New Big Island, Hawaii — Custom Homes & Land

Building Hawaii's most thoughtful homes.

Custom homes, land development, and real estate on Hawaii's Big Island — built with the patience the land deserves, the precision the work demands, and the warmth of people who actually live here.

10+ yrs
Building on the Big Island
100+
Projects shipped
10+ Years Building in Hawaii· East Hawaii Based· Licensed Contractor· Real Estate Developer
What we do

A complete home-building practice for the islands.

From the first walk of the land to the day you turn the key, Goldwood handles the parts most builders pass off — design, permitting, construction, and the long view of the property itself.

Custom Homes

Architect-led, owner-involved. Designed around how you actually want to live in Hawaii — not a mainland floor plan dropped on a lava field.

Explore custom builds

Development

Subdivisions, multi-lot site work, and infrastructure on Big Island parcels. We handle grading, utilities, and the relationships that move permits.

See development work

Real Estate

Acquisition, hold strategy, and sale of finished homes and raw land. If you want to build value in Hawaii without learning Hawaii the hard way — start here.

View listings
Featured projects

A few homes we're proud of.

Each project starts with the site — orientation to trade winds, view corridors, sun path, the way water moves across the property. The house follows from there.

Goldwood project — Hilo residence
Residential · Hilo
Lava-stone terrace home
Goldwood project — Puna custom build
Custom Build · Puna
Hillside ohana retreat
Goldwood project — interior detail
Interior · Hilo
Open-plan great room
Goldwood project — Hamakua development
Development · Hāmākua
Coastline parcel
Goldwood project — kitchen detail
Interior · Custom
Chef's kitchen
Goldwood project — exterior elevation
Exterior · Hilo
Tropical lanai
Goldwood project — Puna residence
Residential · Puna
Forest-edge cottage
Goldwood project — tile work
Interior · Custom
Hand-laid octagon floor
Emanuel Leonard
Founder · Goldwood Development LLC
The Goldwood story

A builder who lives where you'll live.

Emanuel Leonard founded Goldwood Development on a simple idea: a home in Hawaii deserves a builder who understands Hawaii. Not a mainland firm flying crews in, not a generalist guessing at lava-tube soils and coastal-salt weathering — a local team that has been on this island long enough to know which contractors return calls and which lots actually drain.

Over the last decade-plus, Goldwood has built across East Hawaii — custom residences in Hilo, infill development in Puna, coastline lots in Hāmākua, and quiet hillside ohanas that look like they grew where they stand. The work is small on purpose. Big enough to do real projects, small enough that Emanuel is on every site.

10+
Years on island
40+
Homes built
1
Builder on every site
Our process

From first call to move-in.

Six steps. No surprises. We tell you exactly where we are and what's next, every step of the way.

01
Vision Call
Tell us what you're imagining. 30 minutes, no obligation.
02
Site Visit
We walk the land with you and read the property.
03
Design Concept
Sketches, materials, orientation — the home takes shape.
04
Proposal
Detailed scope, transparent budget, honest timeline.
05
Build
Weekly site updates. Emanuel on the ground. Nothing hidden.
06
Move-in
Final walk, keys delivered, and a builder who answers the phone.
Get in touch

Let's talk about your project.

Whether you've already bought the lot or you're still searching for it, we'd love to hear what you're imagining. The first conversation is always free.

Based in
East Hawaii
Serving the entire Big Island
Email
emanuel@goldwood.homes
Phone
(808) 555-0100

We reply within one business day. No spam, ever.