In response to the Maui wildfires that happened in August, students from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s and embarked on two days of field visits to Maui to learn from renowned disaster relief architect Shigeru Ban from Japan and to help build a sustainable emergency shelter in support of the Lahaina Jodo Mission. Two groups of approximately 10 students flew to Maui on December 5–6, led by School of Architecture faculty members Yasushi Ishida and Cathi Ho Schar.
The construction of the shelter took place on the campus of Rinzai Zen Mission in Pāʻia.
“This project offered our students an extraordinary chance to learn hands-on from a world-renowned architect like Shigeru Ban,” said Ishida, an architect and assistant professor who was the primary point of contact for this collaboration. “Despite the rapid pace and international scope posing significant coordination challenges, the exceptional synergy and adaptability of our collaborators quickly became evident after our kick-off meeting on November 14. We were very fortunate to find the right partners.”
The opportunity equipped students with the skills to rapidly construct temporary shelters in the aftermath of disasters. Ban, a recipient of the prestigious 2014 Pritzker Prize (for architecture), is globally acclaimed for his innovative use of paper tubes in disaster relief construction.
The prototype Ban guided students through assembling was a 20-by-12-foot home constructed from cardboard paper tubes that form its structural frame, along with plywood for the floor and walls. It has a covered roof and a few windows, and sits atop a foundation of weighed-down milk crates.
Student experiences
“Giving back to my hometown feels incredibly fulfilling. Seeing support from both our community and beyond not only lifted my spirits but also filled me with hope—hope for Lahaina,” said Angelie Mae Mariano, a fourth year architecture student from Maui. “The finished prototype left me feeling emotional, seeing support pouring in from all corners of the world.”
“This was my first ‘field trip’ with UH and I am now interested in more work like this,” said Grace Tanuvasa, a third year civil engineering student. “I am going to continue to look into more volunteer workshops like this one. It hits close to home because it deals with something that just happened to Maui, and I know that there are and going to be other places that need engineering and architectural solutions.”
The collaborative effort was spearheaded by VAN, a non-profit branch of Shigeru Ban’s office, who brought 11 student volunteers from Shibaura Institute of Technology in Tokyo.
“The most memorable experience was working alongside the students from Japan,” said Eric Gabbard, a fourth year student in architecture. “Despite the language barrier between the two groups of students, we were able to erect the structure quickly. The team the day before laid the subfloor and walls, I am grateful I had the opportunity to lift the rafters into their final position.”
This experience reinforces the responsibility that designers have toward their communities and the importance of engaging with diverse stakeholders to create effective solutions in times of crisis.
“It felt like an incredible moment to complete the paper log house prototype before the sun disappeared and before we had to fly back,” said Jasmyn Ann Carlos, a fourth year architecture student.
Lecture by Shigeru Ban
On December 7, the School of Architecture hosted a lecture by Ban for the students with an overview of his groundbreaking work, illustrating how he blends functional design with humanitarian efforts, and how his architecture extends beyond practical solutions to address emotional and social needs in times of disaster.
The lecture was made possible through the generosity of Ban, who included this event in his itinerary while working on the relief project for Lahaina Jodo Mission. The collaboration was spearheaded by VAN, in partnership with Lahaina Jodo Mission, Rinzai Zen Mission, Hawaiʻi Off-Grid Architecture and Engineering, Pacific Millworks and , with additional support from individual donors, Hawaiʻi Architectural Foundation, AIA Honolulu and the UH Mānoa Provost’s Office.
