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Hurricane Prep
As a hom eowner, you likely already know that Hawaii’s hurricane season officially ends at the end of this month. “Even though hurricane season will soon be over, it’s a good idea to plan now, so you’re ready for the next season,” says Ryan Graham, VP of operations...
Graham Builders WA H I N E P O W E R E D
Paving the Way in the Design-Build Field Client care manager Lenore Smith refl ects on Graham Builders’ commitment to empowerment. Describe your company and its role in the construction industry. Founded in 1990 by Danny Graham, our company was one of the fi rst...
Graham Builders/Reasons To Upgrade and Expand
Does your house feel overcrowded and outdated? Do you dream of a larger, more functional home? There are numerous advantages to expanding or remodeling your residence. “You can enhance your lifestyle, improve safety and security, and increase your property value, just...
Graham Builders/Manoa House/Cover
Deep in Manoa Valley, the community is quite densely packed, with houses nestled right up against the glorious Koolau Range. Tucked into a quiet corner of this stunningly beautiful valley is a house that is modern and expansive, filled with warm and welcoming natural...
Designing For Your Surroundings
Our beautiful islands are known around the planet for glorious weather. However, as locals know very well, Oahu has its own “climate zones” – areas whose weather patterns and conditions are subtly different from the sunny stereotype. “Some properties get a lot of...
Small Spaces With Big Impact
On our densely populated island, many small older residences are in need of updating and modernizing. And with the highest real estate costs in the country -- $660/square foot, versus the national median of about $233 – it’s critical to maximize every inch of those...
Rebuild or Remodel?
Remodel or rebuild? It’s a question that occasionally confounds homeowners with older houses whose bones just aren’t “quite right.” Remodeling involves changing the structure or layout of a home, removing walls or changing the flow or structure of a building. Rebuild,...
Outdoor Design Strategies
Oahu’s temperate climate and extraordinary beauty often present homeowners with unique opportunities for outdoor living. But these opportunities are often accompanied by challenges like inclement weather patterns, erosion, sound and privacy issues, among others. “With...
Waimanalo House
Spacious… inviting… filled with light. Nestled against the Koolau Mountains in Waimanalo, the home is expansive and welcoming, bright with natural light that streams in through gable-end windows, wide sliding glass doors, and high windows that surround the living room...
Aging in Place/CAPS
It isn’t really surprising that the vast majority – 92% -- of senior citizens hope to spend their golden years in their own homes, in familiar surroundings with people they love. But the U.S. is short of aging-ready homes, with just 40% of American houses considered...
Why Clients Love Graham Builders’ Seminars
It hardly seems possible, but Graham Builders hosted its very first “Building Your Home for Life” seminar in 1996. Over the past 27 years, hundreds of Oahu homeowners have been able to take advantage of the construction and renovation information shared at each free...
Smart Strategies for Budget-Conscious Building
In Hawaii, it almost always makes more financial sense to build new than to buy. Even so, average costs for new builds in the Aloha State can range from $300 to more than $600 per square foot. “If you’re planning to build, you’ll want to maximize your budget, and...
Building Your Home for Life
Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino Evan Fujimoto, president of Graham Builders, recalls an experience that points to the “power of architecture” and the impact it can have on local families. In the 1990s, a Kaneohe ohana on a modest budget and with a challenging project site...
Building Your Dream Home on Oahu? Consider Design/Build
Thinking about building or renovating a home on Oahu? You might be considering the traditional design-bid-build method of construction, for which you’d hire an architect to create a design, and then solicit bids from building contractors and subcontractors. But if...
Accessibility for life’s next chapter
If you’re like most people, you’re probably hoping to age in your own home, in familiar surroundings with people you love. “Most seniors want to live in their own homes for as long as possible, participating in favorite activities and living independently,” says Ryan...
Psychology behind home remodeling
When you think about the houses you find most comfortable and inviting, is your own home on the list? “A well-designed home doesn’t just look good; it feels good, too,” says Evan Fujimoto, president of Graham Builders, the award-winning Honolulu design-build firm....
Graham Builders/Smart Home Technology
You’re undoubtedly familiar with the term “smart phone.” Most of us have smart phones in our pockets or purses, and we use the amazing little devices to connect with each other through a wide variety of communication apps. But what, exactly, is a smart home? And how...
