An Appropriate Design Strategy for Rail in Hawaii from a Cultural Perspective

Abstract

This thesis presents a new design strategy for transportation projects by incorporating cultural values, traditions, and sense of place architecture of the people of Hawai‘i. The goal of this thesis is to clearly define a design process by deriving three principals or components that focus on culture and place to guide a new design strategy for rail in Hawai‘i. The methodology for this thesis places an emphasis on the research process itself. Investigation into culture and place through written literature, personal experiences, and informal discussions allows for the opportunity to explore the teachings of the many cultures that are a part of these islands. Creating a core of cultural knowledge based on research and community consultation will allow values, traditions, and sense of place to strengthen the proposed design strategy. The first component of this thesis involves outlining the history of the people of Hawai‘i and the Hawaiian sense of place. This research component should highlight the many benefits of approaching the design strategy, critique of the current rail proposal, and my alternative proposal, from a cultural perspective. The second component is a design proposal based on cultural research. The intention is to show that a better conceived, efficient, and culturally coherent mass transit system can exist here in Hawai‘i.