NEWS WORTHY

“How much will it cost?” When home construction, renovation, and expansion are the topics, that’s almost always the question at the top of the list, according to Ryan Graham of Graham Builders. “Many people turn to competitive bidding as a way to compare contractors...

If your family is like thousands of others in Hawaii, your house is already home to several generations, all living together under the same roof. Perhaps your home isn’t quite large enough to comfortably accommodate your multi-generational family. Maybe you might...

Tucked against the jagged backdrop of lovely, verdant Waahila Ridge, the little house looked like many of the other homes in Manoa. Built in 1964, it was crowded by the houses on either side – typical of this densely packed little neighborhood. “Unfortunately, the...

Almost every single month for the past 30 years, a dedicated team from Graham Builders has hosted a free educational seminar for the public called “Building Your Home For Life.” The objective has never been about making sales. In fact, it took a year – almost to the...

As client care manager for award-winning Honolulu design-build firm Graham Builders, Lenore Smith has seen firsthand what happens when all of the major players are on the same team in the design and construction of a home. “The design/build process enables and...

Most of us can agree that family gatherings are the vibrant, beating heart of the holidays. “We always want to gather in places that are safe and comfortable for everybody in the ohana,” says Lenore Smith, client care manager for Honolulu design/build firm Graham...

Molly W. and her husband Bob wanted very much to build an addition on their Oahu home, but their apprehensions about the project made it hard for them to get it off the ground. Until they discovered Graham Builders, that is. “We entered the remodel with such hesitancy...

We live on an island on which the monthly rent for almost 75% of rental properties is $2,000 or higher, according to a May 2025 report from the University of Hawaii’s Economic Research Organization. In fact, for a full 39% of these Oahu properties, rent is more than a...

Eric I., a Honolulu homeowner, was frustrated. He wanted very much to enlarge the living space of his home, but he had absolutely no idea where to start. “We ended up going to Graham Builders’ free informational seminar,” he remembers. “They walked us through the...

These days, it’s more important than ever to embrace construction strategies and practices that provide greater financial transparency and control. “Cost overruns are common concerns on most renovation and construction projects,” reports Lenore Smith, client care...

It’s no secret that multigenerational housing is common in the Aloha State. In the 2020 census, 4.7% of all U.S. households reported themselves as multigenerational. Hawaii had the largest share of multigenerational households – an astonishing 9.1%. Also known as...

When Danny Graham launched Graham Builders 35 years ago this month, he couldn’t possibly have envisioned its future. In 1990, Graham, a McKinley High School graduate who had served in the Air Force, had successfully built a realty company and a water purification...

“A simple thing done well is better than a complicated thing done poorly.” The adage may be an old one, but it applies beautifully to construction and renovation in these modern times. “Over-design, in terms of space and complexity, is a bit like overeating,” says...

Have you ever thought about what you love most about your home? Maybe it’s the light-filled breakfast nook in your kitchen, or your quiet, private neighborhood. Perhaps it’s the garden you’ve carefully cultivated for years, or the great room where you’ve hosted family...

Almost all of us, at some point in our lives, have visited or lived in homes that were poorly built or designed, or both. From cluelessly conceived kitchens to badly built bathrooms, we’ve all seen houses that offer perfect examples of unfortunate design and...

Hurricanes, floods, and tsunamis are fairly rare in Hawaii, thank goodness. “But even milder weather events can cause damage to homes,” says Malia Yee of Graham Builders. “We make it a point to design every home for durability and resilience, based on its location and...

From the street, the house didn’t have much going for it. Built in 1960, the place was a fairly simple three-bedroom, two-bath ranch-style house, close to the majestic Olomana peaks in Kailua. “There wasn’t much about the front that felt welcoming or gave a hint of...

Embarking on a renovation or new construction project can be daunting even when costs are predictable. Uncertain times call for smart strategies. According to Ryan Graham of Graham Builders,the design-build approach can help homeowners get the most out of their...

Spring arrives this week, and you might be making a list of things you can do to help your house welcome the season. “Curb appeal is always a spring game changer,” says Malia Yee, lead designer for Graham Builders, the Honolulu design/build firm. “A new entryway or...

A couple of years ago, 500 homeowners who had recently completed renovation projects were asked about their project’s most difficult challenges. Almost a third said budgeting was the biggest challenge. Others included choosing a contractor, shopping for fixtures and...

The year was 1990. Danny Graham, a McKinley High graduate who had served in the Air Force, decided to open a contracting company. He already owned a successful realty company and a thriving water purification business. But after volunteering some of his time with RICO...

In the days and weeks ahead, homeowners around the world will welcome 2025 with plans for organization, resolution, and renewal. “The New Year is a perfect time to think about maintenance and improvements in a number of areas in your home,” says Lenore Smith of Graham...

If you’ve always wanted to host holiday parties for your friends and family, you might be imagining how to transform your house into the perfect gathering place. Or you might already be planning to build a home that will be perfect for celebrations. “Either way, there...

As a homeowner, 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 at...

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...

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...

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...

 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...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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? 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...

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...

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...

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,...

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...