I value my home as a place of solace, comfort and privacy.

I also love to entertain. I know that many of my neighbors share this paradoxical view of homeownership. It’s not a bad thing. In fact, I’m always amazed at how Hawaii homeowners strike the delicate balance between maintaining privacy and inviting others in, even when we live so close to one another.

The key is setting boundaries. We do this in Hawaii, like anywhere else, by putting up fences and walls. What we’ve mastered, however, is the art of making those walls look beautiful, either by standing out or blending in to our natural landscape. Check out our feature for ideas on beautifying your boundaries.

Our cover story illustrates how the homeowners positioned their lanai so their existing outer wall provided privacy, yet allowed for a gorgeous view of Diamond Head. This story shows how putting up walls doesn’t mean sacrificing the view.

Finally, back for the fifth year, we feature our architect, builder and contractor profiles. Find out which of the 10 firms might be right for you. Whether you’re building a wall, adding on a room or constructing a new home, good luck with your next project.

Aloha,


Sabra Morris | Editor

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A few months ago, I wrote about how my neighbors weren’t thrilled about my son playing loud music, and how it’s important, especially here in Hawaii, to be considerate and tolerant when we live in close quarters. What I failed to mention is that my son plays drums — admittedly not a sweet sound to all ears.
Since then, those neighbors have moved out and new neighbors have settled in. I immediately baked chocolate-chip cookies and rushed them over with a copy of the magazine. They are lovely people with two young children.

While I didn’t divulge everything upon our first meeting, the new neighbors e-mailed me with some home-improvement questions, and I took the opportunity to let them know about the (not-so-little) drummer boy next door. With my sincere apologies, I asked for their kids’ nap and bed times so my son could avoid practicing during those hours. It turns out the new neighbors like drums (or so they say)! It just goes to show what a few chocolate-chip cookies can do to promote neighborly relations.

Aloha,


Terry Rollman | Publisher