"Concrete Housing Construction" by Concrete Forms // CC BY 2.0

J

BZ SCORE: 96

Verified License

John S Forster

this is my business

BZ SCORE: 96

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Best General Contractors in Hilo

Updated: Aug 06, 2025

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Verified License

License #	CT-12818
Status	Active
State	Hawaii
Business Type	Individual

BuildZoom verified this license was active as of August 2025.

Verify this license's status for John S Forster at the Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs.

This is a sample of licensing data; click here to access a complete history.

License Not Verified

License #	CT-12818
Status	Active
State	Hawaii
Type	General Building
Business Type	Individual

When BuildZoom last verified this license, it had an expiration date of September, 2018. Check the current license status of John S Forster with the Hawaii Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs

This is a sample of licensing data; click here to access a complete history.

96

BuildZoom Score

How the BuildZoom Score works

Insured

Insurer	First Fire & Casualty Insura
Insured up to	$500,000

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Insured

Workers Comp Provider

Hawaii Employers' Mutual Insur

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Before you Hire

Here are some rules, regulations, and laws governing general contractors in Hawaii:

Does John S Forster carry a valid contracting license?

To perform all construction work in Hawaii, general contractors, specialty contractors, and engineers must be licensed.

How important is contractor licensing in Hawaii?

Contractors must pass a written trade exam as well as a business and law exam before becoming licensed.

Your liability risk when hiring John S Forster

Contractors in Hawaii must carry both general liability and workers compensation insurance in order to work on construction related projects.

Financial recourse when hiring John S Forster

Homeowners who have received an official legal judgement against a contractor are eligible for up to $12500 from the Hawaii contractors recovery fund

What else should I know before hiring John S Forster

Contractors must list their place of business as the address on their license. PO boxes are not permitted.

How is the BuildZoom score calculated?

When it comes to major construction work or even minor alterations to your home, hiring the wrong contractor could result in incomplete or defective work. You may even find yourself dealing with huge liability claims. BuildZoom does the homework for you and helps you hire the right contractor.

Why you should hire through BuildZoom

When it comes to major construction work or even minor alterations to your home, hiring the wrong contractor could result in incomplete or defective work. You may even find yourself dealing with huge liability claims. BuildZoom does the homework for you and helps you hire the right contractor.

You should get several bids before hiring a contractor

Before hiring a contractor in Hawaii, be sure to get at least 3 detailed bids. Quality contractors will take the time to explain their budget proposal, and help guide you through the estimate process. Be wary of an abnormally low bid, they are not worth the risk. These underpriced projects often do not end well for the homeowner, choose a contractor you trust and can clearly communicate with. BuildZoom has made the bid collection process extremely simple (and free). Just click here to get started.

The best way to use BuildZoom is to let us recommend contractors for your remodeling projects.

Homeowners who hire through BuildZoom's free bidding system report high rates of satisfaction, and homeowners who research contractors online are twice as likely to be happy at the end of their project.

If you hire a contractor through BuildZoom, that contractor is accountable to us. We can enforce standards of behavior, mediate disputes, and guarantee satisfaction.

Read more about why hiring through BuildZoom is so effective.

BuildZoom’s database now contains every licensed contractor across the U.S. - over 2.5 million of them... Categorized contractor profiles are enriched using government data from state licensing boards, Better Business Bureau ratings, and more… BuildZoom jumped into the fray by announcing that it raised $10.6 million in a round led by Formation 8. ...the Y combinator-backed startup said it will be focused on remodeling projects, where the median budget is around $19,000… A new index compiled by BuildZoom — which identifies contractors for projects — found that renovations are running 2.8 percent above their 2005 level…

Browse remodeling photos

If you are looking for remodeling ideas, you can browse hundreds of beautiful photos of work performed by our general contractors.

Browse building permits

You can use our building permit search to see the contractors who are active in your neighborhood and the projects currently taking place.

Get a cost estimate

Use our remodeling calculator to get a ballpark estimate for your project. If you're ready to hire, use our bidding system to get actual quotes from local contractors.