Hawaii Life Real Estate Brokers » Building

Planning for Hawaii Retirement Using Universal Design

Claire K. Bajo RS — Fri, 28 Oct 2011 04:09:09 +0000

Photo from QualityHomeConcepts.com Featuring Universal Design

Tips for Seniors (66+) and Baby Boomers (47+)

Aloha! In learning more about how to plan for our aging family, I wanted to share some information with you that I received when becoming a certified Senior Real Estate Specialist [SRES]. During my training, I fell in love with the concept of a Universal Design.

Universal Design Standards are building guidelines for creating homes “…so that they are usable by all people to the greatest extent possible.”

If you are preparing for retirement (or planning to help take care of aging parents or people with disabilities) you may want to re-design your home, or update the floor plan, to add more functionality.

Universal Design Principles Include

Equitable Use: Does it meet the needs of a variety of users with diverse abilities?
Flexible Use: Does it accommodate a wide range of individual preferences?
Simple and Intuitive: Is the design of the home easy to use & understand?
User-Sensitive: Is it sensitive to the user’s abilities? i.e. hearing impaired, low vision.
Minimizing Room for Error: Does the home minimize consequences of accidents and provides fail-safe features?
Ergonomics & Functionality: Is the space adjustable, and is it easy to reach from a normal body position with little or no bending?

Universal Design Video

If you would like more information on Universal Design and Aging in Place, please contact me. I would be happy to share the helpful knowledge I received as a Senior Real Estate Specialist, and I look forward to helping you & your families in preparation for the future.

Blessings Always,

Claire K. Bajo, RS
Senior Real Estate Specialist
(808)-756-4874
claire@hawaiilife.com

Hawaii Considers Change to Oceanfront Building Rules

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B) — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:36:59 +0000

Oceanfront parcel at One Puako Bay (MLS# 215500) is 6.76 acres of quiet black sand

A year ago, I wrote a primer on the topic of what someone buying oceanfront property in Hawai’i needs to know. In it I explained that “conservation” is the land use designation generally applied to coastal lands. Now, for the first time in 16 years, the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources is reviewing the rules pertaining to areas zoned conservation. The most significant proposal would specify the shoreline building setback to be 40 feet from the certified shoreline PLUS 70 times the average annual coastal erosion rate. (The public comment period lasts until September 7th if you have an interest and want to register your opinion).

Just for review, as the listing agent quite correctly commented on my blog post about her multi-parcel oceanfront listing in Niulii (MLS# 229636), if a parcel is ONLY zoned conservation, a single residential structure of up to 5,000 square feet is permissible. If the parcel has more than one zoning, for example if it is a larger acreage that is primarily zoned agricultural except for an oceanfront band zoned conservation, the owner can build only in the non-conservation portion and in that case the zoning and building standards applicable to that classification would apply.

Oceanfront Estate at Puakea Bay Ranch (MLS# 232548) could not be replicated today

The property to which the current rules and the 1994 deliberations might be attributed coincidentally happens to be on the market today. This oceanfront estate, situated within the gated community of Puakea Bay Ranch near Hawi on the Big Island, is listed at $13,750,000 (MLS# 232548). For that, the buyer will get a genuine estate property: over 11,000 sq, feet of living space including 6 bedrooms in the main house, another 3 bedrooms in the poolside guest house, and a separate caretaker suite.

For the fitness enthusiast, the property has both a pool and tennis court with whale-watching ocean views, and fitness rooms in both the master suite and the guest residence. The estate is on almost 5 acres, but to make the picture truly complete, the adjacent 10 acre lot could also be purchased and transformed into an equestrian center (well, that would be my dream, anyway). The history is complicated, but the bottom line is simple: it would not be possible to build this oceanfront estate today.

The buyer of a property like this is someone in search of a different lifestyle than the front-row buyer at Kukio or Hualalai (new on the market MLS# 237310), or even the oceanfront buyer at 49 Black Sand Beach in Mauna Lani Resort (like MLS# 203139) or a beachfront lot at Naupaka Place (MLS# 233826) in Waikoloa Beach Resort).

