KS earns Hawaii Business magazine Developer of the Year Award

Walter Thoemmes, KS Commercial Real Estate managing director accepted the Developer of the Year Award from Steve Petranik, editor of Hawaii Business magazine.

Jun. 14, 2017

Contributed by Mae Nishimura

Hawaii Business magazine recently honored Kamehameha Schools with its Developer of the Year Award.

KS earned the accolade for using its 1,500-acre commercial real estate portfolio to improve community conditions for Native Hawaiians. The award also recognizes Kamehameha’s ongoing dedication to uplift the lāhui through community redevelopment.

The award was presented at the magazine’s Top 100 Realtors Gala held at the Royal Hawaiian resort. Hawaii Business magazine has celebrated the best in Hawaiʻi real estate through the Top 100 Realtors list and awards gala since 2007.

“Kamehameha Schools is not your traditional developer,” said Walter Thoemmes, KS Commercial Real Estate managing director. “Education is first, and we develop for a cause: our mission.

“Our projects provide an environment for our keiki to live, work, and contribute to the community for a thriving lāhui. Winning Developer of the Year is an honor, and KS will continue to steward its resources for a better Hawai‘i.”

Hawaii Business first began awarding Developer of the Year in 2014 and chooses its honorees through suggestions from readers, sponsors, and other industry affiliates. The award seeks to honor those who show distinguished service to the industry and positive impact in the community.

“It was my privilege to present this year’s Hawaii Business Developer of the Year award to Kamehameha Schools,” said Steve Petranik, editor of Hawaii Business magazine.

“We all know that revenue generated from Kamehameha Schools’ real estate and other investments are used to educate Hawaiian children. But its mission is also to honor Native Hawaiian culture and identity in the stewardship of its real estate assets. And the trust works to ensure that the development and management of its commercial properties provide economic benefits and a healthy environment for the entire community. That’s why Kamehameha Schools is well deserving of this award.”

Past recipients of this award include Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Stanford Carr Development, and D.R. Horton.

Images provided by Hawaii Business from the event can be found here.

KS also recently received two best in class development awards from the Hawaiʻi Chapter of the National Association of Industrial and Office Properties for its SALT at Our Kakaʻako and Haleʻiwa Store Lots commercial projects.

STRATEGIC PLAN 2020
SP2020 is a five-year strategic plan that will guide Kamehameha Schools from 2015 to 2020. The plan marks a starting point toward KS’ Vision 2040, which envisions success for all Native Hawaiian learners.

The award-winning projects address Goal 3 of SP2020 which calls for shared customs, values and behaviors that strengthen KS’ identity as a Native Hawaiian organization. It also supports Action 6 of Kamehameha’s Ten Actions for fiscal year 2016-2017 relating to adopting cultural principles on Pauahi’s lands.

Chayla Nakamoto, who contributed this story, is a 2014 Kamehameha Schools Kapālama graduate serving as a communications intern with the Communications Group. She is a senior attending the University of Southern California where she will complete her bachelor of arts degree in English and is currently considering career options in publishing.

Kamehameha Schools is not your traditional developer. Education is first, and we develop for a cause: our mission. Our projects provide an environment for our keiki to live, work, and contribute to the community for a thriving lāhui. Winning Developer of the Year is an honor, and KS will continue to steward its resources for a better Hawai‘i.
Walter Thoemmes, KS Commercial Real Estate managing director.

The award also recognizes Kamehameha’s ongoing dedication to uplift the lāhui through community redevelopment.
Credit: Hawaii Business Magazine