Building Hawai'i’s sustainable future: An exploration of hemp and bamboo and their application as a panelized building system.

Abstract

This research dissertation will investigate the potential of two crops as sustainable resources in Hawaiʻi for the production of local building materials. Bamboo, and Hemp are suited for Hawaiʻi climate and soils, are robust, have low invasive risk, and do not require intensive watering, fertilizing, or human intervention. In addition, the investigated crops have potential multiple uses from biobased natural building materials, to food, biofuel, medicine, paper, charcoal, and home goods which provide local farmers and entrepreneurs additional avenues of economic growth. Through this research dissertation I hope to achieve three objectives: provide a framework for local farmers and starter families to achieve a DIY farm to home build, design an architectural component or building system prototype which can then be taken to the next phase of testing, and lastly highlight a way to bring equity to local farmers through the introduction of a circular agriculture production process utilizing the added value crops Hemp and Bamboo which contribute to sustainability, climate renewal, and island resiliency when applied to the production of local building materials.