Haolebuilt II: TAZ's SEMA-Bound Scion iQ Build
- Who TAZ (“surfcitylocal”) is, and why he built a second Scion project after his first-gen xB
- The full sponsor and parts list behind Haolebuilt II
- Where the name “Haolebuilt” came from and what it means to him
- The SEMA show goal that shaped the build
TL;DR: TAZ, a longtime Scion owner known in the community as “surfcitylocal,” followed up his first-gen xB build (“Haolebuilt”) with Haolebuilt II — a fully sponsored 2012 Scion iQ project built with a SEMA Las Vegas debut as the target. The build brought together air suspension, audio, lighting, wheel, and interior sponsors around a car TAZ chose for the same reason he chose the xB years earlier: its uniqueness.
Some owners build one project car and call it done. TAZ built one, then started planning the next before his first was even finished being enjoyed.
From Haolebuilt to Haolebuilt II
TAZ’s first project was a first-generation Scion xB, built and shown at car shows and events under three different themes over the years he owned it. When Toyota introduced the iQ concept in 2009 and Scion confirmed it would bring the model to the US, TAZ knew he wanted one — a feeling that solidified further at a Scion Night event at Knott’s Berry Farm in 2010, where he got to sit in an iQ and talk with Scion Vice President Jack Hollis about the car.
The build began in December 2011, once his iQ finally arrived. From there, TAZ started reaching out to aftermarket companies to build sponsor relationships for the project, with one clear goal: get the car to SEMA in Las Vegas.
The Sponsor and Parts List
Haolebuilt II’s build sheet, as TAZ described it:
- Air-Runner Inc. — air suspension system custom-designed for the iQ
- Dakota Digital — air suspension gauge system
- FIVE:AD (Five Axis Designs) — iQ Aero body kit, wing, and R6:F Silver wheels; Muteki lug nuts
- Beat-Sonic USA — front and rear cameras with head unit interface, shark fin antenna (also featured the iQ at SEMA)
- OEM Audio+ — 300CF audio system with carbon fiber speakers, 32-bit DSP amplifier, and a powered subwoofer enclosure designed for the iQ
- Tanabe USA — strut tower bar, frame brace, and cat-back exhaust
- DC Sports — cold air intake
- Toyo Tires — Proxes 4 tires
- O-NEX — HID headlights, fog lights, reverse lights, LED headlight trim
- Mita Accessories — Toyota side mirror LED turn/puddle lights
- MGP Caliper Covers — color-matched caliper covers
- Pecca Leather — leather-covered front and rear seats
- M2 Motoring — headliner, dash plates, visors, and pillar leather covering
- Classic Soft Trim / Signature Sunroofs — powered in-roof sunroof
- WAK Shop — custom iQ door rods
- Varad — underbody, wheel well, interior, and engine bay lighting
- Clear-Pro — full front-end clear bra
- Island Motor Sports — vinyl production
Where the Name Came From
TAZ’s first-generation xB was named “Haolebuilt” — haole being the Hawaiian word for “white guy.” TAZ lives on the mainland in Huntington Beach but says he feels most at home on Maui, and hopes to retire there someday. The iQ project naturally became “Haolebuilt II.” His license plate frames reflected that split: Scion of Glendora, where he bought the iQ, on the back — and Maui Scion on the front.
TAZ has also been a member of the FUSCION Car Club for four years, serving at various points as President and Vice President — describing the club as “more of a social club that all drive Scions, Toyota and Lexus vehicles.”
In His Own Words
“Just like the First Gen xB, the iQ is a polarizing vehicle – people either like it or they don’t. I am doing my part to encourage those who like it to get one and join the fun! Aloha, TAZ aka ‘surfcitylocal‘“
Frequently Asked Questions
Who built Haolebuilt II?
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Scion owner TAZ, known in the community as “surfcitylocal,” a longtime FUSCION Car Club member who previously built a first-generation Scion xB under the name “Haolebuilt.”
What was the goal of the build?
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To debut the finished car at the SEMA Show in Las Vegas, with Beat-Sonic USA featuring the iQ as part of their SEMA presence alongside TAZ’s other sponsors.
Why “Haolebuilt”?
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It’s the name TAZ gave his original first-generation Scion xB build — haole being the Hawaiian word for “white guy,” a nod to his connection to Maui even while living in Huntington Beach, California.
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