC), and teaches at Honolulu Community College.

The brothers started Kolona Painting in 1992. After Blake had completed the state apprenticeship. program in painting (with honors), he wanted to start his own business. But he had no business experience.

“My experience was from on the job and working with the people and workers,” he says. “That’s the best experience you’re going to get. School isn’t going to teach you that.”

“We started off with maybe $1,000,” Scott says. With that money, the brothers bought supplies and a $300 truck, and began painting houses. The company’s head- quarters was the garage of a house Blake was renting, and the brothers sold their personal vehicles to buy more supplies. The firm now operates five fully equipped work trucks and a 2,000-square-foot warehouse.

Their first big job came from a chance meeting. Blake was putting gas in the company truck one morning, when another truck pulled up to the gas station. Blake complimented the driver on his truck. The driver noticed Blake’s company shirt and asked about the firm. A few days later, they got a call for a job. The man turned out to be a project coordinator for Schuler Homes, which the company is still doing work for.

But while Kolona Painting has worked with sizeable state, federal, residential and commercial clients – such as Schuler Homes, the Arizona Memorial and custom homes in Waialae-Iki the firm won’t turn away a homeowner with a $50 job. “We respect the little guy as much as the big guy,” Blake says.

Kolona handles job site quality control while Scott does the estimating. Kolona Painting’s 15 workers work according to a “five-finger rule,” Blake says. Safety always comes first, followed by quality, respect, team- work and speed last. All workers are trained in CPR and are OSHA certified. The company, which offers interior and exterior preparation and finishing, color mixing, redecoration, oils, stains, bleachings, special coatings, striping and wall coverings, can also give customers competitive pricing and longer warranties.he brothers credit their family and employees for making the company possible. “This company is about the people who were there through the good times and the bad, and that’s everybody,” Blake says. His mother is an important part of the company. She taught Blake and Scott about business from her experience managing an office at a consulting engineering firm, and they taught her about the painting trade, Blake says.

The firm’s involvement with the Oahu Contractors Association has also helped business. The brothers were elected to the board of directors in 1995, becoming the youngest members by about 15 years. At the association’s last meeting this year, the brothers were honored for their volunteer work at Kalihi Kai Elementary and Palama Settlement.

The greatest challenge, Blake says, is surviving in an industry they cannot control. But what keeps them going is the dream of having a successful painting company.

“We really love what we do,” Blake says. “We’re not trying to make a million dollars on one job. In 10 years we still want to be a humble company serving the local people.”