hawaii renovation 10 april 2011

Serving Hawaii Since 1981

Safety Tubs, Sauna, Photovoltaic Solar Panels, Pre-Fab Countertops, Slabs, Marble, Granite, Sealants. LED Lighting

Hawaii Home Expo will donate 10% of profit on all TOTO products for the month of April toAmerican Red Cross to aid Japan in their recent earthquake and tsunami relief efforts. In addition,we will offer a 15% discount on in stock TOTO products, excluding Washlets and Neorests.

Kokua for Japan

AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC.

HAW

AII

APRIL 10, 2011

Armstrong has a wide selection of luxurious vinyl floors to keep your feet warm and comfortable. See page 3

INSIDE: SELECTING THE RIGHT PLANTS FOR YOUR HOME • THE CURE FOR AIRFLOW CONGESTION

Take a walk on the vinyl side

Plants are alwaysused to create afeng shui positive

environment becausethey not only addvibrancy, oxygen andlife force, they symbol-ize growth and supportus energetically. Muchof feng shui is about cre-ating an environmentthat gives us energy versusone that drains us of ourenergy and life force.

Plant SelectionThe most “feng shui pos-

itive” plants are full, lushand vibrant. When choos-ing plants, select roundedleaves over spiky, thorny,or pointy leaves. Havingtoo many pointy-leavedplants sends out a pricklyenergy, which your sub-conscious reads as “stayaway.” This is not an invit-ing energy.

The artificial vs. real plantdebate

Grandmaster Lin Yun,the founder of the BlackSect school of feng shui,said, “If you have to touch aplant to determine whetherit is real or not, it holdseven more power than alive plant.” This means that

if ana r t i f i -cial plantlooks real, it is doing its job.Your subconscious will seeit as symbolic of a real plant,and it will have the sameeffect. Live plant energy isfavorable and it’s good tohave some around; howev-er, it is better to have an arti-ficial plant that looks aliveand real, than to have a realplant that is sickly or dead.Silk plants are excellent andare made so well these daysthey are hard to visually tellthem apart from real ones!

Dead and dried plantsDead flowers and dead

or sick plants emit deadenergy into the environ-ment. Even dried flowerssymbolize death to the sub-conscious mind. I suggest

that you replacedead or dying plantswith live ones for animmediate boost ofenergy.Many people feel

bad about throwingaway plants that stillhave a bit of life in

them, but are beyondreviving. I tell my clientsthat the best time to “recy-cle” almost-dead plantsback into the universalflow is during the threedays prior to a new moonbecause it represents new

beginnings. This timinggives the plants an oppor-tunity to “begin anew”,and many of us feel betterwhen we know we are get-ting rid of them at an opti-mal time. If the plant isalready dead, then discard-

ing anytime is fine.

Dried flower leis and plantswith meaning

If you have dried flowerleis or other types of driedflowers in your home thathold significant meaning orspecial memories, then oneof my basic rules apply:“Have things you lovearound you.” If it is some-thing you love, even thoughit is “dead”, it has a goodenergy and it’s fine to havearound.

If, however, it has begunto disintegrate and youcan’t remember why youkept it in the first place, ithas lost its positive person-al energy and it’s time toget rid of it.

Potpourri is oftenbrought up because it iscommonly used in homesand some are curious aboutit from a feng shui perspec-tive. Although potpourri ismade of “dead” plant parts,it does have life in it in theform of its added fragrance.

However, once the fra-grance dissipates, the dustsettles, and cobwebs startforming, it is time to dis-card it. As long as it is kept“fresh”, it does not takeaway from the positivefeng shui.

Here are a few usefulplant tips:

• Move existing plantsaround to change up theenergy of the environment.

• Fill empty corners withplants to create curves, full-ness, and balance in aroom.

• Use plants at theentrance to “entrance” theenergy.

• Buy a plant when youneed a boost and desiresupport.

Feng shui expert and lifeguide Alice Inoue offersbooks, DVDs, workshopsand private consultations.For more information, visitwww.aliceinoue.com.

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2 | HAWAII RENOVATION | APRIL 10, 2011 AN ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT PUBLISHED BY OAHU PUBLICATIONS, INC. | ALL RIGHTS RESERVED

HAWAIIRENOVATION

GOASK

ALICEby Alice Inoue

New Leaf

You have to see andfeel the luxury vinylfloors at Wayne’s

Flooring to appreciatethem. Alterna vinyl tile issoft and warm underfoot,and offers the most naturaland realistic ceramic orstone looks you’ll find any-where. Luxe Plank luxury

vinyl floors also offer high-ly realistic looks — but doso in hardwood colors andtextures. Luxe Plank evencomes in authentic planklengths and widths, withbeveled edges and ends.

Alterna luxury vinyl canbe installed with or withoutgrout, for a true stone or

ceramic look. Consider hir-ing an Armstrong-certified,professional installer forAlterna since gluing andgrouting are usually skillsbeyond the average DIY-er.Alterna comes in the largeformat (16 inches-by-16inches) tiles.

