Faculty, students, alumni, and leadership representing six organizations came together to envision a multi-phase project on and adjacent to the UH Hilo campus supporting a complete educational system spanning from preschool to Ph.D, taught entirely through ʻōlelo Hawaiʻi.
Organizations are Ka Hakaʻ Ula O Keʻelikolani (KHUOK, College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), ʻAha Pūnana Leo (Hawaiian language preschools), Hale Kuamoʻo (Hawaiian language curriculum development and research), Mokuola Honua (Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence), ʻImiloa Astronomy Center, and Ke Kula ʻo Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu (Nawahi, Hawaiian language immersion charter school).
Our team was tasked with visualizing spatial needs and developing proof-of-concept designs for three new facilities. Multiple phases of user research, including one-on-one interviews, co-creation workshops, and "talk story" sessions, were held with over fifty Hawaiian language education founders and senior leaders. Students, parents, program graduates, and community members also contributed their knowledge and experiences.
A cluster of buildings, and the adjacent Nawahi, will support an immersive and complete P-25 Hawaiian Indigenous Language Cycle (P-25 HILC). Upon completion, this is intended to be the world's most complete indigenous language "preschool through Ph.D." campus.
Client: University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa Office of the Vice President for Administration
Principal Investigators: Brian Strawn AIA, Karla Sierralta AIA
UH Hilo Leadership: Keiki Kawai‘ae‘a PhD, Associate Professor and UH Hilo Interim Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs; Ka‘iu Kimura, Interim Director of Ka Haka ʻUla O Keʻelikōlani College of Hawaiian Language and Executive Director at UH Hilo’s ‘Imiloa Astronomy Center
Project Collaborators: Hawaiʻi ʻImiloa Insitute Partnerhs: Ka Hakaʻ Ula O Keʻelikolani (KHʻUOK, College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), ʻAha Punana Leo (Hawaiian language preschools), Hale Kuamoʻo (Hawaiian language curriculum development and research), Mokuola Honua (Global Center for Indigenous Language Excellence), ʻImiloa Astronomy Center of Hawaiʻi (a part of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo), Ke Kula ʻO Nāwahīokalaniʻōpuʻu (Nawahi, Hawaiian language immersion charter school)
Consultant: Hyunjoo Woo, User Research and UX
Project Staff: ʻEiwa Colburn, Glenn Grande, Jason Hashimoto, Isaac Jang, Charlie Palanza, Griffin Ward, Hunter Wells
Student Project Assistants: Keola Annino, Micah Axalan, Airon Castaneda, Christina Holcom, Keliʻi Kapali, Vivianne Nguyen, Coby Shimabukuro Sanchez, Bryson Tabaniag
Awards and Recognition:
2025 Architizer Vision Awards Vision for Education -Finalist
2024 Architect’s Newspaper Best of the Best Award
2024 ACSA Collaborative Practice Award
2023 Fast Company’s Innovation by Design Awards
2023 AIA Honolulu Award of Excellence - Unbuilt
