Help Wanted

Successful, middle-aged couple seeks a competent carpenter to remodel our home in Hilo. 

I knew that renovating our house on Big Island would be challenging. Contractors are in short supply. They only want big projects. Our project is small. Allegedly, remodels are harder than new builds. 

The work culture is relaxed. People do not work before 10am or after 3pm. Nobody is working if the surf’s just right. 

Locals who need work done have learned to be patient. They’ve done the work themselves. They know someone who knows someone, or they have adapted. I am still adapting.

Early in the project, I naively envisioned our own little HGTV series. “Dave,” I said excitedly, “we could advertise a work trade! We’ll offer the downstairs guest room in exchange for a set number of construction hours. We’ll get so many carpenter surfers. This job will be done in no time!”

Dave was not convinced. He trusted the process. We hired a local interior designer, because she has the contacts. She knows the good contractors. Contractors are going to want to work with her, because then they’ll get more work.

Our designer’s first choice for a general contractor passed. The second passed because our property’s location might cause a permitting nightmare with the county. The third said he wasn’t able to start until 2026.

After the first contractor passed, Dave started talking crazy. “Amanda, how would you feel about me tackling some of this remodel?”

Even though it was dark in the bedroom, I’m sure he saw the horror on my face. The few home projects he completed in the past made our house uglier. “You are good at so many things, but I don’t think carpentry is one of them,” I said.

I thought that ended the conversation. Sadly, it did not. Dave continued to expound on the virtues of being our own carpenter. The quickest way to my heart is frugality. But, I didn’t want to make our house worse and NEVER be able to find anyone to fix it, because there are no hireable workmen on our island.   

I whined to our contractor, “Dave is threatening to do the remodel himself. He is researching the owner/builder regulations of the Hawaii County Code.” 

“Don’t worry,” she said, “we’ll find someone good.”

The next day Dave ordered an Audible book called, “How to Be Your Own Contractor.” I panicked. I started asking everyone I knew for carpenter recommendations. 

If I sound like I’m complaining, please know, I’m really not. I live in a beautiful house overlooking a surf break. My husband is literally the sweetest man alive, even when uber focused.

Plus, I’ve been through this before. Finding a contractor for my 1940’s plantation-style beach house in Hawaii is exactly like trying to find true love online. Possible, but fraught. In the end, it will be better than I ever imagined. I just need to be patient.