If you want a luxury vinylfloor that’s DIY-friendly,take a closer look at LuxePlank. Lynx Technology,with its exclusive pressure-sensitive adhesive, makesLuxe Plank incredibly ver-satile and simple to install.Because each plank attach-es to the planks beside it(not the floor beneath it)

you can install it quicklyand easily over practicallyany surface in your home orbusiness. All it takes are 3simple steps:

Step 1: Start with a cleandry surface. No prepera-tion or glue is necessary.

Step 2: Peel off the paperliner to expose the Lynxtechnology adhesive andplace plank on the floor.

Step 3: Place additionalplanks, overlapping the adhe-sive strips to attach each plankto the planks beside and aboveit. To secure, press down onedges.

If you make a mistake,simply pull up the flexibleLuxe Plank and reposi-tion it within the set time

without affecting the rest ofthe floor.

To trim, simply score aplane with a utility knifeand straight edge and snapit apart.

Armstrong’s luxuryvinyl floors are made tolast, and its vinyl tiles areeasy to maintain and canbe installed in any room,including bathrooms. BothLuxe Plank and Alternaare made up of three pri-mary layers. The top layeris a protective wear layerthat provides resistance tostains, scratches andscuffs. This wear layer is

combined with a clear filmlayer that adds more dura-bility and helps protectthe luxury vinyl flooragainst rips, tears andgouges. The second layeris the printed design layerthat offers realistic ceram-ic, stone or wood visuals.The bottom layer is thetile backing, which addsstructural strength anddurability.

Find Armstrong Luxeand Alterna at one of fourWayne’s Flooring locations(Sand Island, Kaimuki,Kaneohe or Salt Lake). Formore information, visitwww.armstrong.com.

HAWAIIRENOVATION

APRIL 10, 2011 | HAWAII RENOVATION | 3

Why PeopleAdore theseFloors

WAYNE’SFLOOR I NG

Visit RevoluSun.com to find a solar openhouse near you or call 748.8888 for a complete

schedule and addresses.

LIC. # ABC 30244

APRIL

AIEAKAILUAWAIANAE

17

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Ph: 853-2088 • Fax: 853-2058www.gcgchi.com

2011 New Products

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BY KAREN NAKAMURA

As the April 18 federalincome tax filing deadlineapproaches, millions ofAmericans are sitting downand sorting through dozensof forms to determine howmuch money they oweUncle Sam — or, how muchof a refund they will getthis year. One of thoseforms, the Mortgage InterestStatement Form 1098, canmean big savings for home-

owners at tax time. Form 1098, which home-

owners receive from theirlenders, shows the totalamount of home mortgageinterest paid during the year.Homeowners who itemizetheir federal income taxdeductions can deduct 100percent of their mortgageinterest payments on a firstor second home for up to $1million of mortgage debt.They can also deduct theinterest paid on up to $100,000

of home equity loans. For most homeowners,

this means they can deductall of the mortgage interestthey’ve paid on their homeeach year.

The ability to deduct homemortgage and home equityloan interest isn’t the onlytax benefit for homeowners.

The three most importantsources of tax savings forhomeowners are:

• Deductions for mortgage

interest • Deductions for real

estate taxes • The capital gains exclu-

sion for the sale of a principalresidence

Buying a home offers taxsavings that can add up totens of thousands of dollarsover several years.Homeowners rely on themortgage interest deductioneach year to help offset thecosts of homeownership,

and prospective buyers takethe deduction into consid-eration when choosing home-ownership over renting.

But the mortgage interestdeduction, which has beenincluded in the tax code forabout 100 years, is in danger.A national deficit commissionhas proposed reducing oreliminating the deductionas part of a restructuring ofthe tax code.

Find out more about thethreat to the mortgage interest

deduction, and read “The TaxBenefits of Homeownership,”a study from economists atthe National Association ofHome Builders, that providesspecific examples of savingsfor a variety of income levelsand ownership situations, atwww.SaveMyMortgageInterestDeduction.com.

Karen Nakamura is executive vice president / CEO of Building IndustryAssociation of Hawaii.

Tax Timeat


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Thinking about investing in asolar PV system for your home?Congratulations! You’ll be one

of the growing number of Hawaii fami-lies who look forward to receiving theirHECO statement, just to see that“amount due” below $20 every month!With Hawaii’s record-breaking electricity

rates, year-round sun and substantial taxcredits, installing a PV system in the 50thstate makes more sense than ever. It can costas little as $5,000 after government credits,and the savings on your electric bill lets thatinvestment pay for itself in 5 1/2 years.But the red-hot solar energy market

also means there are dozens of new solarcompanies jumping on the bandwagon,and our kamaaina families can be facedwith a lot of choices. Homeowners whoeducate themselves before investing willenjoy reliable energy savings for genera-tions to come.A few weeks ago, Alternate Energy

reported on some of the most importantthings homeowners should ask beforeinvesting in a solar PV system. Theresponse was so positive, we put togethera second round of insider tips from compa-

ny pros at Alternate Energy, Hawaii’slocally owned, family-operated solar ener-gy provider since 1993.

• Ask if the provider employs its installers. Ifsomething goes wrong two years down theroad, you don’t want your provider passingthe buck to a sub-contractor.

