Deck Builders in Hawaii Kai, HI

Deck Builders in Hawaii Kai work in a neighborhood that was largely shaped by one development plan. Hawaii Kai was dredged from Kuapa Pond starting around 1959, and in 1961 Kaiser-Aetna signed a lease with the Bishop Estate to turn the fishpond into residential tracts, a marina and channels. House lots were laid out on islands and land fingers around the water. Over the following decades, neighborhoods spread into Kalama Valley, Kamilo Iki Valley and up the ridges between them. Kamehame Ridge was developed in the 1990s.

That history gives Hawaii Kai two very different building situations, and we treat them separately.

Marina and channel homes. A deck on the water is in constant contact with salt air and, at times, splash. Simpson Strong-Tie classifies this as ocean or water front service, a marine environment with airborne chlorides, salt air and some salt splash, and it specifically says chloride deposition in Hawaii should be considered. For these homes we use stainless steel fasteners and connectors throughout, specify composite or tropical hardwood decking that tolerates moisture, and keep framing clear of the water line. Low-lying lots near the marina also deserve a look at the city flood map. DPP lists the Special Flood Hazard Area zones, including A, AE, AO, V and VE,, and structures inside them must comply with ROH Chapter 21A.

Valley and ridge homes. Up in Kalama Valley, Kamilo Iki and the ridges, the issues are slope and exposure. Lots fall away from the house, so decks are often elevated, with long posts and stairs down to the yard. Ridge homes catch the trade winds, which the National Weather Service says blow from the northeast about 90 percent of the time in summer and can exceed 30 mph for several days in spring. That wind matters most for lanai covers and tall railings. We use heavier connections, and we recommend railing styles such as cable or glass panels only where they can be properly anchored for the load.

Owners who plan to stay

Hawaii Kai falls within the East Honolulu census-designated place, created for the 2010 census. Census figures for East Honolulu show an 83.5 percent owner-occupied rate and 91.4 percent of residents in the same home a year earlier. Twenty-seven percent of residents are 65 or older. In practice, many homeowners here want a deck that will last decades with little upkeep and is comfortable to use as they age: low-step entries, solid handrails and shade.

Association rules

If your neighborhood has a community or homeowners association, it may have design guidelines for exterior changes. Before we finalize a design, check your covenants for color, material and height rules. We can provide drawings and a written scope for your association's review alongside the city permit.

Services in Hawaii Kai

• Composite decks for marina and hillside homes
• Hardwood and treated-wood decks with stainless hardware
• Repair and replacement of salt-worn or termite-damaged decks
• Covered decks and lanai covers rated for ridge winds
• Railings and stairs for elevated decks
• Staining and sealing to protect wood from salt and sun

Call (808) 509-2733 for a free on-site estimate. We look at your lot, measure the slope or water exposure and give you a written, itemized quote.

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