The Kahua 2025.5 release will be deployed to our Production environments on November 7, 2025. A preview of this functionality can be accessed at https://earlyaccesslaunch.kahua.com beginning on October 25, 2025. Please click here for more information on the Early Access program.
* Please note that major releases are now performed on the Friday of a release weekend instead of Saturday.
The release notes below are subject to change. For any changes to these notes, please see the change log at the bottom of the article.
In addition to various bug fixes, performance improvements, and minor UI updates, this release includes the updates described below in the following functional areas:
General
Introducing our new help system
With this release we are introducing our new online help system, which will replace the current knowledgebase on our support page. The site can be accessed at https://help.kahua.com. You can explore the site through the table of contents on the left, or enter a search term in the top navigation bar to find information on a specific topic.
We are continuing to add information to these pages, so please check back as we update the content. If you need further assistance from our support team, please visit our support site at https://support.kahua.com. Our support page will remain available as the location to contact our support team and to submit a ticket for their review.
References section - Added "drag and drop" to re-order files in Composite and Approval documents
We have added the ability to use "drag and drop" to re-order files when creating composite and approval documents from the References section of records. Additionally, we have modified the initial order of the selected documents to be in alphabetical order, rather than by date added.
When you select Add Composite or Add Approval Doc, the Create Document dialog appears. The documents listed on the page for Step 1 will now appear in alphabetical order.
On the page for Step 2, you can now re-order the selected documents in one of the following ways:
- Click on the "grabber" icon
to drag and drop the document to the desired location. - Use the arrow icons to move a document up or down the list.
- Select a document and click Move to Top or Move to Bottom.
Administration
Enable "Trust This Device" By Default
As part of a previous release, we added the ability for domain administrators to allow users to select a "Trust this device" option during the login process in domains that use Multifactor Authentication (MFA) and are part of the Kahua Commercial Network (KCN).
In eligible domains where this feature has not yet been enabled, it will be enabled by default as part of this release. If the feature has already been enabled, the current settings will not be modified.
Domain administrators can modify the number of days portion of the setting or disable it completely by navigating to Domain Settings > Authentication > Trust user device for # days.
eSignature Pin - Added Domain Setting to Configure Pin Length
Kahua Domain Administrators can now increase the length of the Kahua signature PIN from the default value of 4 digits to a maximum of 10 digits.
When a new PIN length is configured for a domain, users who have not yet set their PIN to the appropriate length will be required to update it they next time they attempt to use their PIN. Users can update their PIN by clicking on their profile icon in the Kahua header and navigating to My Settings > Signature tab.
To modify the PIN length, navigate to Domain Settings > Authentication > Kahua Signature PIN.
Locations - Added ability to enter external links
In Locations records, we have added the ability to add one or more links to relevant external information, such as GIS records.
By default, the name of the hyperlink will be the URL. This can be modified when the record is in Edit mode by selecting the pencil icon and editing the title.
File Manager
Controlled Folders - General release of drawing hyperlinks
Drawing hyperlinks were initially introduced as a beta feature in the 2023.3 release. With the 2025.5 release, it will be available in all domains.
When drawings are added to a Controlled Folder, hyperlinks will now be automatically generated. These hyperlinks allow you to navigate to Section Callouts, Detail Callouts, and other types of Drawings references, with the ability to easily return back to the document where the hyperlink was initiated. There is a new tool in the markup panel that allows you to manually create new hyperlinks and modify existing hyperlinks.
The Hyperlink feature is limited to single-page drawings that reside in Controlled Folders. The Sheet Number attribute must be populated on the destination file for the link to be generated.
Note that drawing hyperlinks will only be automatically generated on files newly uploaded after the 2025.5 release. They will not be automatically generated on existing files uploaded before the release.
Link Toggle:
Summary:
- Drawing callouts are auto-generated upon upload (Controlled Folders only).
- Hyperlinks provide easy navigation to other drawings, and follow breadcrumb back.
- Ability to manually create new links, to files in any folder type (including standard files folders).
- Ability to modify existing links by double-clicking on the link.
- Hyperlinks can be manually created and used for any file type, not just drawings.
Document Management
Introducing Kahua’s Architect’s Supplemental Instructions (ASI) app
Kahua’s Architect’s Supplemental Instructions (ASI) app streamlines every step of the ASI process — from document creation and digital signing to distribution and contractor confirmation. Designed for flexibility, the app supports a range of workflows to fit your project needs.
Through Kahua’s configuration settings, you can choose from three operational modes:
- Mode 1 – Logging: Use the ASI app as a straightforward internal tool for creating and tracking ASIs. In this mode, DocuSign and Contractor workflows are disabled, allowing you to handle signing and distribution outside the system while maintaining a complete log of all ASIs.
- Mode 2 – DocuSign: Enable seamless digital signing with Kahua’s DocuSign integration. Authors can route draft ASIs for official signature directly through DocuSign. Once signed, the ASI is automatically returned and attached to the original Kahua record. Distribution can then be managed and logged manually.
- Mode 3 – Collaborative: Activate Kahua’s Contractor Workflow to collaborate directly with contractors. Send the completed ASI via a Kahua Task, allowing the recipient to select a contractor status or disposition, add notes, and officially confirm receipt — automatically updating the source record in real time.
With these flexible modes, Kahua’s ASI app adapts to your firm’s preferred workflow — whether you need a simple logging tool or a fully collaborative, end-to-end ASI management solution.
Author Form in Collaborative Mode:
Standard ASI View:
Contractor's Task / Receipt Acknowledgment:
Configuration Options:
Daily Reports - Enhanced Data Entry
To help streamline daily report entry in Kahua, the Work Description field in the Companies grid is now directly editable.
