The Heart Behind Hawaii Island Waste
Chae Kaopua & Sherman "Naea" Kaopua, Founders of Hawaii Island Waste, L.L.C.
Hawaii Island Waste was born out of a real-life challenge. During the height of the pandemic, owners Sherman ‘Naea’ and Chae Kaopua found themselves at a crossroads. With the tattoo industry temporarily shut down, Naea (a former tattoo artist) and Chae spent their time renovating their family home.
While they were knee-deep in home improvements, they hit a major roadblock: they couldn’t find anyone reliable to pick up and dispose of their construction debris. That "light bulb" moment changed everything. They realized that if they were struggling with the mess, their neighbors likely were, too.
On October 5th, 2021 Hawaii Island Waste was born.
From family truck & trailer to HGTV. The business started as a true family affair. In the early days, it was just Naea and Chae, with their two children, strapped into their car seats in the back of the truck. They turned a family project into a mission to serve the community.
Today, Hawaii Island Waste has grown from that single truck into a thriving business with a dedicated professional crew. We specialize in full property cleanouts, a level of expertise that even caught the attention of HGTV’s Renovation Aloha.
Our Commitment to You Though we’ve expanded, our core remains the same. We are a local, family-owned business built on trust, relationships, and the goal of giving our clients a clean slate. When you hire us, you aren't just getting a junk removal crew, you're getting a team that treats your property like their own.
Our Promise: Full-Service Done With ALOHA
"Our mission is to be the trusted partner our island relies on, combining compassionate service for our kūpuna with professional expertise for our builders, so every space we clear paves the way for a stronger, more beautiful community."
White-Glove Service
You point, we do the rest. No lifting, no piles, no stress for you.
Stewardship
We prioritize recycling and donation, treating our 'āina (land) with respect.
Premium Professionalism
Licensed, insured, and reliable. We show up on time and get the job done right.
Local Partnership
We are your neighbors, dedicated to the long-term well-being of our island.
We Serve the Heart Beat of Hawaii Island
Everyday Families
Problem We Solve:
Clutter stealing your time and peace.
"Reclaim your weekends and your sanctuary."
Contractors & Developers
Problem We Solve:
Debris halting project timelines.
"Reliable site cleanup to keep your build on track."
Kūpuna & 'Ohana
Problem We Solve:
The physical/emotional burden of life's transitions.
"Compassionate strength and dignity for your journey."
Realtors & Managers
Problem We Solve:
Clutter killing curb appeal and value.
"Fast transformation to a market-ready property."
Stories of Aloha & Trust
I used them to haul away residential junk accumulated for 40 years at my dad's house in Hilo. Since I was only in Hawaii for a week there are only so many trips I could make to the "rubbish dump" with my dad. I finally convinced my dad to hire professionals for the big items like old beds, large tree stumps in the backyard, and heavy metal debris. The team was amazing, quick, and worth every penny.
– Donn U.
La Quinta, CA
LOCALLY OWNED & OPERATED
Born and raised on Hawai'i Island
LICENSED & INSURED
Full coverage for your peace of mind
5+ YEARS OF SERVICE
Trusted by hundreds of families
Our Work, In the Spotlight
Our commitment to professional, full-service transformation extends beyond our daily jobs. We were honored to bring our demolition and site clearance expertise to a major Waikoloa Village renovation, featured on HGTV's Renovation Aloha (Season 2, Episode 4). This project showcases the same level of care, precision, and respect for the ‘āina that we bring to every client. Whether it's a TV feature or your own home. Seeing is believing.