•Insist on a reputable solar panelmanufacturer. There are literallydozens of new brands on the market.You are making an investment thatshould last decades. Will the manufac-turer be around to honor its warranty?Alternate Energy is a certifiedMitsubishi installer.

•Hot-water heating can account forup to 40 percent of a family’s energybill. No one should consider PVwithout first investing in a solar hot-water heater. Otherwise, you’ll findyourself buying more panels than

youneed.

• With so many new solar companiesentering the market, many will doalmost anything to get your business. Be

wary of sales gimmicks like cash rebatesor free trips. Because of the tax creditsinvolved, the government frowns uponthese kinds of incentives. You don’twant to open yourself up to an audit.

•Hire a full-service, licensed solarcompany with a C-60 Solar PowerSystems Contractor license. This meansthe provider has passed rigorous testingand has the necessary experience withsolar, roof work, hook-ups and permit-ting to do a top-notch job.

For more information aboutAlternate Energy, call 842-5853.

Visit our Showroom Mon – Fri 9 – 5 • (808) 626-5418 Waipio Business Center 94-1388 Moaniani St. #302

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926 KOHOU STREET � HONOLULU � 847-7711Hawaii’s Best Flooring!

Do you already have a wood or laminate floorthat is looking a bit tired but not to the point

of refinishing or replacing? Well, your solutioncould be Bona’s Refresher. Available for bothwood and other hard surfaces, it offers you aquick do-it-yourself way of putting a fresh

coat of gloss on your existing floors. And guys,it’s as easy as putting on nail polish!

Please send your questions to [email protected]. ALOHA!

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Hot tips from the PV pros at Alternate EnergyMore Solar Savvy:

WANTED10 HOMES OR BUILDINGS NEEDING WINDOW REPLACEMENT!

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LIFETIME WINDOWS & DOORSWindow and door products

for existing home replacement

Call, email or mail your information toTropical Wholesale, Inc. today.

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DISCOUNT MUTUAL1020 AUAHI ST., BLDG. 3, BAY 5HONOLULU, HI 96814 • 808 591-9441

FERGUSON ENTERPRISE INC.925 KOKEA ST.HONOLULU, HI 96817 • 808 832-7474

MIDTOWN RADIO94-688 FARRINGTON HWY.WAIPAHU, HI 96797 • 808 677-3291

THE DISCOUNT STORE560-H PENSACOLA ST.HONOLULU, HI 96814 • 808 596-7774

O A H U :

2841 PUKOLOA ST • HONOLULU, HI 96819

Call our showroom, 564-2493

ServcoAppliance.com

$175HAWAII ENERGYREBATE$300ON KAUAI

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FERGUSON ENTERPRISE INC.335 HUKILIKE ST.KAHULUI, HI 96732 • 808 877-4460

HAMAI APPLIANCE332 E. WAKEA AVE.KAHULUI, HI 96732 • 808 877-6305

B I G I S L A N D :

FERGUSON ENTERPRISE INC.73-5570 LAWEHANA ST.KAILUA-KONA, HI 96740 • 808 327-4400

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• Similar connections/footprint as standard water heater

• 50 gallon capacity, Limited 1-year labor, 10-year parts warranty

• Qualifies for Hawaii Energy Rebate Incentive(currently $175)

• Qualifies for Kauai Island Utility CooperativeRebate (currently $300)

• Qualifies for $300 Federal Tax Credit (check with your tax advisor) as of 10/10

We service all types and brands of garage doorsSome restrictions apply. Offer Valid now thru May 31, 2011

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Come and experience the“ohana” style of serviceprovided at Ohana

Building Supply. Among thecolor and style selections ofcabinets, granite, flooring andstainless steel sinks, you willalso find the Milzen Cabinetryline exclusive in Hawaii only atOhana Building Supply.These face-framed, flat-slab,

panel-style cabinets are made

of ½-inch plywood boxes, ¾-inch solid wood face-framewith ¾-inch wood-trimmedengineered wood doors anddrawer faces. Milzen cabinetsare constructed with solidwood dove-tailed drawers andbuilt standard with undermount soft closing drawerslides and soft closing doorfeatures. Elegantly colored inEspresso Oak and White Oak,

these stylish modern cabinetswill add flair to any kitchen.Stop in to check out this finecabinetry as well as the otherselections of Flat Panel, RaisedPanel and Shaker style cabi-nets. Currently the Milzen cabinet

line is being offered at 35 per-cent off of retail pricing.Ohana Building Supply’snewest promotion is on theDark Cherry Flat Panel andRaised Panel cabinets, which isbeing offered at 50 percent offretail. These frameless-stylecabinets are constructed of ¾-inch solid wood doors, drawerfaces and ¾-inch plywoodboxes. These cabinets come

standard with Blum hardwarefor the under mount soft clos-ing drawer slides and soft clos-ing door features.Ohana Building Supply is

located at 2815 Kaihikapu St. inMapunapuna. Showroom hoursare Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to5 p.m. and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4p.m. Call 833-8338 for directions

and more information.


