What Makes Renovation Aloha An Even More Special HGTV Home Makeover Show

Set against the breathtaking views of Hawaii, the newest HGTV makeover show, "Renovation Aloha," is unlike any other. Although HGTV is no stranger to TV shows featuring couples who renovate and flip houses, what makes this new makeover show so different is the mission behind it. Co-hosts Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama want to put the aloha spirit back into abandoned properties and restore them into Hawaiian family dream homes to give back to their community.

Oahu, Hawaii has one of the most expensive housing markets in the U.S., with the average listing price costing around $1.1 million. Unlike Joanna Gaines' mini renis that we adore, the Hawaii-based renis are anything but mini. Some homes have been sitting abandoned for as long as 20 years. They're in such bad shape, that you'd think it would be easier for Tristyn and Kamohai to tear them down and start over. But that's not why they got into this renovation business. They want to restore these homes by keeping as much of the original bones as possible and then breathing new life into them. Together with their large extended family (87 first cousins), Tristyn and Kamohai have created local jobs within their community, while helping make homeownership something that's achievable for people who call the island home. 

From closed-off 1950s-style layouts to dark and dreary kitchens, Tristyn and Kamohai use the Hawaiian landscape to elevate these houses into breezy, one-of-a-kind havens and do things other TV shows skip.

There are plenty of stunning million-dollar homes in Hawaii, but those aren't the ones that Tristyn and Kamohai Kalama look for. Instead, they want the ones that time has been anything but kind to — the sometimes termite- and bee-infested or water-damaged houses. The "Renovation Aloha" hosts see potential where others might not, as they bring their energetic optimism and positive attitudes to every home renovation. And based on the condition of these properties, they'll need it. 

Although the couple doesn't always mention how or why the houses became in such a state of disarray, it's clear the properties have been through trauma. With the mountain or ocean views pulled into the design, it takes more than an open floor plan and new walls to bring these abandoned homes back to life — and that's what separates this home improvement show from the others. 

Once a house is finished but before it goes on the market, Tristyn and Kamohai invite their friends and family over to celebrate its completion, which culminates in a traditional Hawaiian blessing of the home to ensure the "aloha" is back. The intention is to eliminate the negative energy of the past and replace it with more joyful vibes of the future, including a blessing from Kamohai's dad where he expresses gratitude and respect for the property and its rich Hawaiian history, and added prayers for the future homeowners. It's the one step Tristyn and Kamohai refuse to skip.