Built for the way families live here
Multigenerational living
Parents moving closer, adult kids staying longer. An ohana unit that gives everyone privacy without leaving the property.
A cottage that earns its keep
A well-designed backyard cottage adds usable space now and flexibility later — guests, family, or a long-term tenant.
Making a tight lot work
Kailua lots are not big. Good design is the difference between an ADU that feels like an afterthought and one that feels like it was always there.
How a Lanikai Homes ADU project works
1. Site walk and conversation — We look at the lot, the light, the neighbors, and how the main house is used. You tell us who the unit is for.
2. Concept and floor plan — Lanikai Homes designs the unit: layout, openings, indoor-outdoor flow, storage, and how it sits on the property.
3. Specification — Finishes, fixtures, materials and details are specified so the build is priced and executed against a clear plan.
4. Construction management — Lanikai Homes coordinates and oversees independent licensed contractors through the build, keeping the design intent intact from foundation to finish.
5. Move-in — Styled, complete, and ready for the people it was designed for.
Lanikai Homes is a design-led interior design and renovation studio in Kailua, Hawaiʻi. All construction work is performed by independent licensed contractors.
A backyard cottage on our own property
The clearest way to show how we think about ADUs is the one behind our own house. A 1940s cottage on the lot lost its roof in a storm; rather than patch it, we redesigned it as a proper ohana unit — new roof, new siding, floor plan reworked for light and privacy from the main house, finishes chosen to age well in salt air. Designed and managed by Lanikai Homes; the work on site carried out by independent licensed contractors.
Questions people ask first
What is the difference between an ADU and an ohana unit?
In everyday Hawaiʻi usage, "ohana unit" is the family-focused term and "ADU" (accessory dwelling unit) is the general one. Both describe a second, smaller dwelling on the same lot as the main house. Design-wise we treat them the same: a complete small home with its own entry, kitchen, bath and privacy.
Can an ADU fit on a typical Kailua lot?
Often, yes — but it depends on the lot, the existing house and what the unit needs to do. That is why every project starts with a site walk. Some of the best units we have designed are on lots the owners assumed were too small.
Does Lanikai Homes do the construction?
No. Lanikai Homes designs the unit and manages the project; all construction work is performed by independent licensed contractors we coordinate. You get one point of contact and a design that is protected through the build.
How long does an ADU project take?
Design and specification typically take a few weeks; the build depends on scope and contractor scheduling. We give a realistic timeline after the site walk rather than a generic number.
Do you work outside Kailua?
Yes — Lanikai, Kāneʻohe, Waimānalo and across Windward Oʻahu, with select projects elsewhere on the island.
Talk through your lot
A 20-minute conversation is the fastest way to find out whether an ADU makes sense for your property and what it could look like.