Multigenerational living commonly is defined as three or more generations of a family living under one roof. Per capita, Hawaii has more multigenerational households than any other state. This trend is expected to increase as housing prices soar due to a lack of supply of housing at all price points.
The rise of multigenerational households in Hawaii is fueled by the fact that it culturally is more acceptable, given that many Asian and Polynesian cultures center around extended families living in close proximities. For many of Hawaii’s families, multigenerational living provides solutions such as built-in child and elder care, avoiding isolation in old age and pooling finances.
Hawaii also has fewer affordable housing options due to the lack of developable land. In other places, such as Phoenix, a person can move 40 to 50 miles from town and still have a commute that is under one hour, due to great freeway systems. However, Hawaii does not have the infrastructure to support this.
“A sure sign of multigenerational households is lack of on-street parking,” said president of Graham Builders Evan Fujimoto. “When multigenerational homes first started trending in the 1990s, it was primarily in well-established neighborhoods such as Waipahu, Kalihi, Palolo and Kaimuki. However, now even newer, upscale neighborhoods like Hawaii Kai and Kahala are seeing a surge in multigenerational households. This goes to show how serious the housing crisis is when everyone, including upper-middle class families, pursue this option.”
With 25 years of experience with helping hundreds of Hawaii families build their dream homes, Graham Builders was among the first to recognize Hawaii’s unique culture of embracing ohana in multi-generational households.
Graham Builders’ design staff works closely with all family members through a collaborative process to bring their dreams to life, whether it’s modifying their current home or building a brand new one so that extended ohana can live together for a lifetime. In addition to shared spaces, there also are segregated living areas that are tailored to each family’s unique needs.
“We chose Graham Builders for our multigenerational renovation because of their expertise in this field. We also liked the design-build approach, as our renovation is very involved. We are very pleased with our decision to have Graham Builders make our dream home a reality,” said James and Allison Rode-heaver of Pearl City.
To learn more about how Graham Builders can help you build your multi-generational home, sign up for Graham Builders’ free upcoming “Building Your Home for Life” seminar on Saturday, July 25 from 9 to 11 a.m. at the Honolulu Country Club. Seminars are free, but reservations are required. To register for a seminar, visit grahambuilders.com or call 593-2808.
FREE SEMINAR
“Building Your Home for Life” Saturday, July 25
9-11 a.m. Honolulu Country Club
GRAHAM BUILDERS
contact // 593-2808
web // grahambuilders.com
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