Selection: The newly expanded Marblehaus Hawaii showroom boasts a wide selection of stones, on display and installed in the floor.

Marbles, limestones, granites and travertines. These natural stones are formed by the geologic pressures and patience of Mother Nature—and no two slabs will turn out exactly alike. For homeowners who like it that way, the newly expanded showroom of Marblehaus Hawaii is a must-visit.

“We often preach that stone, by its very nature, can vary from shipment to shipment,” says Kevin Nip, owner. “Our new showroom gives us the chance to show customers what each individual shipment looks like.”

Marblehaus expanded its showroom, partly to accommodate an increase in product lines: “Primarily more Peruvian travertines, in more colors and finishes,” Nip says. “New finishes, too, such as a flamed-and-brushed look. It gives more texture to the stone, and can be used in wet and dry applications.”

The staff is excited, too. “With the expansion, we can show the customers all the travertines in stock—and the new floor looks gorgeous!” says Rexie Castro, sales executive. “We can take it out of the crates, see the color variations in each piece. Of course, we could give the customer a sample, but one single stone won’t do it justice. Here, they can see the big picture.”

“With the new showroom comes new lighting,” adds Ryan Nagata, sales executive. “We’re using halogens, a whiter lighting, so it’s very easy to see ‘movement’—how the color moves within the stone. And, we have a dozen different types of stone installed right in the showroom floor, in two neat rows. It’s sealed and finished, for a good visual idea of how it will look in the home.”

Nip’s favorite part? Putting the big tiles on display. “We can show the 18-inch-by-18-inch travertines, which is something I’ve long wanted to do,” he says. Soon, he’ll go even larger: 24-inch-by-24-inch and even 24-inch-by-36-inch travertines. “We’re stepping it up a notch, for people who like a bigger tile on the floor,” he says. “At 10-millimeters thick, you know it’s very durable, very dense.”

Solid: Milburn Kaaukai and Rexie Castro are excited to show the unique colors of each shipment.

With so many variations in stone, from color to texture to finish to movement, staff is always on hand to consult with homeowners, and help them find a stone to match the home’s color scheme—at a great price. “Customers love our selection and value,” Castro says. “We’ve brought in many new materials, new colors, and we’ve got it at a steal right now. Plus, our customers really enjoy the value of stone, how it can hike up the value of their home. It’s a great investment.”

Marblehaus Hawaii

2933 Koapaka St.
Open: Mon. - Fri., 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.,
Sat., 9 a.m. - 3 p.m.
Tel: 836-3449
www.marblehaus.com