Nā Hala O Naue
YMCA Camp Nau’e, Ha’ena, Kaua’i
Work:
Community Planning, Design & Build
Scale: 3.95 ac
Completion: 2023
Project Description:
The famous hala ‘ula, Pandanus tectorius groves of Nau’e, celebrated in traditional hawaiian song and story, once marked the windswept northern edge of Hā‘ena. The name "Nau’e," meaning to move or tremble, reflects the winds and seas that greeted travelers and fishermen along this exposed coastline.
These emblematic groves were lost to the 1946 and 1957 tsunamis, which erased them from the landscape. This project seeks to restore the memory of this hala grove as a living symbol of heritage and as a vital resource for the lauhala weaving tradition.
YMCA Camp Nau’e, Ha’ena, Kaua’i
Work:
Community Planning, Design & Build
Scale: 3.95 ac
Completion: 2023
Project Description:
The famous hala ‘ula, Pandanus tectorius groves of Nau’e, celebrated in traditional hawaiian song and story, once marked the windswept northern edge of Hā‘ena. The name "Nau’e," meaning to move or tremble, reflects the winds and seas that greeted travelers and fishermen along this exposed coastline.
These emblematic groves were lost to the 1946 and 1957 tsunamis, which erased them from the landscape. This project seeks to restore the memory of this hala grove as a living symbol of heritage and as a vital resource for the lauhala weaving tradition.
The existing pavilion at Nau’e has long served as a significant gathering place for community purposes and civic participation. Over time, the re-established Hala grove is to envelop the pavilion, offering privacy, intimacy, and a deepened sense of place.
Directly connected to the pavillion through the triangulated symmetry of Hala, the final phase of the plan proposes the construction of a small traditional hale. This space will be open to lauhala weavers and other cultural practitioners.
Directly connected to the pavillion through the triangulated symmetry of Hala, the final phase of the plan proposes the construction of a small traditional hale. This space will be open to lauhala weavers and other cultural practitioners.
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