Located in lush Waimanalo on the island of Oahu, the Malama Honua Public Charter School serves grades pre K through 8th grade in pavilion style classrooms that emphasize indoor/outdoor learning. The campus, which consists of 12 buildings – 8 classroom learning pavilions, an administration building, an enrichment building, and a gracious outdoor pavilion/multipurpose room/cafeteria – seeks to blend into the landscape against the dramatic backdrop of the Ko’olau Mountains, creating a rich learning environment.

The buildings feature low pitched shed roofs with long eves that offer shade and weather protection from the sun and the rain. The site sits in the flood plain so all the buildings are raised up between 24”and 30” to get above the flood elevation which also allows for breezes to naturally cool the building. There is an emphasis on sustainability and didactic design with retention ponds and bioswales for onsite water catchment along with large cisterns, grey water treatment, and solar panels on all the roofs. The landscape consists of native plantings that allow for a hands on learning and sensory experience for the children.