Architect Insight Session: Hawaiʻi's Local Wood Economy
Virtual Discussion | June 30 How can Hawaiʻi make better use of the trees and wood materials already within our communities?
How can Hawaiʻi make better use of the trees and wood materials already within our communities?
Join representatives from the Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) and Unified Wood Economy (UWE) for a virtual discussion focused on gathering insight and lived experience from architects and design professionals about the opportunities and challenges surrounding local wood resources.
UWE has been engaged by DOFAW to assess Hawaiʻi's urban wood biomass and explore pathways toward a more circular, locally based wood economy. As part of this work, they are seeking input from professionals across the building industry to better understand existing systems, barriers, and opportunities related to:
- Salvaged urban and near-urban trees
- Reclaimed and deconstructed building materials
- Local wood products and supply chains
- Material specification and procurement challenges
- Opportunities for greater use of Hawaiʻi-grown and recovered wood products in design and construction
For architects, local wood presents exciting possibilities as a material that reflects place and culture—from custom millwork and furnishings to specialty finish applications and feature installations. Yet many challenges remain, including inconsistent supply, limited processing infrastructure, material certification concerns, and procurement hurdles.
This session is intended as a conversation rather than a presentation. UWE is in an active information-gathering phase and is looking to learn from practitioners who have attempted to specify, source, salvage, reuse, or advocate for local wood materials in Hawaiʻi projects. Whether your experience has been successful, challenging, or simply exploratory, your perspective can help inform a broader understanding of the current landscape.
