Construction has always been my passion. From age 14 through 17 I worked part time evenings and weekends for my father’s company, Vidana Electric, as an electrician’s helper. During this time I also worked at Pacific Glass & Mirror, a large window and glass company, as a summer job. Also during my intermediate and high school years I took as many shop classes as I could (even managing to get into wood shop two years earlier than was allowed by the school system).
After
graduating from High School I enrolled in the pre-apprentice program in the
Carpenter’s Union where I was schooled extensively in construction
techniques. After my schooling I
subjected myself to a well-rounded scope of employment, which molded me to
become the Builder I am today.
My
first job as a union (rough frame) carpenter was on a tract house development
in El Cajon, California for Phil Timmins Construction Company in 1981. When the project was completed I sought
employment as a cabinetmaker gaining employment with California Heritage. California Heritage produced both production
cabinets for high tech equipment that is used for recording studios as well as
custom furniture and cabinets, some of which have been displayed in Better
Homes and Gardens Magazine. Here I
worked as an apprentice cabinetmaker and finisher.
In
1983 I moved to Custom Design cabinets and was solely responsible for all the
finishing of custom cabinets and furniture.
In 1984 I sought, again, employment as a rough carpenter finding
employment with Gravo Construction as a third period apprentice moving quickly
to journeyman level where I performed all phases of rough frame construction on
major housing developments. Also during
this year a custom homebuilder, Gemini Construction, employed me where my
duties included Rough Frame Carpentry, Finish Carpentry and Cabinet Making.
By
the end of 1984, at the age of 23, I was working as a self-employed freelance
carpenter in La Jolla, California. I
quickly gained a reputation as a specialist in fine carpentry, millwork,
detailed framing and supervision of all the above. During this period, until I became a licensed general contractor,
I worked for many contractors and homeowners as Prime Contractor, Subcontractor
or Employee, depending on each unique situation. Most projects were high-end residential home or remodel projects.
The
volume of my business then, as is now, was built through customer satisfaction
and continuing good personal relations with customers and other contractors.
In
1988 I was offered employment in Dusseldorf Germany to work as a “tischler,”
(the equivalent of an American Millwright).
I chose instead to do a job in Beverly Hills California, followed by a
job in 1989 on the Big Island of Hawaii.
After returning to La Jolla I obtained my first General Contractor’s
License, becoming Vidaňa
CONSTRUCTION
on February 13, 1990 (Lic. #B587759). In July I returned to Hawaii where I
obtained my second General Contractor’s license (Lic. #BC-18827). I have been building here ever since.
In
1996 I founded my second business in Hawaii, Before you Build Owner Builder
Services, as a consultant to those who choose to build with their own
hands. In 1997 I co-founded the Big
Island Building Education Center, Inc. a vocational training
corporation to educate those with an interest in a career in the construction
trades. In 1999 I acted as a consultant with a high-end custom homebuilder in
California reconstructing their management program, and management information
systems
Vidaňa
CONSTRUCTION,
DESIGN/BUILD
CUSTOM HOMES specializes in the designing and building of new custom homes as
the name implies. We do this on time
and within budget. We also
provide services for residential remodeling, commercial tenant improvements,
additions, built-in cabinets, tile, detailed framing, decks & lanais,
drafting (CAD) and construction management.
Additionally
we offer ourselves as a resource for environmentally friendly construction and
consultation, as well as a resource for low-income prospective homeowners.
After
building eight custom homes and countless residential, commercial and remodel
projects on the Big Island
Vidaňa
CONSTRUCTION,
DESIGN/BUILD
CUSTOM HOMES now only works on one project at a time with priority given to
Custom Homes. (4/14/02)
Most recent completed project: Berman house, a 6,000 square foot Japanese Pole house in Hamakua Hawaii. Home is displayed at website: customhomeshawaii.com. Although home was built using traditional Western Framing and Timber Framing construction techniques, completed home will use passive cooling and heating and will be completely off the grid and will generate it’s own power. Current project: Construction of Merrill Kittinger AIA private residence in Hualalai Colony, Kailua Kona Hawaii.
Past President for two terms (6 years) and
past Chair of the Building Committee of Hale Aloha O’ Hilo Habitat for Humanity
and the Habitat for Humanity State Representative for the Environmental
Initiative in Hawaii and a member of the "Green Team". Co-chaired Hilo affiliate's involvement in the formation of a
statewide organization (Hawaii Habitat for Humanity Association.). Recently initiated the formation of an
affiliate of Habitat for Humanity in Kona and is currently creating a chapter
in Honokaa to service northern Hamakua.
Also recently trained as a Habitat for Humanity Green Team trainer
with Graham Davis and in July of 2000 facilitated a training on Passive
Cooling and Dehumidification at the Western Regional Conference in Seattle
Washington.
Authored a
monthly column about the building industry in Hawaii for a local newspaper and
have had several articles on the subject of building and Habitat printed in the
Hawaii Tribune-Herald, as well as
interviews on KHON Television News.
In October 1995
was awarded “Business Man of the Month” by the
Puna Free Forum.
Am always
reeducating myself on the Construction Industry and have attended several
business conferences throughout the country by the National Association of Home
Builders, University of Hawaii, Hawaii State Department of Economic
Development, Career Tracks, and Habitat for Humanity, etc. On December 7, 1995 was invited to and
attended the Environmental Initiative Symposium sponsored by the Rocky Mountain
Institute, Green Cross, USA, and Habitat for Humanity held in Atlanta, Georgia
and was the sole representative from the State of Hawaii.
In 1998 was
trained by Kuhikai Mediation Center to be a volunteer Mediator and have had
other training in conflict resolution and confrontation skills.
Recently, was selected by a group associated with the University of Hawaii School of Architecture and the State Department of Business, Economic Development, and Tourism; Energy Division to be the Hawaii County representative for Hawaii Advanced Building Technologies (HABiT).
Technical
Fluent in several computer
programs including:
Microsoft Word
& WordPerfect/ClarisWorks
Microsoft Excel
&Lotus
Microsoft
Project
Microsoft
Publisher
QuickBooks Pro
All Versions of
AutoCAD and several other CAD systems
and have
created three websites:
Professional
website:
http://customhomeshawaii.com/
References
Judy Ah Chin Dr. Michael Baker James Yoshiyama CPA
Building Division
1490 Avocado Rd.
(HFH Charter President)
County of Hawaii Oceanside, CA 92054
301
Kinoole st
25 Aupuni
Street 909-677-9778
Hilo,
HI 96720
Hilo, Hawaii
96720 808-935-3337
808-961-8331
Dee Chapon Richard & Claire Schultz Rev Dee McNab
PO Box 44554 27937 Edgecliff Way HCR3 Box 11004
Kamuela, HI
96743 Hayward, CA 94542 Keaau, HI 96749
808-885-1510
510-582-2321
808-966-4487
Additional references will
gladly be provided upon request.