A gold 1967 SS 396 Chevelle cruises toward the landing strip at Old Airport, much like it might have 57 years ago when Kona’s main airport was tucked away at the end of Kuakini Highway. Three years after the classic car was built, Kona International Airport opened and the original airport closed. Today, Old Airport’s landing strip is plagued with potholes. Bill Armijo’s 1967 Chevelle, however, is still purring.
Over the past 38 years, Bill has perfected investing in enduring assets and artists. His journey began when he spent over a year living on Oʻahu’s North Shore.
“I grew up in Redondo Beach, California, and surfing was a lifestyle,” says Bill. “It led me to Oʻahu, where I surfed and made wire sculptures that were sold at the Royal Hawaiian Hotel’s Gallery. Although I left in 1971, I knew I would return to Hawaiʻi.”
Back in California, Bill marketed industrial construction tools and traded strategic metals for a Newport Beach brokerage before transferring to a larger precious metals brokerage trader.
“Evidently, I was trading more than brokers that were there already,” says Bill, explaining that precious metals like gold and silver have been used as currency for thousands of years, and are now used in various industrial products, while strategic metals like titanium are used in critical technologies and industries. “The brokerage owner told me I should have my own business and introduced me to everyone at the Bullion House, banks trading in precious metals, and the depositories. In 1986, I started Trans World Metals to help folks build a legacy and leave their families tangible, laudable, and valued assets that withstand the test of time, economic fluctuations, geopolitical unrest, inflation, dollar devaluation, and taxation.”
As for his own family, Bill bought them a beach house in Vacationland, Hawaiʻi in 1988, where they spent winter and summer breaks.
“Each time we returned to California, my boys would ask why we were going back if we had a home in Hawaiʻi,” Bill recalls. “I had difficulty answering that question, so in 1994, we moved to Kona permanently and have been here ever since.”
With Hawaiʻi as the broker/dealer’s headquarters, Bill continued helping people preserve their wealth and stabilize their portfolios with the direct delivery of hard asset precious and strategic metals to their home, depository, or IRA/401k account.
“We’re driven to help people become self-sufficient and not dependent on paper assets that could become worthless at any time. We help folks concerned about the value of the dollar and how it can impact their retirement funds, and anyone ready to secure their wealth and their families’ future, walking them through every step of the process,” says Bill, who was joined by his son Justin in running Trans World Metals. “The best part is educating others on how easy it is to buy and own precious and strategic metals, and seeing Hawaiʻi residents keep their business and their money here.”
Although he’s spent nearly four decades focusing on enduring investments, Bill hasn’t forgotten his artistic roots. Today, he handcrafts picture frames, sculptures, and other pieces using koa from felled trees.
“In our artwork, we bring the koa trees back to life, giving back the love and beauty that Hawaiʻi has given our ʻohana. As artists ourselves, we wanted to give back to other artists, so Justin had the vision to expand the scope of Trans World Metals and include Hawaiian Art & Gallery,” says Bill of their online gallery, which assists independent artists in marketing their work. “We mentor, develop, and guide Hawaiʻi’s young artists in the art business so they don’t have to worry about being ‘starving artists’ and can have a stable career. By offering them 60% of proceeds from a sale, they can make a sustainable living and become financially successful members of society.”
When they’re not educating investors and supporting artists, Bill and the Trans World Metals’ ʻohana are busy with philanthropic endeavors, including sponsoring the Standish Children’s Foundation (2022-2023), and the Maui Love and Mālama Maui benefit concerts for families affected by the wildfires.
“We also sponsored the 2023 Enchantress & Freeborne Gallery’s Art 4 Charity event and the 2024 Kauai Art Academy’s Keiki Art Camp,” Bill says, adding they were a corporate sponsor of the Summer Car Show and Fitness Expo at Old Airport, benefitting Shriners Children Hospital and featuring over 280 cars, including the Armijo’s 1967 SS Chevelle.
“Our company culture is one of doing business in the Spirit of Aloha, and giving back to the community,” says Bill. “The goal is to cherish and protect the island, which we can all do by providing a helping hand.”
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Our company culture is one of doing business in the Spirit of Aloha.