HAWAIIRENOVATION

stylish cabinetry

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OHANAB U I L D E R S

With electricitycosts continu-ing to rise,

more and more Hawaiihomeowners are turningto solar to reduce theirelectricity bill and tolessen their impact onthe environment. Butsolar energy can be con-fusing, with all the differ-ent technology, and myr-iad of tax incentives, notto mention financingoptions.

“One of the biggestchallenges to going solarfor many Hawaii home-

owners is that there is somuch to learn,” says EricCarlson, RevoluSun part-ner. “RevoluSun wantseveryone to truly under-stand how solar energyworks, what goes into

choosing the right solarsystem, and the rightpartner to design andinstall the system. TheRevoluSun solar educa-tion seminar helps home-owners understand theprocess and what theyshould be on the lookoutfor, while our open houseprogram provides people

a chance to talk storywith other local home-owners like themselves,to hear about the solarexperience firsthand.”

Installing more resi-dential and commercialsolar systems than anyother company in 2010,RevoluSun is Hawaii’s

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Good for condominiums

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V is i t the Pel la W indow & Door Showroom or pel la .com,

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SEE PAGE 12

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Curb appeal, safety and quality.What do these words mean toyou? As a homeowner you

realize your home is probably yourgreatest asset — not only providingyou shelter, but also providing youequity on your investment. Thereforeit is important to take care of yourinvestment as you would your ownhealth.

Curb appeal is the most noticeableasset of your home. The wronggarage door will spoil the entire lookof your home, and an inferior doorjust won’t hold up.

Martin Garage Doors are built to bethe last door you’ll ever need for yourhome. Our experienced staff help youselect the right door for your home,one that will complement the look ofyour home and add value. One of ourcustomers on Maui selected a MartinDoor system because he wanted aspecial look for their home. In addi-tion to the garage door, MartinGarage Doors Hawaii was able toprovide matching entry doors for thebreezeway and matching gates.Needless to say, the wow factor wasnoticed by all who drove by.

Safety has always been priority No.1 at Martin Door Manufacturing. Ourdoor systems come equipped withthe most safety features of any garage

door system on the market. Amongthem is our exclusive soft touchreverse technology ™, which revers-es a descending door with just a softtouch, eliminating the need for photoeyes. When opening, the door andopener system will stop with just asoft touch — eliminating the appealfor children to ride the door while itopens.

Martin Garage Doors Hawaii alsotakes pride in the quality of our prod-uct and service.

“It’s no accident we build our doorsto a higher standard,” states DavidMartin, owner of Martin DoorManufacturing, “That means our cus-tomers can count on a door whichprovides safety, and long lasting curbappeal.”

We encourage all of our customersto compare the quality of our doors toothers on the market. They soon findout that our doors give them bettervalue for their dollar.

To learn more, visit www.martingaragedoorshawaii.com or stop bythe company showroom at 2839Kilihau St. in Honolulu.

[email protected]

CALL:808-636-1888

FREE ESTIMATES

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MURAKAMI’S ROOFING

Homeowners user friendlyMini Excavators, Dingos

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Call for FREEEstimate!

SAVE $$ BY REFACINGInstead of buying new cabinets or we can build you new ones…Replace Doors, Drawers, Formica & Wood Countertops, Hi-Macs, Corian & Granite

ESSENTIAL CABINET REFACING INC.License #C24208

Showroom Hours M-Sat. 8-4:30 • 212 Mohonua Pl., C-3847-7835www.essentialcabinetrefacing.com

All plywood – No particle board! In stock in Hawaii

Personalized service! Buy direct from the source!

Granite Now in Stock!

Solid WoodDovetail Drawers w/Heavy Duty Guides 91-151 Malakole Rd. • 356-1889

Leaky Roof?

leakmaster.com

591-1900

lic.# C-16434Rated A+

Sliders and single-hung win-dows look great. But arethey practical for your home

and area? To relieve your hot, stuffy

home, RMA Sales’ Tradewindlouver jalousie windows canbring you relief. Try this simpleexercise to see if you’ll be able totolerate a window style other

than louver jalousies: cover halfof your current window withplastic sheeting for a day or two.If it happens to rain, close theexposed part of the window thatwas not covered with plasticsheeting. How is your airflownow? Are you still comfortable?If you are, then by all meansswitch to sliders or single-hung

windows if that is your desire(and we can help you there, too).But if you feel hot and uncomfort-able, the Tradewind louverjalousie window system may bethe best remedy for your home.All Tradewind windows are cus-tom-built right here in Hawaii.Think of your home like the

human body. It needs clean, natu-rally fresh air to remain healthy.A hot, uncomfortable home withwindow systems that restrict air-flow is like congestion. RMASales’ Tradewind louver jalousiesystem is the “decongestant.”The Tradewind louver jalousie

system is unlikethe old alu-minum louverjalousie win-dows from the20th century.This system fea-tures corrosion-resistant hard-ware compo-nents, attractivelouver bladeoptions (size aswell as materi-als), low main-tenance vinyl frames and anoptional, attractive retrofit exteri-or trim profile.With the cost of electricity ris-

ing, the luxury and expense ofusing air conditioners is fastbecoming prohibitive. Be cool.

