Lundkvist Palm Garden Pomaikai

Installing the power poles – 20 November 2011

Today was a significant day. Three metal poles were installed this morning, in order to pull power (as well as telephone and cable lines) in to the house. The choice is to either have HELCO (Hawaii Electric Light Company) install their tall wooden poles or provide the installation on your own in the form of 21 ft tall metal poles. We checked into both options and found that installing your own poles is less expensive. Since the house is about 330 ft/100 metres away from the street (almost the maximum distance possible), we needed three poles, since the maximum distance allowed between them is 100 ft/30 metres. So today, even though it is a Sunday, was the day. Chip, who turned out to be a very cheerful guy, had the four ft deep holes drilled and the poles buried in the concrete, all by 10 am. Despite heavy rain off and on. Here he is, with his excavator, and pole #1. Pole #2 is visible in the distance, right behind him. Pole #3 is another 100 ft away, a bit to the left, but not visible in this photo.

And here I have walked straight ahead towards pole #2, which is the one to the right. Pole #3 is a bit to the left, more or less in the center of the photo, and the clearing to the left of pole #3 is where the house will be built.

Now I am closer to #3. From here, it’s almost exactly 100 ft to the location where the house will be built. Out in the open and sunny area. And that’s the workshed, a bit to the left of the center of the photo. There will be a foot trail in this area, more or less below the power line, down into this little mini ravine, and up on the other side towards the house.

And this is back at pole #1. Chip is getting ready to load his excavator on his trailer and head out. Pomaikai Street, not quite visible, is just on the other side of truck and trailer.

Published on November 20, 2011 15:02.
Filed under: House construction, Uncategorized

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Clearing for a new trail – 23 April 2012

My plan is to build a trail in the little ravine right in front of the lanai. The trail will begin at the driveway, where it comes out of the Ohi’a grove, and it will then circle around and connect with the driveway closer to the entrance. A number of strawberry guava stumps made manual clearing less desirable, if not impossible! So I called up Doyle Green, who is the man with the backhoe here in Leilani Estates. He spent almost four hours and accomplished in that time what probably would have been impossible by hand. Above is the view from the driveway at 08:00.

And the same view at 12 noon. The area to the left will be a little island with bromeliads. The trail will begin on the right side.

And the view from the lanai, also at 08:00. Looking a bit to the left.

And the same view a couple of hours later. The trail will be built in the lowest part of the ravine with palms and other plants on both sides.

And here’s Doyle doing what he does very well!

Seeing the dreaded Miconia disappear is always satisfying! If left untouched the Miconia will spread all over the place.

At time it looked very messy, but Doyle is very efficient and all the debris was removed fairly quickly.

And at the end of Doyle’s work, this is the view from the lanai. Still lots of greenery, even though all the weeds will gradually disappear and be replaced with palms and bromeliads and other plants. The trail will be built only about 10-15 ft in front of the lanai and will be very visible from the railing.

Published on April 24, 2012 18:06.
Filed under: Clearing & Exploring

For Wilbur and Orville – 07 April 2012

When you move into a new house there are lots of little details. One such “detail” was a safe and secure area where I can keep Wilbur and Orville when I leave the house for several hours. Even though this was certainly above and beyond what Kevin was “supposed” to do, he was happy to help me out. He acquired the dog pen and installed it in the carport, and Wilbur and Orville can now enjoy some fresh air every now and then. They normally seem to just relax on their blanket, and the only reason they are not doing that in this photo is because they are expecting me to get them out of there! I had just returned from a trip to Hilo that lasted several hours.

Published on April 8, 2012 05:48.
Filed under: House construction

Moving in – 01 April 2012

After a construction phase of exactly 4.5 months, I was able to begin moving in on 1st of April, 2012. Here are a few self-explanatory exterior and interior photos taken that day and the day before. I should add that Kevin has done an outstanding job, and when it comes to detail and perfection, he is unbeatable. Always thinking of interesting and innovative ways of approaching a particular issue during the construction. If I were to ever build another house, I wouldn’t dream of having anyone but Kevin build it. Designing and building this house has been one extremely satisfying and happy experience, from beginning to end.

Published on April 3, 2012 04:39.
Filed under: House construction

Kitchen cabinets – 12 March 2012

The kitchen cabinets were delivered to the site on Friday, 09 March, and installed over the next couple of days. Wood is maple in a natural finish. The sink still needs to go in place, as well as the granite tops and the metal pulls on each door and drawer. Above is the “island”.

Published on March 15, 2012 19:36.
Filed under: House construction

Exterior complete – 09 March 2012

With the gutters and downspouts installed earlier in the week, and the work on both the front and back lanai complete, the exterior of the house is now finished. Above and below shows the front and side of the house.

And the back lanai with the remaining five smaller ohia posts and all the pickets in place.

Published on March 15, 2012 19:27.
Filed under: House construction

Gina Valentino and Nicholas Georgiades – 11 March 2012

Gina Valentino (“JungleGina” on http://www.palmtalk.org) and Nicholas Georgiades, visiting from Florida, came by for a garden tour in the morning. Gina and Nicholas – it was great to meet you, and I hope the rest of your Hawaii visit was a good one and that you had a pleasant flight back home!

Published on March 12, 2012 06:48.
Filed under: Garden visitors

Rich and Barbara – 05 March 2012

My very good friends Barbara Rogers and Rich Rawlinson came by to see what the progress has been since their last visit about a month ago. Rich and Barbara – it was very nice, as always, to be able to spend some time with you!

Published on March 7, 2012 08:01.
Filed under: Garden visitors

Wood ceiling – 28 February 2012

A few days ago, James and Mike began installing the wood ceiling. James cutting the pieces into the correct lengths and Mike, up on the improvised scaffolding, installing them. It was about a two day job, with the first pieces going in place Friday afternoon, and the final piece earlier today, Tuesday.

This not quite the finished look, but close. The trim still needs to be installed and then Lisa will stain it the way she did on the lanai and in the carport.

And while James and Mike were busy in the house with the ceiling, Lisa was putting two coats of paint on 150 pickets that will go on the front and back (main) lanai. First coat yesterday and here she is putting on the second coat this morning.

And a few hours later, all 150 pickets are done. And no, this is not all of them. There are more over on the right, but not visible in this photo.

Published on February 28, 2012 17:20.
Filed under: House construction

Patrick and Jenny – 22 February 2012

Patrick Jensen (“Patrick” on http://www.palmtalk.org) and Jenny Floravita, from Oakley, California, are on a Big Island visit and came by for a garden tour and a look at my house. Patrick and Jenny, it was great to meet you and I hope the rest of your visit here was enjoyable!

Published on February 23, 2012 06:08.
Filed under: Garden visitors

Lanai, more progress – 19 February 2012

Work has been progressing very nicely with the lanai, and a light stain was put on the ceiling the other day, and a somewhat darker stain on the decking. Photo above and below. The five smaller ohia posts and the railing will be installed over the next few days, giving the lanai a completed look.

The SPF wooden ceiling in the carport and above the outdoor shower was finished the other day. The trim still needs to be put in place and the wood will also be given a light stain, identical to the lanai.

Published on February 19, 2012 13:02.
Filed under: House construction

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