Graham Builders/The Myth of DIY Construction
Self-reliance is an admirable trait, but some home construction projects are simply too ambitious for even the cleverest do-it-yourselfers. “The myth of DIY – ‘do it yourself’ -- construction refers to the misconception that anybody can undertake complex construction...
To renovate or not to renovate?
To renovate or not to renovate? That is, indeed, the Shakespearean question many of us ask ourselves when we contemplate the leaking roofs, creaking floors, and sticking doors in our old houses. Sometimes, according to Evan Fujimoto of Graham Builders, the answer is...
What to look for in your design+build contractor
Thinking about building or renovating a house, or adding new rooms to your home? If you’re the sort of homeowner who appreciates the convenience of working with one cohesive team from the beginning to the end of a project, you might consider hiring a design-build...
Moroccan Makeover
Homeowners Lucia and Brian of Manoa reimagined their master bedroom and bathroom to reflect their love of travel and exotic destinations. They hired Graham Builders for a renovation that transformed their spaces into stunning spa-like retreats. “During COVID,...
ADU, Ohana, or Addition: What’s Right For YOU?
According to Pew Research, around 60 million American households are considered “multi-generational” -- generally defined as a family in which three or more generations live together. Here in the Aloha State, strong family values and the high cost of both caregiving...
Making it Work: Real Challenges, Creative Solutions
It might be a homeowner’s worst nightmare: waking up to the smell of smoke, and the unmistakable sounds of fire, crackling and popping. “Building one’s dream home usually doesn’t start this way, but for too many people, it begins with a nightmare,” says Evan Fujimoto,...
Top Five Reasons Why Design/Build Works
Over the past three decades, the construction project delivery method known as design-build has become tremendously popular in the United States. In a survey conducted by the Design-Build Institute of America (DBIA) and FMI Consulting, homeowner satisfaction with...
Tips for navigating hidden costs
As Graham Builders vice president of operations, Ryan Graham, has seen many situations in which hidden construction costs catch homeowners completely off-guard, delaying projects and sometimes derailing them completely. “Building or renovating a house involves more...
Benefits of Getting a Project Permitted
For those who are planning to build a new home, or embark on a renovation project, it’s sometimes difficult not to think of building permits as a necessary evil. What are the benefits of obtaining a building permit? How extensive must a remodeling project be to...
Multigenerational Success Through Collaboration
When Allen Kimura decided to expand his Oahu home to accommodate several generations of his family, he chose Honolulu design/build firm Graham Builders to handle the project. In their first meeting, the Graham Builders team carefully examined every inch of Kimura’s...
Time to roll up your sleeves
Renewal, rejuvenation, realignment, revitalization! The New Year inspires change in so many ways. Do your dreams for 2023 include a new addition, a complete kitchen and bath renovation, perhaps even the construction of a new home? Once you’ve decided it’s time to roll...
Why Clients Love Graham Builders’ Seminars
On March 4th, Graham Builders will resume its free monthly “Building Your Home For Life” seminars at the Honolulu Country Club. Graham Builders’ last in-person event was held in March 2020, just before the pandemic forced the end of most public gatherings....
Create a flexible space
The word “home” means different things to different people. As our lifestyles change constantly, so do the activities and tasks we perform in our homes. And for many reasons, it is helpful to have spaces in our homes that can change and evolve, too. “Truly flexible...
It’s All by Design
Sharing a kitchen with other people can be quite challenging when their cooking styles and habits don’t quite complement your own. And sharing a kitchen with one or more close family members can be downright maddening. “Perhaps you live in a multi-generational...
Learn how to create a tidy kitchen
For many homeowners, the words “dream kitchen” evoke tantalizing images. Some dream of bright, expansive spaces equipped with all the latest gadgets. Others imagine cozy, super-efficient kitchens, built for accessibility and functionality. But the quality that most...
A solid partnership
While many older homes have undeniable charms, they weren’t always built to take advantage of the natural gifts of their surroundings. That was certainly the case with a home Graham Builders rebuilt for a Pauoa family this past year. Created in 1958, the original...
