Nestled above Hawaii’s only all-female correctional facility, the newly renovated Ho‘okipa Makai Cottage serves as a model for restorative justice and culturally responsive design. Informed by Hawaiian values, the project reimagines incarceration by prioritizing rehabilitation, community reintegration, and human dignity. At the heart of the design is the principle of aloha, not just a greeting, but a sacred expression of mutual respect, compassion, and balance.
The cottage, along with its adjacent programs/support building, creates a normalized environment that supports successful re-entry into the community after incarceration. The design of both buildings was shaped by immersive, on-site charrettes with future residents and facility staff, resulting in a built environment that values safe privacy, comfort, and sustainability.
The 6,300 SF cottage includes shared indoor living areas and a shaded outdoor lanai with soft seating for groups and individuals. Dormitory-style and double-occupancy rooms provide sleeping arrangements for sixty-four residents. Next door, the 1,600-SF support building houses an open dining area, a galley kitchen, laundry facilities, and flexible spaces for educational and vocational programming. Slatted-wood sliding doors on both buildings welcome in breezes and lend a sense of craftsmanship and privacy to the spaces. Drawing from the islands’ indoor-outdoor lifestyle, the facility incorporates passive ventilation and natural daylighting, as well as acoustic design features to promote well-being. Solar panels on the lanai roof generate 16kW of renewable energy.
Residents of the cottage, whether participating in work furlough, community custody, or workline assignments, experience increased autonomy and shared accountability. Many form strong ‘ohana (family) units, encouraging mutual support and adherence to community standards. More than a renovation, Ho‘okipa Makai Cottage reflects a deeper commitment to creating restorative spaces that foster healing, build skills, and support successful reentry into the community.
