Spaces808

Last week I was asked to photograph a new Bed&Breakfast by Kahalu’u beach in Kona.

The owners, Randy And Shannon Hagel have moved to Kona from Canada to claim their own slice of paradise, and give others the opportunity to enjoy their dream of a Hawaiian retreat.

Nestled at the end of a private road, away from traffic in a central yet secluded environment, the Hagels set up a gorgeous B&B on a lot of about 1 acre. Each room is presented with a different palette of colors and style, all very welcoming and with a very clean and homy atmosphere. Randy and Shannon live on the top floor of this 3 story complex and are there to make sure all the guests have everything they need while the on-site manager – Gigi, takes care of day to day operations.

All rooms have a kitchenette, flat screen TV, a breezy lanai, and there is a common barbecue area for entertaining and get togethers.

I wish the Hagels great success in fulfilling their dream and sharing it with others.

Aloha,

Jonathan

A couple of days ago I was given the opportunity to photograph a unique dwelling in Kona. The construction style and technique is like nothing I’ve seen before on the island. Most homes on the Island are made of wood on a concrete or lava rock foundation. These Domes are made of concrete which has been sprayed into a dome shaped balloon and reinforced with a rebar cage. The result is an extremely light and airy looking construction with plenty of interior space, no load bearing structures inside and very efficient thermal insulation. According to the builder, The rebar cage was constructed and then covered with a plastic shell which was kept inflated using a blower. The next step involved spraying the interior side with a concrete mix. Once the concrete cured, the structure was ready for finishing.

Hawaii Eco Domes have 4 domes constructed on their lot, 3 of which are available for rent as vacation dwellings. Each dome was styled after a different theme: Rainforest, Ocean and Earth. I was truly impressed and inspired by this unique retreat. The owners are in the process of setting up an aquaculture farm and have lots of common areas for their guests use.