Ready for the holidays
Are your upcoming holiday celebrations creating visions of an upgraded home? Halloween parties, Thanksgiving feasts and cookie baking parties could be more festive and welcoming in a newly remodeled home. Planning a home construction project that transitions from...
Building for extra space or income
If you’re wondering how to create additional income for your family, the answer might be as close as your own backyard. “Adding extra living space has become very popular with American homeowners, between inflation, the high cost of housing and an expanding population...
Get an architectural designer
Planning a new home or renovation is a truly thrilling and ambitious enterprise. “It can also be overwhelming,” says Evan Fujimoto, president of Honolulu design/build firm Graham Builders. “That’s why it’s incredibly helpful to have an experienced architectural...
Decide if ADUs are right for you – Honolulu Star Advertiser
Looking for extra income, extra space or both? Adding an accessory dwelling unit (ADU) to your property might be just the right solution. According to Ryan Graham, vice president of operations for Graham Builders, more than 1,300 ADU permits have been issued here...
Build With Purpose – Honolulu Star Advertiser
“We should learn from the snail,” wrote iconic American architect Frank Lloyd Wright. “It has devised a home that is both exquisite and functional.” Not unlike the snail, Mike and Michelle Naito took their time building their dream house. They began the process with...
Thoughtfully Designed-Honolulu Star Advertiser
The percentage of Americans living in multigenerational households has nearly quadrupled over the past 10 years, from 7% to 26%. In Hawaii, the numbers are even higher. Fittingly, in-law suites have never been more popular. And according to Evan Fujimoto of Graham...
Plan a multigenerational home-Honolulu Star Advertiser
The concept of multigenerational homes — residences that allow three or more generations of a family to live together — continues to grow in popularity. Graham Builders, a local design-build contractor, has guided hundreds of homeowners through the steps of creating...
Living with Family Offers Surprising Gifts-Hawaii Home+Remodeling Magazine Digital Exclusive
Photos: Courtesy of Graham Builders “You’re moving in with your mom and dad??” is a common question among locals. It is startling that 64% of Hawaii’s millennials, those between the ages of 18 and 34, live with their parents or other family members. This data comes...
Timeless Style-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Reliable reputation Each decision you make regarding your home construction or renovation project will be important, but selecting your contractor might be the most vital decision of all. If you choose a design/ build firm, that company will handle all aspects of your...
Reliable Reputation-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Reliable reputation Each decision you make regarding your home construction or renovation project will be important, but selecting your contractor might be the most vital decision of all. If you choose a design/ build firm, that company will handle all aspects of your...
Easy spring cleaning designs-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Easy spring cleaning designs Once a daunting event for many homeowners, spring cleaning has been simplified by practical, thoughtful home design. “If you’re planning to build a new residence, or remodel an older one, there are plenty of options for design and...
Multigenerational designs, builds-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Over the past three decades, Graham Builders has created scores of comfortable homes that fit the unique needs of multigenerational families. Not long ago, a multigenerational ohana in Kaneohe found it necessary to expand their home to meet the needs of their growing...
Multigenerational home trends-Honolulu Star Advertiser
As thousands of families in Hawaii know, multigenerational housing can greatly enhance the lives of all who live under the same roof. That is especially true when the space under that roof has been designed with multiple nuclear families in mind. And for real success,...
Design for Your Surroundings-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Our beautiful islands are known around the planet for glorious weather. However, as locals know very well, Oahu has its own “climate zones” — areas whose weather patterns and conditions are subtly different from the sunny stereotype. “Some properties get a lot of...
Building a Comfortable Home-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Building a house that feels like home from the moment one enters the front door is a real joy. In ways that are not always immediately visible, there’s more to comfort than plush seating, luxurious pillows and warm accent lighting. According to Ryan Graham,...
Happy Homeowners-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Although design-build was virtually unknown when Danny Graham launched Graham Builders in 1990, it is now the most popular project delivery method for home construction projects in the United States. Client satisfaction with design-build methodology is generally very...
Building with Confidence-Honolulu Star Advertiser
Who doesn’t feel protective about their home? For most, one’s home is a private sanctuary — a sacred retreat where families rejuvenate and recharge. When a home needs to be renovated to meet the growing and new needs of a family or be newly constructed to bring a...