As a company with very humble origins, we’re very proud of our long history of innovation, perseverance and progressiveness in providing for customers and employees.

TIMELINE

August 8, 1921 – Hawaii Planing Mill, Ltd. is founded by local building contractors Kametaro Fujimoto and Sanzo Kawasaki as a lumber milling operation, planing and re-sawing timber from the mainland into finished lumber

1929 — Kametaro’s son, Barney Fujimoto, becomes general manager and adds other product lines such as paint, plumbing supplies, and hardware items

1941-1945  — During World War II, the US Department of Defense orders Navy Seabees to assume control of inventory, operations and employees

April 1, 1946 – A tsunami destroys a major portion of HPM leaving only an office and a small warehouse area

1954 — Barney’s son Robert “Bobby” Fujimoto, who joined the company in 1951, is installed as President

1955 — HPM relocates to Kamehameha Avenue, next to Hilo Ironworks, after the County issues a new bay front area development plan in response to the 1946 Tsunami

1959 — The Kona branch opens in Captain Cook as “Captain Cook Building Supply”

1959 — HPM is one of the first companies in the state to establish a profit-sharing plan, allowing employees to share company profits

May 22, 1960 — Once again a Tsunami completely destroys HPM’s Hilo facility.  HPM resumes operations out of a county warehouse designated for temporary use by victims of the tsunami.

1961 — HPM reconstructs at its current location in Hilo on Kanoelehua Avenue

1963 — Custom Metal Roofing begins supplying customers statewide with custom cut lengths of rolled formed metal roofing in different patterns and sizes

1977 — HPM is one of the first companies in Hawaii to create an Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) providing employees an opportunity to own company stock and participate in the growth of HPM

1978 — The Wood Protection Company begins pressure treatment of lumber and wood products in Keaukaha

1980 — HPM begins its pre-hung door manufacturing operation

1982 — HPM begins providing “packaged” homes and home planning consulting

1983 — HPM opens the Waimea Branch at its current location on the Mamalahoa Highway and the Hilo, Waimea and Kona branches unite under the name “HPM Building Supply”    

1992 — After 38 years as President, Robert Fujimoto retires and son Michael Fujimoto is installed as President and Chief Executive Officer

1994 — HPM’s corporate offices move to Shipman Industrial Park in Kea`au along side a lumber yard and its Custom Metal Roofing, Truss and Door manufacturing facilities

1997 — HPM Custom Metal Roofing opens its sales office and warehouse in Honolulu

1998 — HPM Hilo’s Kitchen & Bath Showroom opens

2001 — HPM’s Kona Branch relocates to its current 6-acre location with the first drive through lumber yard on the island

2005 — HPM develops a Distribution Center in Keaukaha, adjacent to its Wood Treatment facility

2006 — HPM becomes 100% owned by its Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)

2007 — HPM expands its Honolulu sales office and begins offering lumber and building materials to Oahu, Maui and Kauai