CAK Home Show offers latest in home building Friday

LIHU‘E — Information on below market fixed interest loans to repair homes or to install energy efficient solar water heaters is just one of the many areas people can explore starting Friday.

The fixed interest rates vary from 1.5 percent to 3 percent for up to 20 years to eligible home owners through the Hawai‘i Community Reinvestment Corp.

The Contractors Association of Kaua‘i and First Hawaiian Bank are partnering to provide the remodeling and new construction home show for Kaua‘i homeowners and potential home owners from 2:30 p.m. through 9 p.m., Friday, and from 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Saturday, at the War Memorial Convention Hall in Lihu‘e.

Joining the CAK and FHB, the County of Kaua‘i and Linthicum Custom Builders will be cooperating sponsors, states a release from the CAK.

There is no admission charge for the public to this event which has sold out of vendor exhibits and booths.

In observance of April being Tsunami Awareness Month, Mark Marshall, director of the Kaua‘i Civil Defense, will be available with the Kaua‘i CD staff to show people if they work or live in a tsunami inundation zone, based on the recently revised inundation maps.

“Current Safe,” a residential electrical testing program, will be highlighted by American Electric, one of the many vendors participating in the exposition.

The testing program will identify weaknesses or problem areas of a home’s electrical system, alerting home owners or residents who can contract with an electrical contractor to have the problem remedied and repaired before an electrical fire breaks out.

This electrical fire prevention program also has value for commercial and industrial property owners, according to the release.

“Fly Ash” mineral admixture, when added to concrete mix acts as a corrosion inhibitor on reinforced steel and in area, or materials exposed to salt water or salt air is being highlighted by Hawaiian Cement.

Floor plans for steel-framed residential construction for home owners, or potential home owners looking for fire retarded construction materials as well as inhibiting the attacks of termites, mold and bacteria will be available for inspection at the Hawai‘i Pacific Steel Framing Alliance booth.

Pohaku Fabrication will take its natural and engineered stone product offers to the outdoor living arena at this year’s expo. They will also have a selection of new indoor materials and colors available.

RSI/Rosa’s Supply will be showcasing the Natural Light solar attic fan which is fabricated from spun aluminum and stainless steel with no plastic parts in the component.

Exotic woods including Santos Mahogany, Brazilian Cherry, Tigerwood and Strand-woven bamboo, all manufactured to specifications of Wisteria Lane will join other hardwood, engineered wood and laminated wood samples for the show, according to CAK.

Kaua‘i Island Utility Cooperative and The Gas Company will have staff on hand to explain the wide variety of rebate programs they have to share with consumers who may qualify for the programs.

Home owners and residents can bring in their old incandescent lamps and trade for a new energy efficient compact fluorescent lamp at the home show, one-for-one. This service will be available in addition to the KIUC Energy Wise program information which will be available at the KIUC booth, said Shelly Paik in an email.

Joe Grace and the staff of KJ Lunchwagon will be on hand to satisfy dinner or lunch requirements so show-goers can maximize their inspection of new materials and programs.

The Contractors Association of Kaua‘i was established in 1957 as a trade association of licensed contractors, suppliers and businesses affiliated with the construction industry of Kaua‘i and is an affiliate of the National Association of Home Builders.

For more information, stop by their booth at this weekend’s CAK Home Show.

• Dennis Fujimoto, photographer and staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 253) or dfujimoto@ thegardenisland.com.