High up in the southern Wai‘anae mountains overlooking Ko ‘Olina is a world of hidden historic cabins and chilly country living that is largely unfamiliar to most O‘ahu residents. Now, however, the public can experience this special corner of the island with a visit to the new Pālehua Community Center called Hale Koa. The newly renovated structure is part of the Pilihonua project run by the Pālehua Conservation Initiative, which aims to celebrate the beauty of these mountains and protect the ‘āina (land) for generations to come.
The organization tapped the design gurus behind Citron & Date to restore the cabin—originally a galley built during WWII for the surrounding military barracks—and they transformed it into a cozy, stylish space that pays homage to Hawai‘i’s plantation history. When researching the project, Jasmine Mullins, Citron & Date’s interior designer, visited the island’s plantation museums and took the common themes that applied to Hawai‘i’s various ethnicities to design a space that would appeal to as many of the locals from O‘ahu as possible.
“I want this space to envelop you and take care of you a little bit,” says Mullins. “Everything we design is so deeply rooted in history and nostalgia, but specifically at Hale Koa because that is most people’s introduction to the mountain, we hope that it instantly makes people feel like it’s a space they want to return to over and over again.” palehua.org
As a rental retreat space for organizations or private events. PHOTO BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
Hale Koa center opens this summer for malama ‘aina activities like planting native plants, lei making and papale weaving workshops. PHOTO BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
PHOTO BY IJFKE RIDGLEY
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