The typical buyer at Kukio wants world-class amenities, plays a lot of golf, wants to walk to fine dining in a resort environment where all the employees know them by name. The oceanfront buyer looking at the handful of $10+ million estate properties in North Kohala wants true seclusion and doesn’t worry about hiring the right staff to manage their own property. The oceanfront acreage buyer probably has something different yet in mind, a smaller footprint in a pristine rural location where their interaction is more likely to be with long-time local residents than with other members of the business and social sphere they inhabit in their off-island life.

The Hawaii Life team has been fortunate enough to represent buyers and sellers with each of these profiles. Contact me if you want help to figure out which oceanfront property is the best fit for you. We also may know properties not currently on the market that would be available for the right buyer, so don’t hesitate to ask.

A hui hou,

Beth Thoma Robinson, R(B)
Direct: 808.443.4588
Email: beth@hawaiilife.com

2 Architectural Masterpieces – Anini, Kauai

Matt Beall R(B), Owner, Principal Broker — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 22:52:57 +0000

We’ve recently listed what we believe to be two of the finest homes on all of Kauai. Although they’re adjacent to each other, they’re definitely distinct from one another.

Situated on a ridge overlooking Kalihiwai Bay, the valley, and the river on one side, and the surf and reef at Anini on the other… these two homes make a powerful statement: If you’re going to have a luxury ocean view home on a bluff top on Kauai, be sure your architect and builder know what they’re doing.Â Location, Vistas, Privacy… these are all things we know to think of…

Kalihiwai Bay Ridgeline

Kalihiwai Bay from the Living Room

But structure, maintenance, long-term care, durability… these are “intangibles”, that only come with experience.Â On Kauai, a house has to be built to handle sun, wind, rain, and… if you’re close to the ocean, salt.Â Concrete, stone, hardwoods, copper… and an intense focus on how to design these elements all combine to provide the substantial quality of these homes.

Compared to the rest of Kauai’s luxury market, these two homes may be the finest residential offerings on the island. The owners don’t intend to sell them both… just one. Why? Because they scoured the island looking for the perfect spot. They don’t want to be on the beach (although they have a trail to Kalihiwai Bay), and each of the north shore’s more popular subdivisions have different drawbacks (too much wind, not enough privacy, etc.). So, here they are.

Visit Website â†’

Stone and Concrete

Teak, Quartzite, and Stone

Copper and Wood

Architect Daniel Moran is credited with a masterful job.

Building Contractor Rob Brower built both homes.

How To Get A Hawaii Building Permit

Dan Harrington - Research Analyst — Tue, 14 Jul 2009 01:19:50 +0000

An Overview of the Home Building Permit Process

File An Application and Contractor’s Statement

The first step in getting a Building Permit is to file the proper paperwork with the Building Division at the Department of Public Works on your island.

House Plans / Blueprints

You will be required to submit up to five sets of blueprints. The number varies on the different islands and also depending upon the purpose of the structure (e.g., residential, commercial).
Blueprints need to be stamped by a licensed structural engineer or architect.
Blueprints will include a plot plan and floor plan as well as details of the foundation, framing, elevations, and electrical and plumbing plans.

Who Approves Your Permit

Your plans will have to be approved by various county departments including the Planning Department, Department of Water, Department of Health, Engineering Division, Fire Department, Wastewater Management, and the Building Division, with some exceptions/additions based upon the location and purpose of the structure.

Requirements

You will be required to follow all zoning requirements in the area where you are building, as well as any other rules that may apply (e.g., Special Management Area rules, Shoreline Setback requirements, etc.)
You may also need a grading or grubbing permit if you are moving a significant amount of dirt or clearing a large area of land.

The Waiting Period

Once your plans are submitted and the proper forms are completed, you will typically wait from four to eight months for approval.
Sometimes home plans get lost or paperwork is missing. Any one of the various departments might have a problem with your permit application, and you may not be called in a timely manner to rectify the situation.
To expedite the process and/or to avoid lengthy delays, regularly check the status of your application online and also keep in touch with the reviewing agencies.
As soon as it seems like there may be a delay (e.g., a particular department has the plans for an several weeks without action), try to keep things moving along smoothly by gently prodding the department for information on the status of your permit.