Feel good. Save money. So, to relieve home air conges-

tion, call RMA Sales at 486-8894for a Tradewind window dealernear you. Tradewind windowsare a product of RMA Sales,locally owned and operatedsince 1961.


RMA S A L E S

HAWAIIRENOVATION

The curestuffy airflow

congestionfor

What is the best roofout there? Some willtell you that the

answer is simple: It is the roofthat costs the least over its life.To those people, it really doesnot matter what material is usedor how the roof is attached.When most homeowners look

at roofing, they look at the mate-rials and the systems, and theonly part of the cost they con-sider is the initial cost. But thecost to install a roof is only aportion of the total cost of own-ing a roof.The practice of examining the

cost of owning a roof over itsentire life is called life-cyclecost analysis. This is the best

way to truly compare thecost/value of roofing systems. Homeowners should ask

themselves, “How long do Iexpect to own the home?” If theanswer is indefinitely, then theanalysis should be run for atleast 20 years. Some people willuse 30 years. The standarddepreciation for roofing is 39years. There are very few sys-tems that are functional at theend of this life expectancy.In a basic life-cycle cost

analysis, there are several fac-tors that need to be considered.

The study period has alreadybeen mentioned. The next con-sideration is the changing valueof a dollar over time. One com-mon method for relating futureexpenses to today’s costs is touse the t-bill rate, minus theinflation rate. A time value ofapproximately 5 percent is a rea-sonable number for use in ouranalysis.There are costs associated

with other aspects of roofing,

such as installation inspections,semi-annual inspections, thecost of leak-related repairs,costs associated with makingthe warrantor live up to the war-ranty, and so forth. There alsoare routine maintenanceexpenses to consider, such ascleaning the drains, recaulkingthe flashings and performinggeneral housekeeping.The last item that needs to be

known is the relative life

expectancy of the roofs in ques-tion. There are sources for thisinformation. The most conser-vative approach is to use thewarranty life as the service life.This is generally shorter thanthe real life, except where thereis no routine maintenance done.Then the life may well be short-er than the warranty.To learn more about roofing

or to receive an estimate, callMurakami Roofing at 348-8270.

Many Selections of Granite Countertops to choose from3 Styles of Cabinetry In Stock

Competitive Pricing � Free EstimatesInstallation Available � Special Orders Available

COME AND VISIT OUR SHOWROOM TODAY!847-3288 � 2006 REPUBLICAN ST �HONOLULU

Email: [email protected] Mon-Sat 8 am - 5pm

(26" x 8')On selected stock. While supplies last.

306 Kalihi St. | Honolulu, HI 96819 | 808.842.7755 www.hawaiihardwoodinc.com | Lic #BC29826

Rethink. Refine.

• Dustless Sand & Finish• Slab Prep & Leveling• Vinyl & Carpet Installation• Border and Inlays • Hardwood & Laminate Installation• Stone and Tile Installation

We now carry all flooring supplies!Sandpaper, flooring cleats, staples, caulk, filler, Basic & BonaKemi finishes.

®

We carry BAMBOO

LAMINATEcomparable to

Wilson Art

We carry BAMBOO

LAMINATEcomparable to

Wilson Art

FREE GRANITEWhen you buya set of KitchenCabinets

Granite starting at $150 and up

8’ and 9’ x 26”with the back splash

Eased edge & Bullnose30 Colors to choose from

40%OFF3/4” Cherrywood cabinets raised panel and flat/slab doorBlum Hardware w/Freesoft closing upgradeLic# C-30215

Email: [email protected]

2815 Kaihikapu StreetHonolulu, HI 96819

Ph: 808.833.8338Fax: 808.833.8339

On select colors, While supplies

last


MURAKAMIR O O F I N G

that hasA Company

you Covered

HAWAIIRENOVATION

leader in residentialsolar energy systems.

RevoluSun SolarEducation Seminars

RevoluSun presents free, family-friendlySolar Education Seminarsin locations aroundOahu, Maui and the Big

Island in the eveningand on weekends soHawaii homeowners canlearn the A-B-C’s ofsolar. Attendees willfind out:

• how solar works,• what solar systems

and panels are avail-able,

• how to determinewhich system is bestfor your needs, includ-ing your sun zone andorientation,

• how to navigate andcapitalize on thenumerous tax creditsavailable,

• how to save moneywith solar.

Upcoming RevoluSunSolar Education Seminarsare scheduled on Oahufor Tuesday, April 19from 5:30 to 7 p.m. atCastle High School;Saturday, May 21 from9:30 to 11 a.m. at KaiserHigh School; andTuesday, June 21 from5:30 to 7 p.m. at the BIATraining Center inWaipahu. New seminardates and locations areadded often, so be sure tocheck www.RevoluSun.com or call 748-8888to find a free SolarEducation Seminar inyour neighborhood or toreserve your seat.Children are welcome

to these events, whichare free and open to thepublic. Space is limit-ed, and reservations arerequested.

