Our Story: 40 Years of Office Pavilion

Milestones Across 40 Years

A timeline that will continue to grow throughout 2026 as we move backward through key moments in OP’s history.
  

*This Month's Timeline Feature: 

1990s – 2000s: Expanding Beyond Hawaii

As Office Pavilion continued to grow, our work increasingly extended beyond Hawaii and across the Pacific Rim.

Beginning in the 1990s, Office Pavilion supported overseas Department of Defense projects using Herman Miller’s GSA contract, helping furnish projects throughout the Asia-Pacific region. This work helped establish relationships, operational experience, and long-distance coordination capabilities that would continue to grow over time.

Obtaining our own GSA contract later marked another important milestone, significantly expanding our ability to support federal projects directly and opening the door to a broader range of opportunities.

Projects across Guam, Japan, Korea, American Samoa, Kwajalein, Singapore, and the Philippines required more than product expertise. They demanded logistics coordination, project management across multiple locations and time zones, and the ability to execute consistently from afar.

This chapter represented a major evolution in both the scale and reach of Office Pavilion’s work — expanding the company’s capabilities well beyond Hawaii while strengthening its role in supporting federal and military projects throughout the Pacific region.
 

2008 - Mid-2010s - Strengthening How We Deliver

While some milestones are visible, others happen behind the scenes and shape how a company operates day to day. Between 2008 and the mid-2010s, Office Pavilion focused on strengthening the operational side of the business — improving how projects were planned, coordinated, and delivered.

This period included the evolution of internal systems that improved coordination across teams, helping projects stay aligned from design and ordering through installation. These improvements supported better communication, clearer handoffs, and more consistent execution.

We also adopted more advanced ordering and logistics approaches, including Herman Miller’s HMPS system, which improved efficiency by reducing handling and staging product in a way that better supports installation.

In addition, we established our Sand Island warehouse operations, creating long-term stability in how projects are received, staged, and delivered across Hawai‘i.

While less visible than major project milestones, this period played a critical role in strengthening how Office Pavilion delivers projects — improving efficiency, coordination, and consistency across the board.

2013 - 2018 - A New Chapter of Leadership and Transformation

The mid-2010s marked a significant period of transition and reinvestment for OP.
In 2013, the company relocated to and purchased its current home at Kukui Plaza, establishing a long-term foundation for operations and client engagement.

In 2016, ownership transitioned from founder Gerri Hayes to her daughters, Wendy Shewalter and Leanne Hachey, continuing the family legacy into its next generation. This transition was followed in 2018 by Wendy becoming the sole owner, guiding the company forward with a clear vision for growth and evolution.

During this time, OP also invested in modernizing both its physical space and internal operations. In 2018, the showroom was fully renovated, accompanied by a refreshed brand identity and website.

Behind the scenes, the company advanced its internal systems — transitioning to more robust business platforms and beginning the shift toward web-based solutions to improve coordination, visibility, and scalability.

2021 – 2022 - Broadening Our Capabilities

In 2021 and 2022, Office Pavilion entered a new chapter of growth and capability. Following the acquisition of Knoll by Herman Miller, we became a MillerKnoll dealer when Herman Miller acquired Knoll — strengthening our ability to deliver a unified portfolio of industry-leading design solutions.

During this same period, we expanded as a DIRTT dealer and launched a new division, OP Build, broadening our services beyond traditional furnishings to provide more comprehensive interior solutions. Together, these milestones reflected an intentional step forward in how we serve our clients and support the evolving workplace.

2026 - 40th Anniversary
On February 1, 2026, Office Pavilion celebrated 40 years in business — a milestone made possible by the employees, clients, and partners who have shaped our story. As we move through this anniversary year, we’re taking time to pause, reflect, and revisit the moments that have shaped who we are today.

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Our Story

The foundation of Office Pavilion traces back to 1986, when Gerri Hayes purchased a small company called Contract Furnishers of Hawaiʻi. At the time, the office was located in the Gold Bond Building, with a team of just two employees. Around the same period, Herman Miller launched a national branding effort encouraging participating dealers to operate under the name Office Pavilion — a name that would soon become synonymous with quality, professionalism, and enduring relationships.

In those early days, OP looked very different than it does today. What hasn’t changed, however, is the foundation Gerri established: a focus on quality products, a strong team, and relationships built with care and integrity. As the company has continued to evolve, it has shaped a culture that increasingly prioritizes both strong performance and care for our team.

From the beginning, OP has been grounded in relationships — with clients, manufacturing partners, subcontractors, vendors, and employees alike. We believe in doing business the right way: with integrity, transparency, and respect. We take pride not only in the spaces we create, but also in the way we conduct ourselves and the standards we uphold.

Today, Office Pavilion remains a woman-owned, family-led business. Wendy and her sister Leanne purchased the company from Gerri, and Wendy later became sole owner in 2018. Wendy’s husband, Bruce, has also been part of OP’s journey for many years, further reflecting the family roots that continue to shape who we are.

As we celebrate 40 years, we do so with deep gratitude. To the employees, past and present, who have poured their talent and care into this company. To the clients who trust us with their spaces. To our partners and vendors who collaborate with us every day. And to the community that continues to support and inspire us.