On the gentle slope from the nearby volcano to the coastline, the crumbled bed of black lava rock has been revived with vast tufts of golden-green grasses and lacy Kiawe trees scattered throughout. Drawing from this lively canvas, Hale Mau’u, meaning “House in the Grass,” was designed to fully embrace the quiet beauty of this unique landscape. The buildings are arranged to form a courtyard where circulation between spaces happens outside along a raised boardwalk that forms a linear axis from the mountains to the ocean. The striking roof composition guides the eyes toward key views with long extended eaves designed to be narrow at one end of the building, but wide at the other to provide extra shade where it is most needed. All of the main rooms are equipped with large barn doors, so that when fully opened there is little distinction between inside and out. These doors were fabricated with gapped boards, so that when closed for privacy or shade, fresh air and light can still filter through. When lit from inside at night, the open gaps give the buildings a resemblance to warm glowing lanterns.
Architecture: Walker Warner Architects
Principal: Greg Warner
Senior Project Manager: Thomas Clapper
Architectural Staff: Dan Baciuska, Matthew Yungert, Boyce Postma, Darcy Arioli
Landscape: David Y. Tamura Associates
Builder: Metzler Contracting Co. LLC
Photography: Matthew Millman