RevoluSun Solar OpenHouses

RevoluSun also offersfree solar open housesaround the Island everyweekend and sometimeson weekdays. Get com-fortable with the tech-nology and the installa-tion process by visitinga solar open house,where other Hawaii“RevoluSunaries” invitethe public to see theirsolar system in action,and talk story aboutdesign, the installationprocess, and how theexperience affectedthem.

This monthRevoluSun is hostingthe following solaropen houses:

• April 10 in Manoa• April 17 in Aiea and

in Kailua • April 23 in Honolulu

New open houses areadded every day, so visitwww.RevoluSun.com orcall 748-8888 for a com-plete listing of locationsand times.

“Solar energy is thebest way to lower yourelectricity bill whiletaking care of the aina,”Carlson says. “The morepeople know and under-

stand about solar, theeasier it is for them totake the step to becomea ‘RevoluSunary.’

“We’re so pleased tobe providing this edu-cation, so Hawaii canbecome a leader in solarenergy in the UnitedStates.”

GEAppliances

843-2284 565 Kokea St. Unit G6(Off Di l l ingham Blvd. by Kapalama Canal)

Hours: Mon. - Fri. 8:30am -5pm • Sat. 9am - 4pm

PH: 847-02161030 Kohou Street, Honolulu, HI 96817

www.homeownersdesign.com #C-6122

Visit Homeowners Design Center and discoverHawaii’s best remodeling and new constructionresource for cabinets, flooring, window coverings,countertops, kitchen and bath design.

System Information:System Size: 2.25 kWModule Brand: Mitsubishi 225 WNumber of Module: 10 ModulesInverter Brand: Enphase or SMAWarranty: AEI 10 Year Parts & LaborMulti-System Discount: 2 Free Modules or $1000 Off

Alternate Energy Inc., 1111 Dillingham Blvd.,Ste. H3,

Box 112, Honolulu, HI 96817

* After tax credits. Restrictions apply. Not to be combined with other offers or promotions. Expires 4/30/11.

Jim Morris, Kaimuki Homeowner Monthly Savings: $150/month

License No. C-60/C-61

Solar Electric Photovoltaic Systems

��

Call now for a FREE household energy & solar consultation

842-5853

www.AlternateEnergyHawaii.com

18 Years of QualityService to Hawaii

SINCE

1993

Spring Special

MITSUBISHI MADNESSComplete residential installation package only $5,000!*

Go green & eliminate your electric bill!

Register for a Free Solar Consultation:


HAWAIIRENOVATION

FROM PAGE 8

Solar Energy for your Home

Redecorating used tobe most fun forthose who had the

time to spend poringthrough interior designmagazines, waiting forsamples to arrive in themail, and driving to spe-cialty stores looking forexactly the right item fortheir redesign.

Today, remodelingideas and items that wouldonce have taken hours —or even weeks — to obtainare now easily available,thanks to the magic of theInternet. Where once youwould have had to locateand drive to a specialtystore for items like customblinds, slipcovers or light-ing, you can now browseand purchase a staggeringvariety of options all from

the comfort ofyour home PC.

Do- i t -your -selfers will findplenty of inspi-ration andi n v e n t o r yonline. Here arethree interiordecorating ideasthat you can eas-ily bring to lifewith the help ofsome Internet shopping:

1. Buying blindsPerhaps you remember

your mother or grand-mother driving from storeto store in search of theperfect window treatment.While most departmentstores have always offeredwindow treatments, in thepast the selection has been

lim-ited and often pricey.Online resources solve theinventory and pricingproblem and spare you atrip to the home improve-ment store. Websites likeBlinds.com offer thou-sands of cost-effectiveoptions, from wood, alu-minum and vertical blindsto cell shades, shutters anddraperies.

Changing win-dow treatments isa great way toupdate the look ofa room for a mod-est investment ofcash. And replac-ing windowtreatments is oneof the easiestDIY projects youcan tackle.

Online shopping alsomakes it easy to updateyour window treatmentsaccording to the season.

2. Lovely linensSure you can find a big

selection in terms of styleat big box linen stores, butthe variety of brandsmight be lacking. Needespecially deep-pocketedsheets for your plush pil-

low-top mattress? You’llprobably find them instores, but at a cost thatmay make you wish you’dbought an air mattressinstead. Online, you canfind options in every style,color and thread countimaginable — and often atprices that retailers can'tmatch.

A Google search for“linens” yields nearly 40million results. Yourbiggest challenge will bedeciding which onlinemerchant to check outfirst. Some websites spe-cialize in luxury linens,while others offer morebasic and practicallypriced options.

3. Simplifying slipcoversLong gone are the days

when “slipcover” mostlyreferred to that awfulclear plastic covering yourgrandmother put on thecouch to keep the kids andpets from staining it.Slipcovers aren’t just forsofas anymore, accordingto HGTV.com. You canfind slipcovers forottomans, armchairs,recliners, dining chairsand more — all online.

Modern slipcovers are agreat way to change thelook of a piece of furnitureand the room in which itsits. Cheaper thanreupholstering or buyingnew furniture, adding aslipcover can resurrect atreasured piece that mayhave worn upholstery butis still in good shape oth-erwise.

