Hālau Hoʻolako
HĀLAU HOʻOLAKO est. 2005
Meeting Both Ancient and Modern High Performance Standards
PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
- Minimal site grading
- Rock and topsoil from site used for landscaping
- 75% of the construction waste diverted from land fill
- Only materials with at least 10% recycled content utilized in building
- System to collect water and reuse for irrigation
- Low-maintenance landscape with minimal pesticide used
- Used and/or recycled furnishings
- Vinyl flooring strips made from 30% recycled materials
- Window shades made from hemp and bamboo, which are rapidly renewable resources
- Cupboards made of bamboo
- Use of already fallen and then harvested ʻōhiʻa posts
- Low maintenance, recycled carpet tiles manufactured through efficient, waste free “cradle-to-cradle” process
- Dual flush toilets for improved water efficiency
- Waterless urinals with 7,000 flush filters breakdown urine and manage odors
- Motion sensors on washbasins prevent water waste
TEACHING SUSTAINABILITY
Landscape
- Values-based curriculum prepares K-12 students for future green jobs
- Involvement of Kanu o ka ʻĀina NCPCS students grades 6–12 in maintenance of facility and plant propagation
- Educational programs teach self-sufficiency through creation and maintenance of functional, edible landscape
- Landscape educates learners of all ages about proper native plant selection and natural planting design; adequate treatment of the interface between different elements of the design (e.g., where shrub beds, buildings, trees, etc., meet turf); use of geotextiles for weed control, surface stabilization, and material separation; configuration, placement, specification and detailing of materials and features
- Underground water catchment harvests rain water from storm drains to be used for landscape irrigation
- Compost area assures organic fertilizer for landscaping, as well as encourages green waste recycling efforts
- Student created paper-crete stepping stones for easy access to plants
Interior
- Students in grades 6-8 (SY 05-06) created four canvases of four primary gods: Kāne, Kanaloa, Kū, and Lono, under the guidance of artist Solomon Enos, displayed throughout building
Lokahi Conference Room
- Students in grades 1 & 2 (SY 08-09) conducted waste audit discovering that milk made up most of school’s waste
- Students in grade 12 (SY 08—09) completed science project on creating milk-based paint adding native pigment made from ʻalae
- Students created low VOC milk-paint and painted it on the wall above the counter
Lua
- Students in grades K – 12 (SY 07—08) created bathroom tiles using native design patterns, Lehua in women’s and koa in men’s bathroom
REDUCING OPERATING COSTS
- Use of air conditioning limited to 10% of building (computer server room only)
- Innovative window design uses trade winds for natural ventilation of 90% of building
- Rain runoff and other waste water used for irrigation to reduce county water costs
- Efficient lighting and mechanical systems to reduce energy use by 32%
- Occupancy sensors activate lights to assure no wasted energy
- Day lighting strategies replace 42% of electrical lighting used
- Production of 7.2 k Watts of electricity from roof mounted photovoltaic panels to decrease electricity costs by more than 50%
- Long range goal to achieve Zero-net energy costs
IMPROVING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND COMFORT
- Healthy air through Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paint
- Abundant high performance windows bring the outdoors in
- Natural ventilation is used for 90% of the building
- Acoustical ceiling tiles enhance sound quality
- Micro biotic toilet handles prevent germs from spreading
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT
- Solar panels produce over 50% of energy
- Occupancy sensor adjust light capacity based on motion, sound and heat fixtures to manage lights to provide even light distribution leading to optimal lighting
- Clerestory with south and west facing glazing reflects sunlight on ceiling and exposed heavy timber trusses from an interior light shelf to prevent glare and unwanted heat gain
- High performance windows surround reading room and bring in daylight on three sides
- Decorative skylights with light pipes transfer daylight into various spaces
- South facing façade in multi-media labs, with light shelf to block direct heat gain, reflect daylight onto ceiling
- 20% of materials and products made in Hawaiʻi
- Bicycle racks are alternative transportation accommodations
- VIP parking stalls for low-emitting and fuel-efficient vehicles
- Acoustical ceiling tiles enhance sound quality
- Natural ventilation is used for 90% of the building
- All adhesives, sealants, paints, carpet, coatings, cleaning agents have low Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC)
INTERGRATING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
- Design, construction and maintenance of building grounded in Hawaiian cultural values and practices
- Incorporation of Mālama and Aloha ʻĀina
- Values-based decision-making process incorporating community input
- Use of local labor, local expertise and local materials
- Developing community infrastructure by connecting the current 8 inch county water line to the Hawaiian Home Lands water line to increase water pressure for the entire community
- Stone for veneer wall surrounding entire building gathered from Puʻu Holoholokū
- Students in grade 8 (SY 08-09) participated in traditional protocol before gathering these stones at Pu’u Holoholokū
- Wide variety of materials and plants donated by community members
- Hundreds of hours of in-kind donations and volunteer
- Students, staff, extended family members and community involved in all aspects of the design, construction and maintenance