KEAUHOU — Steve Zulawinski has plans.
The Keauhou snowbird is planning a remodel of the kitchen in his condominium. Down the line, he’d like to build a house instead of living in the condos. So the 2016 Kona-Kohala Chamber of Commerce Building &Design Expo was the place to be.
“We wanted to see what’s here,” Zulawinski said. “We got at least one good lead.”
His lead was the stone countertops being showcased by All Natural Stone Fabrication, Inc., where Giovanni Paciello was dishing up information on quartz and granite countertops.
“It’s been busy today,” he said. “Lots of people stopping by.”
As far as the overall turnout? A little slow this year, for unknown reasons, according to a half dozen vendors who hoped today might be a bigger day.
The 11th annual event, which kicked off Friday, has its last day today at the Sheraton Kona Resort &Spa at Keauhou Bay, Kaleiopapa Convention Center. Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., and admission is free.
Alika Garland, co-owner and vice president of Concrete Technology of Hawaii, brought Bill Walters up to speed on the company’s repairs of cracked and damaged driveways, floors and walkways.
The ultraviolet light, rain and drainage can work havoc on concrete, he said.
“There are a lot of substandard concrete issues,” he said.
Some 35 exhibits are featuring construction and remodel concepts, windows and doors, flooring treatment, concrete repair, countertops and home energy, to name a few.
A perfect place for a do-it-yourselfer like Walters. He describes his home as a work in progress, and was shopping Saturday for ideas on a kitchen counter remodel.
“We’re here to see what’s going on, what new products they have, how solar is progressing,” Walter said. “We’re both retired. We used to do remodeling. My cousin has a condo over here and we come over about four months every year and putter around with it.”