Tobey Nii helped transform The Windsor, a former budget hotel, into a luxury condominium just off the Ala Wai yacht harbor.

The hotel was called the Ohana Hobron. It was an Outrigger hotel. It had 600 rooms. These were turned into 181 one- and two-bedroom units with granite countertops and marble floors, 360 degree city views of sunsets, fireworks and mountains. A revamped grand entry with cascading waterfall over black lava rocks. And a lush garden area and swimming pool in back.

The units started selling at $260,000 for the one bedrooms, and by February 2006, they were up to $800,000 for the two bedrooms.

He “navigated the challenging waters of overseeing the developer, scores of realtors, many potential buyers and new owners,” said James Tollefson, president of the Windsor AOAO.
Not to mention contractors, move ins, the establishment of a new board of directors, the establishment of his own staff, creation of standards and procedures and the countless unforeseen contingencies that come with a new property, said Craig Richter, management executive at Hawaiiana Management Co., who nominated Nii for Manager of the Year.
Nii was also cited for saving 15 percent of the original budget or about $150,000. He reduced maintenance costs through his expertise in mechanical issues and proposed and implemented a storage system which generated $43,000 in unexpected income.

His job descriptions and procedures are nearly an inch thick. It covers bomb threats, hostage taking, crowd control, first aid and public relations, among many other topics.
Nii began his career in 1981 at the Marco Polo. He had served in the Marines for three years in an infantry weapons platoon. And he had always had a knack for mechanical things.

He’s a local boy who worked his way up.

Before coming to The Windsor, he was facility manager at the 573-unit Marco Polo. He started as a maintenance man and stayed 22 years. He arrived at The Windsor in 2003.
James Poorbaugh, former general manager of the Marco Polo, called Nii one of the reasons he, Poorbaugh, had received accolades, compliments, his picture in the trade publications, and financial rewards for restoring and maintaining the Marco Polo into better than new condition.

Robert Allman, current Marco Polo manager, called Nii a friend and good employee with people skills, charm, empathy, core strength and an energetic approach to dealing with “life’s vagaries.”

From http://www.buildingmanagementhawaii.com/deepfreeze/bmh406/406_arm_awards.htm