PROJECT DESCRIPTION
Spaces for Places is a toolkit to engage the community in place care-taking on sensitive sites developed in collaboration with Hawai’i County to aid in recovery after the 2018 volcanic eruption of Kīlauea. A series of components for use “At the Table” and “In the Field,” guide teams in preparation for activities and conversations about Understanding Place and Making Space. A variety of spatial configurations for interpretive installations can be tested before committing to anything permanent with a set of “Field Frames” that create “Spatial Sketches” on-site in real-time.
BACKGROUND
Kīlauea’s 2018 volcanic eruption was the largest in the Lower East Rift Zone in over 200 years. Lava flows covered over 8,700 acres of land. The county identified two impacted sites for piloting the toolkit: Pohoiki, a dearly regarded public beach park, and Kumukahi, a sacred and culturally significant site for Native Hawaiians on the easternmost shore of the Hawaiian archipelago.
These events continue to cause tension as community members and visitors interact at the sites with different understandings, backgrounds, cultural connections, and behavioral norms.
SUPPORT & DISSEMINATION
Spaces for Places received multiple rounds of feedback, including at the largest community activation held as part of Hawai’i County’s Kīlauea Eruption Recovery program.
The Toolkit was partially funded by a National Endowment for the Arts Grant.
This toolkit was developed for Building Voices, an effort by the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa School of Architecture and the UH Community Design Center in collaboration with Hawai‘i County and members of the community in Puna.
The toolkit is available for community use through Hawai‘i County’s Resiliency Library.
Partner Organization
Hawai‘i County & members of the community in Puna.
Hawai’i County & Community Affiliates Advisory Team
Zoe Callahan - Disaster Recovery, Community Engagement & Placemaking Coordinator
Frecia Cevallos - R&D Deputy Director, Cultural RCA Co-Chair
Leilani DeMello - Resiliency Capacity Member, Kū a Kanaka
Hokulani Fortunato - Indigenous Data Science Associate
Leila Kealoha - Pohaku Pele Maka, Cultural RCA Co-Chair
Ashley Kierkiewicz - Council member for Puna District 4, Economic RCA Co-Chair Jen Myers - Disaster Recovery, Communications Specialist
Susie Osborne - Kua O Ka La, Economic RCA Co-Chair
Maliaonani Silva - Meeken - Indigenous Data Science Associate
Puna Site Guides
Ana Kon, Uncle Keone Kalawe, Kanaka O Puna: I’opa Maunakea, Executive Director of Men of Pa’a, Ric Parish, Carlos Belotto, Ian Paleka.
Production Team
Micah Axalan, Hunter Bailey Kamakua, Walker Mason, Zane Steely, Aeryn Undan, Ben Vickland, Kayla Watabu, Hunter Wells.
Project Type
Interactive Installation Design, Toolkit Publication & Design for Hawai’i County. Funded in part by a National Endowment for the Arts Grant.
Photography, Videography & Animation
Field Photography & Video: Tom Takata
Animations & Motion Graphics: Hunter Wells
All other photography by Strawn Sierralta
Thanks To
University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa School of Architecture and UHCDC Grant Application Team & Alignment Phase participants. This project was also made possible thanks to the participation of Puna community members, who contributed to the evolution of the work with their feedback, kindness, and generosity.
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