DANA ANNE YEE, LANDSCAPE ARCHITECT, LLC.
Kalaniho’okaha Community Learning Center
Nānākuli, Hawai’i
Nānākuli is now home to the Kalaniho’okahā Community Learning Center. In designing the Center, the landscape architect created garden landscapes honoring the culture, traditions, and the people of Nānākuli. From a barren unkempt land, arose gardens of wonders and possibilities, including a sustainable bioswale, planted with 100% native Hawaiian plants, reclaimed coral boulders as seating, a Hawaiian Heritage Cultural Garden, and edible gardens.
According to legend, the dry and barren land of Nānākuli made it difficult to offer food to passing travelers. Instead of appearing inhospitable, residents would pretend to be deaf. No more! Through the landscape of the Center, Nānākuli no longer pretends to be deaf. Rather, it listens to the Wai‘anae Coast Community as a welcoming, safe, and hands-on learning environment, while maintaining the country character of Nānākuli. The Kalaniho’okaha Community Learning Center will help to inspire learning in a stimulating environment for 16 to 24-year-old at-risk students. This landscape environment provides both life-long opportunities, as well as a gathering place for all of Nānākuli.
The Kalaniho’okaha Community Learning Center is receipient of a 2021 ASLA Hawai`i,
HONOR AWARD in the General Design Category.