Mālama Motorworks: Expert Mercedes-Benz Care on Maui

A short story about us

I was born and raised in Southern California — a place where car culture isn’t just a hobby, it’s a lifestyle. From a young age, I was the kid who couldn’t stop taking things apart just to understand how they worked. Bicycles, skateboards, model cars… anything mechanical became a puzzle I wanted to solve or improve.

By my early teens, that curiosity had turned into hands-on experience with motorcycles and cars. I spent weekends fixing, modifying, and racing — from drag racing at Orange County International Raceway to cruising Whittier Blvd with friends and fellow car-club members. Cars weren’t just machines; they were freedom, community, and identity.

During school breaks, I worked at a large radiator shop in Los Angeles that my Grandfather ran, learning the value of craftsmanship and precision. One summer I worked in the machine shop at Keith Black Racing Engines, drilling and tapping crankshafts for legendary racing motors — an experience that deepened my appreciation for performance engineering.

My Story: A Lifetime of Cars, Craft, and Care

Becoming a Master Technician

After high school, I worked for a Pontiac dealer as an entry-level mechanic, but I quickly realized I wanted deeper knowledge — especially in electrical systems and drivability. I returned to school, taking automotive courses at Fullerton College, and from there began a long and rewarding career with Chevrolet dealerships.

Over two decades, I became:

• ASE Master Technician

• Chevrolet Certified Master Technician

• GM Master Technician

These years sharpened not just my technical skills, but my approach to diagnostics, customer care, and the responsibility of keeping someone’s vehicle — and family — safe on the road.

A New Chapter: Mercedes-Benz Expertise

In the mid 90's, I moved to the Seattle/Tacoma area, and after 20 years with GM I made a pivotal shift: I transitioned to Mercedes-Benz dealerships in 2002. This is where I found my true calling.

I became a Certified Mercedes-Benz Diagnostic Technician and worked not only in dealerships, but also as the lead technician and shop foreman at an independent foreign-car shop specializing in Mercedes-Benz.

Mercedes vehicles demand precision and deep technical understanding — something that aligned perfectly with my background and personality. I loved the engineering, the challenge, and the craftsmanship required.

Maui Becomes Home

In 2019, my wife and I moved to Maui — a dream we had long shared. I continued my career here as the lead technician at Mercedes-Benz of Maui, serving the local community and getting to know Mercedes owners across the island.

I quickly saw that Maui needed something more: a specialized, independent Mercedes-focused repair shop that combined dealership-level expertise with local values, transparency, and personalized care.

Why I Started Mālama Motorworks

“Mālama” means to care for, to preserve, to protect — a word that reflects both my philosophy as a technician and my appreciation for the island we now call home.

Mālama Motorworks was created to bring:

• Factory-level diagnostics

• High-end Mercedes-Benz expertise

• Honest, transparent service

• Local values and island-style care

This shop is the culmination of a lifetime immersed in the automotive world — from Southern California car culture to racing engines, dealership mastery, and Mercedes-Benz specialization. It’s built on decades of professional training and thousands of hours under the hood — and it’s fueled by a genuine love for Maui and its people.

My Commitment to You

When you trust me with your Mercedes-Benz, you’re benefiting from:

• 30+ years of hands-on experience

• Deep technical mastery across multiple brands

• Mercedes-Benz certified diagnostic expertise

• A lifelong passion for automotive engineering

• A personal commitment to fairness, honesty, and doing the job right

Your Mercedes deserves specialist care. At Mālama Motorworks, that’s exactly what you’ll find.