Pier‑and‑Post Homes in Hawaiʻi: Shims, Movement, and When to Get Help

Many older Hawaiʻi homes are pier‑and‑post (post‑and‑pier) rather than slab‑on‑grade. That’s common — especially in older neighborhoods and on terrain where ventilation and access under the home matter.

Homeowners sometimes describe these homes as “floating.” Usually that’s a mix of movement, floor bounce, unevenness, or visible post/shim conditions.

Shims: common to see, but don’t ignore the story

Shims are often a sign that someone leveled floors at some point. The real questions are:

• Why was leveling needed?
• Is there ongoing settlement, moisture damage, or termite damage?
• Are posts and footings in good condition?
• Are the connections (post‑to‑beam, beam‑to‑floor framing) robust?

“Shimmed” doesn’t automatically mean “bad,” but it does mean you should understand what’s going on.

When this becomes serious

If there’s significant shimming, damaged posts, major slope, or visible connection issues, treat it as structural scope — not cosmetic scope.

Elevated post‑and‑pier homes can be more vulnerable in earthquakes if connections and load paths are weak. Hawaiʻi‑specific retrofit guidance discusses improving post‑to‑beam connections and load paths for post‑and‑pier structures. (For homeowners, the takeaway is simple: connections matter.)

Get licensed sign‑off when stakes are high

If you suspect foundation issues:

• involve a licensed contractor experienced with this foundation type
• consider a structural engineer review (especially if you’re planning major remodel loads)

This isn’t alarmism. It’s the same logic as plumbing or electrical: when the system matters, you want competent, licensed design and execution.

Pier‑and‑post homes can be great. The goal is simply to make sure the structure is behaving the way it should — and that any “fix” is actually a fix.