This improvement eliminates the need to open each individual company record just to add or update work descriptions — even when using "Summary Row Only" mode. Users can now make quick edits right in the grid, saving time and improving reporting efficiency.
Meetings - Improved management of References section
To enable users to better manage references / attachments across their meetings and in meeting series, we have made the following updates:
- You can now add references when you first create the meeting (whether single occurrence or series). The References section appears directly below the Schedule section of the form.
When you edit a meeting series, you can now add references to the meeting series. When saved, the references are added to the current and future meetings of the series.
RFIs - Added new configuration option for displaying secondary responses
By default, in Kahua, RFI Secondary Responses and Submittal Consultant Responses are visible only to the Official / Primary Responder and the Owner’s Representative. This ensures that the Official / Primary maintains their role as the “gatekeeper,” determining the final content of the official response sent back to the Coordinator.
In response to customer feedback, Kahua has extended the ability to configure visibility for these responses. While this configuration option was previously available for Submittals, it was not yet supported for RFIs.
With this release, Kahua has added a new setting, Display Secondary Responses…, for RFIs using the “Kahua RFI Workflow with Owner” workflow. This option allows organizations to make all Secondary Responses visible on completed RFI documents when desired.
The setting is available in Configuration and is turned off by default, ensuring no change to existing behavior unless explicitly enabled.
RFI with Secondary Response visibility enabled:
New Options in Configuration:
Submittals - QC Review Workflow
For customers who include a Quality Control (QC) review step prior to submission, Kahua has introduced a new QC Reviewer role within the Submittal document.
When enabled in configuration, either the Author or Coordinator can now initiate the Send to QC action, which generates a task for the QC Reviewer to complete their review.
The QC Reviewer can:
- Edit any fields on the submittal, including two new QC-specific fields:
- QC Notes (text field)
- QC Response (customizable lookup field)
- Take one of two follow-up actions:
- Respond to Coordinator – returns the Submittal to the Coordinator for final review before submission.
- Submit to Reviewers – (if enabled) allows the QC Reviewer to send the Submittal directly to reviewers.
When either action is taken, the QC Review Completed Date is automatically recorded. All new QC-related fields are also tokenized, allowing them to be used in portable views.
This enhancement adds greater flexibility and control for teams that require a formal QC process before submission, helping to ensure quality and compliance across all submittals.
New Workflow Action Button and QC Fields:
Cost Management
Introducing Kahua's Master Services Agreement Application (Controlled Availability Release)
This update applies to Kahua for Owner, Education, General Contractor and Subcontractors.
This release includes a new Master Services Agreement (MSA) application for Kahua for Owner, Education, General Contractor and Subcontractors as part of the cost management expense group.
{b} {color #eb9b3c}Note {/color} {/b}The Master Services Agreement app is under controlled availability for this release. If you would like access to this app, please contact Support.
Master services agreements, also known as master agreements, framework agreements, blanket agreement or other such names, are long-term agreements / frameworks covering multiple projects, that define general terms and conditions for future expense contracts. The new MSA application is part of the Cost Management Expense group of applications. It is designed to capture MSA documents and allow them to be referenced by expense contracts.
The MSA app includes these high-level features:
- Create MSA documents in a project or parent partition and link them to Expense Contracts.
- Apply validation rules to control:
- Whether new contracts can be linked.
- The total value of all linked contracts.
- The maximum value of any single contract.
- Track the original approved amount and changes over time.
- View summary calculations and a detailed log of linked contracts.
- Use standard Kahua workflows for routing, review, and approval.
- Define parties (Client and Contractor), with the contractor set as the default for linked contracts.
The new Master Services Agreement app is available with the 2025.5 release. You will have to contact support to have it enabled. It will be deployed to all eligible domains in a future release.
Issues app - Approval Comments in Issues (GC & K12)
This update applies to Kahua for General Contractor and Education domains using the Kahua supplied Issues app. This feature was previously enabled in Kahua for Owner domains using the Kahua supplied Issues app.
The Kahua-supplied Issues app in Kahua for General Contractor and K12 domains have been updated to support optional or mandatory comments when the issue is approved through a workflow.
To enable comments, navigate to Configuration > Approvals, and select the appropriate Issues workflow.
Select Override to edit the workflow. Enable Use Comments and, if desired, Require Comments.
With this setting turned on, the Comments field will be available (or required) when a reviewer or approver is completing the workflow task.
For more information on approval configuration, refer to Approval Configuration.
Issues App - Added Lock Step After Completion
This update applies to Kahua for Owner, Education, General Contractor and Subcontractors using the Kahua-supplied Issues app.
We have added the ability to lock issues, which prevents both the issue and associated issue items from being modified. When locked, the issue and associated issue items cannot be modified. Issues can be unlocked by app administrators, allowing modifications.
The workflow steps differ between the Owner, Education, and General Contractor packages using the Kahua-supplied Issue app. The new Lock step is available from the workflow statuses listed below for the following packages:
Kahua for Owners
- Approved
- Processed to BCO
Kahua for General Contractor and Subcontractors
- Internally Approved
- RCO Approved
- Processed To OCO
Kahua for Education
The Close Out Issue option has been updated to lock the issue and associated issue items. Once selected, this step now requires an administrator to re-open the issue to allow modification of the issue or issue items.
Integrations
Outlook Plugin - Added ability to add emails and attachments to File Manager
You can now add Outlook emails and email attachments into folders in Kahua File Manager app through the Outlook Plugin.
Kahua Host Updates
All Kahua hosts have been updated with various enhancements and bug fixes. The Windows host will automatically update upon first launch after the release.
Download the appropriate app for your device:
Release Note Changes
Date | Revision | Section | Change Description |
October 10, 2025 | 0 | All sections | Initial publication |