Maryl to merge construction firms

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

KAILUA-KONA, Hawai'i — A Big Island-based construction and commercial development firm has announced plans to consolidate and streamline its construction units to take advantage of its rapid growth.

Maryl Development, led by Mark Richards of Kona, began 15 years ago in custom home building and has become the state's fourth-largest builder, with $77 million in projects last year.

Richards is merging his two construction firms — Maryl Construction and Maryl Pacific Construction — into a single entity called Maryl Construction that will be headed by Dan Jordan. Its headquarters will be on O'ahu.

The realty, development and architectural units of Maryl Development will remain in Kona.

Richards predicted there will be no loss of jobs in his total work force, which averages about 250 employees during the year.

He said he expects his companies, collectively known as the Maryl Group, will grow as they go after projects on Maui and Kaua'i as well as additional work in West Hawai'i and O'ahu.

He said his two construction firms were overlapping and competing for the same work.

"The streamlined entity will make the company more efficient, nimble and responsive," he said.

The Maryl Group saw a 125 percent increase in business last year. It developed two major commercial projects on the Big Island: the Crossroads Center in Kona and the Waiakea Center in Hilo.

Among major projects under way are the 125-unit luxury residential project known as Villages at Mauna Lani and the 137,000-square-foot Home Depot at Pearl Highlands on O'ahu. Maryl's 200-unit Worldmark time-share development in Kihei on Maui is due for completion in August.