Your most powerful decorating tool:


HAWAIIRENOVATION

the Internet

CertainTeed’s EnerGen: A Di�erentKind of Solar Roo�ng SystemCertainTeed’s

photovoltaic roo�ng system generates

power similar to solar panels but lies flush

with your roo�ng shingles, maintaining your existing roofline.

Features & Benefits• Ultra thin PV film laminates for a sleek and

seamless look• Flexible sizing to fit your roof precisely • Requires no roof penetrations• Lightweight, with no need for added

reinforcement• Produces energy in low or diffused light and

partial shade• Full system warranty backed by CertainTeed

Call our Solar office at 1-877-596-0471 for a list of CertainTeed Qualified Installers in Hawaii or log onto www.certainteed.com to learn more.

800-233-8990 • certainteed.com • http://blog.certainteed.com

ROOFING • SIDING • TRIM • DECKING • RAILING • FENCE • FOUNDATIONSGYPSUM • CEILINGS • INSULATION • PIPE

When customersvisit Shirley PaiHilton at Pacific

Imports International, oneof the key points she tries toimpress on her customersis that wood flooring is anexcellent way to investyour remodeling dollars.Not only are you and yourfamily able to enjoy itsbeauty every day of theyear, but the value that itadds will remain for the lifeof your home. Unlike themajority of floor coverings,the right wood floor can besomething that lasts a life-time and beyond.

So let’s start by askingwhat are the basic types ofwood flooring most com-monly used in Hawaii?

The most traditionalform of wood flooring iscalled unfinished solid.This is a solid piece of

wood that’s been milledinto the flooring, which issanded and coated in yourhome after it’s been naileddown. It’s generally consid-ered the most “high-end” ofwood floors because of theability to customize the endproduct, as well as the high-er installation cost.

Next on the scene, wehave prefinished solids.This is again a solid piece offlooring, but the sandingand coating are done at thefactory using sophisticatedmethods, such as UV cur-ing, and the only work donein your home is to nail orglue the flooring down.Your floor is ready to liveon almost the minute itgoes down.

And most recent-ly, there is engi-neered wood floor-ing, such as theKahala Floors line.Engineered flooringinvolves taking aprecisely cut slice ofthe flooring woodand pre-installing itonto plywood.Contrary to popularassumption, this isnot done to bestingy on the wood. Rather,it is done to provide a moreversatile, stable form ofwood flooring. Engineeredwoods can be installedbelow grade (where solidscannot) and they also canbe floated (where solidmust be nailed or glued

down). Most engineeredflooring is sanded and pre-finished in a factory, andwith the right brand ofengineered flooring, youare looking at a lifetimeproduct that can be refin-ished several times, just likea solid.

Pacific Imports invitesinterested homeowners toattend the next free “invest-ment” seminar, “Wood andStone Flooring 101,”Saturday, April 23 at 10 a.m.Feedback on the seminarshas been nothing but posi-tive and will be well worth

your time, especially withthe private sale for atten-dees only.

For more informationand to reserve a seat, call847-7711 or visit PacificImports International at926 Kohou St.

Free Seminar• How and Where to Start • Find a Reputable Builder • Financing Options

• Design for Comfort & Savings; Accessible & Multigeneration Living

Sat., April 239-11 A.M.

Honolulu Country Club

Call: 593-2808or register online at:

www.grahambuilders.com

BC-16446

234.1129HHoouurrss ::

Wed-Sun: 11am-5:30pm

4466--221122 KKaahhuuhhiippaa SStt ..((DDiirreeccttllyy aaccrroossss ffrroomm CCiittyy MMiill ll)) iinn KKaanneeoohhee

VISIT OUR WEBSITE: wwwwww..iissllaannddssttyylleeffuurrnniisshhiinngg..ccoomm

Call for a Free Consultation 630-6741 or 285-3663

Before

After

• Tubs, Showers, Counters, Vanities, any type of Wall Surrounds

• Rust, Fiberglass, Tile Crack Repair and Refinishing

• The thickest tub liners available on the market

• Specialist in Cost Effective Alternatives for property managers, realtors, hotels,homeowners & senior citizens

• Walk through tub cut for Seniorsor disabled

• Complete remodeling consultation

All Island BathCall for a Free Estimate 358-7780 • www.allislandbath.com

GUY KAKUGAWA

Over 20 Years ExperienceLocally owned & operated.

Sometimes Biggeris Not Better

RENT OR OWNToro builds innovative, rugged, and dependable machines like the hard-working Dingo and you put them to good use.

