Custom Home Builders in Honolulu

“We were so glad to have Archipelago Home for our home renovation! Tiare and Ola are amazing and were there from the beginning of design all the way until the finishing touches were applied. Tiare helped us find an amazing contractor and she was always quick to help with any issues or problems that arose during construction. The project included a complete kitchen remodel and expansion, a second floor addition off an existing bedroom to create a new master suite, and construction of a new lanai with outdoor kitchen (underneath the 2nd floor addition). We really appreciated how our voice was heard and valued throughout the process. It really was a collaborative process and the final product reflects our vision as well as things we would have never considered without the expertise of Tiare and Ola. We will not hesitate to work with Archipelago Home for future projects and would highly recommend them for your home project needs.”

“We’ve worked with enough architects to know how rare Aaron Shimizu is. At Lanikai Homes, we do high-end renovations and design-build style projects where timelines, budgets, and execution matter just as much as aesthetics. Aaron fits that world perfectly. He’s responsive (actually responds), communicates clearly, and produces drawings that make sense to builders in the field, not just pretty plans that fall apart the second you hit real conditions. That alone has saved us a ton of time and avoided costly rework. But the biggest value Aaron brings is his deep, real-world knowledge of Honolulu DPP and permitting. He doesn’t just “get permits.” He knows how the system actually works, what will trigger issues, what to fix first, and how to get projects back onto legal ground when things are messy. We’ve seen homeowners buy a property and not even realize how many unpermitted or nonconforming items they inherited, then they’re staring down serious fines or a nightmare path forward even when they just want a simple permit or thing done. Aaron is honestly a wizard at untangling that, creating a clean plan to legalize what’s needed, and guiding it through the right channels without wasting months. We've had multiple permits routed recently in a fraction of the time of other permit routers. He also thinks ahead. He flags potential problems early, keeps things moving when approvals or utilities could stall a job (he’s even the type to tell you to call DPP before paying so you don’t get stuck), and he respects design intent, translating a specific style direction into something buildable and code-compliant without watering it down. If you’re looking for an architect who’s sharp, proactive, and genuinely invested in the success of your project (not just checking a box), Aaron is by far the top recommendation.”

“Our nearly 100 year old home was definitely due for another kitchen update. HK came to us with positive recommendations from other Honolulu industry professionals. Our goals to maintain the original architectural style with modern updates was accomplished beautifully. HK was able to re-design our dark centrally located kitchen/family room space into a beautiful, bright, open functional gathering space. The old and the new blends well between existing living room, dining room and family rooms. HK was very professional, courteous, patient and helpful. He was able to get us through the permitting process much quicker than expected! We couldn't be happier! Thank you, HK!”