05/31/2026
Quick thing I wish more people moving to Hawaii knew before they buy land 👇
The building code here changed. All four counties — Oahu, Maui, Big Island, Kauai — adopted the 2018 IECC with our own Hawaii Amendments. Tropical Zone rules. Cool Roof requirements. Different effective dates by county.
Translation: if your contractor is still quoting you off the old code, your build is going to stall at the permit office. I've seen it three times in the last six months and it costs people real money — five figures, not pocket change.
Made a quick 3-minute video breaking down what actually changed, what "Tropical Zone" means, and the 3 questions every Hawaii homeowner should ask their builder before signing.
If you're in the middle of planning a Hawaii build — which island and what's your timeline? 🌺