Unreasonable Construction Laws in Hawaii

[john the architect]

Some writers are lumping architects in with electricians and plumbers as a requirement for ALL homes. The current code in Hawaii does require those trades to be locally licensed, and which parts of a home are relatively invisible to someone who may purchase it down the road? And which parts affect the health and safety more than these two primary systems? This is not an unreasonable rule. Structurally speaking, kit homes and typical domestic boxes are usually safe since wood structures can be forgiving and are usually redundant (overbuilt). Architects are required by law for Hawaiian homes only when you build in steel and concrete and the placement or lack of a rebar or a critical weld or bolt could mean a disastrous collapse. In Hawaii, these and more advanced hybrids of these materials are my choices for sustainable, long-lasting buildings that will outlast generations of owners. I am constantly researching and striving for the best ways to build, and I have been doing this with an advanced degree and licenses in two states for thirty two years. Architects are not part of the problem, and good ones continually look for even better solutions. Hawaii County is not the problem if you want to compare the permit process in Puna to most of California, for example. A good architect will show you how to apply your energy to the more expensive components of your home, and not be distracted by the plumbing, electrical, and structure.