South Shore Equipment • 677-0999For more information or a Dealer nearest youTiller Backhoe Auger Compact Trencher Stump Grinder 4 in1 Bucket Compact Loader Hydraulic Breaker Soil Cultivator


HAWAIIRENOVATION

How to Start Investing in

Wood FlooringPACIFIC IMPORTS

I N T E R N A T I O N A L

With spring here,it's a great timeto take a look out

your windows and see whatthe view of your home isoffering your neighbors.Are there any areas of yourlandscaping or home's exte-rior that could use a bit ofan upgrade to help boostyour home's curb appeal?Whether you intend to

live in your home for sever-al years, or have plans to listyour house on the realestate market soon, enhanc-ing your home's curbappeal can boost yourenjoyment of the propertyand attract potential buy-ers.Plenty of projects can

improve the look of yourhome without requiringyou to spend a fortune onremodeling, changing thesiding or landscaping theentire front yard. Here are afew ideas you can try onyour house:

• Upgrade the mailbox.Mailboxes over time can

start to look dingy and rust-ed from being out in theelements. Building a perma-nent brick or stone struc-ture to hold a mailbox canadd appeal to your yard,and also help protect themetal mailbox from rusting.

• Add or update the lightsby your front door or alongthe driveway. A beautifulglow in the evenings wel-comes visitors (and buyers)to your home, at the sametime providing you withadditional security. Many

wall, overhead, post andhanging lights are designedto work outdoors to addpanache to your home andlandscaping.

• Brighten up your land-scaping and decorate yourhouse with flowers andmaybe even some newshrubbery. If you can, addwindow boxes of vineplants mixed in with color-ful blooms. Decorate alongthe driveway or around themailbox with small greenbushes. If you have a walk-

way through the front yard,consider lining it with asmall and attractive fence.Or add a few pots of prettyflowers next to the garagedoors to splash around a lit-tle color.

• Replace your old, worn-

out windows with newreplacement windows.According to Remodelingmagazine's 2010-2011 Costvs. Value report, installinglow-maintenance replace-ment windows is ranked asone of the best homeimprovement projects for

your money.

Updating and enhancingthe look of your house cando a lot for the pride youhave in your home and fordrawing prospective buy-ers if you decide to put yourhouse on the market.

Contact us at www.energyprohawaii.com

SOLAR OPEN HOUSE IN KAPOLEI !

Join us Sunday, April 10th to see how solar can reduce your electric bill.

Double HECO Credit for a limited time!Rebates for solar hot water installations increased to

$1,500 cash back until May 31st, 2011.

CALL 808.596.2890

Where: 91- 1491 Halahinano St. Kapolei, HI When: Sunday, April 10, 2011

Time: 10am -2pm

BC-20690

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www.rmasalesco.com99-134 Waiua Way • Aiea, HI 96701LLooccaallllyy oowwnneedd && ooppeerraatteedd ssiinnccee 11996611

Corroded windows need replacement?Solution: Easy Fit/RetroFitAluminum or Vinyl Windows

24/7 Security, HurricaneProtection & EnergySavings ALL IN ONE by

Offer valid on complete Tradewind Window systems ordered from 4/3 - 4/29/11.

• Fits into existing window opening• No need to tear out the existing window frame• Sliders, single hung, fixed and louver jalousies• FAST TURNAROUND

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2200%%Better Airflow

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Solar Powered Daylight SimulatorModel: SD 18-C45-30w Kit....SPECIAL $599+TAX

Under $210 after State & Federal Tax Credits

EXTENDED!


Enhance pride in your housewith these curb appeal projects

HAWAIIRENOVATION


It would be difficult tofind a custom builderwho offers the type of

client-to-customer atten-tion that comes fromworking with Hua XiaConstruction LLC.

Owner Xiang Feng Caoand his son, Andy, havebuilt and maintained anoutstanding reputationfor quality constructionthat spans 20 years. Thisfather-son team is knownfor its dedicated, hands-on approach — from sim-ple renovations to multi-million dollar, ground-updevelopment of customprojects. Clients are con-sistently impressed withthe personal attentionpaid to the smallestdetails.

The company sticks byits motto, “Quality onlyhappens when you careenough to do your verybest.” Hua XiaConstruction ensures thateach and every client isgiven as much time asneeded to deliver an out-standing custom-builtproduct, and it’s no sur-prise that much of thecompany’s businesscomes from referrals.

In fact, Hua XiaConstruction prides itselfon the fact that most of itsbusiness comes through

personal relationships. Hua Xia Construction

workers bring theirknowledge and master

craftsmanship to eachproject to ensure that it isa success. Whether youare planning to build a

retail store or private res-idence, you can be certainof receiving the highestquality for your invest-ment.

Your Residential HomeBuilder

At Hua Xia Construction,

clients are always askedquestions, including, “Howdo you envision your com-pleted project?” By askingthe right questions andworking through thedetails, company workershelp clients realize theirvision. Hua XiaConstruction’s staff is dedi-cated to building homesfrom the ground up or theinside out. From single fam-ily homes to condomini-ums, no project is too big ortoo small.

Your CommercialBuilding Solution

The company is dedi-cated to building yourcommercial projects aswell. Commercial build-ing solutions range fromstore buildouts in Makiki,to restaurants and retailstores developed onMaui.

For more information,contact Hua XiaConstruction at 636-1888or visit the company web-site at huaxiaconstruction.com.

HUA XIA CONSTRUCTION

High on Quality

BACKPAGECOVERSTORY

hawaii renovation 10 april 2011

Documents

real ones

right plants

silk plants

throwingaway plants

plant isalready dead

choosing plants

plant selectionthe

aliveand real