
HĀLAU HOʻOLAKO est. 2007
Meeting Both Ancient and Modern High
Performance Standards

PROTECTING THE ENVIRONMENT
TEACHING SUSTAINABILITY
REDUCING OPERATING COSTS
IMPROVING HEALTH, SAFETY, AND COMFORT
REDUCING CARBON FOOTPRINT
INTERGRATING CULTURE AND COMMUNITY
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


- 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
- 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.
- 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
- 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
- Use of local labor, local expertise and local materials
- 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
- Students, staff, extended family members and community involved in all aspects of the design, construction and maintenance