Architect Aaron Ackerman Builds a World-Class Sustainable House

Architect Aaron Ackerman. Photo: Aaron K. Yoshino

Deep in Pālolo Valley, hugging the rugged mountainside and ensconced in a tangle of jungle so thick that it’s obscured from the main road, sits Haleola‘ili‘āinapono, the single-family home of Hawai‘i architect Aaron Ackerman, his wife, Jess, and their three young children. The dwelling is decidedly beautiful—its modern lines and rustic redwood facade at once in concert and contrast with the wilderness that envelops it—but what really makes it unique is the incredible level of environmental consideration that went into its design and build.

Ackerman embarked on the passion project in 2011 after learning about the Living Building Challenge, a green building program administered by the International Living Future Institute. Widely acknowledged as one of the world’s most rigorous sustainability programs, the goal of the challenge is to spur transformative design and the creation of buildings that generate net positive impacts on the environment. Only a handful of buildings in the world (none in Hawai‘i) have met all 20 of the program’s imperatives; Ackerman has completed 19, with the 20th in the works.

“Impossible ideas need to be demonstrated with real-life examples that people can see, touch and experience to help inspire them to think outside the box,” Ackerman says. “Haleola‘ili‘āinapono is a demonstration project intended to inspire and educate others on how buildings can play a role in regenerating people and the planet.”

“Impossible ideas need to be demonstrated with real-life examples that people can see, touch and experience to help inspire them to think outside the box.”

Ackerman is well qualified for the task. He’s logged 20-plus years with local architectural/engineering firm Bowers + Kubota, specializing in sustainable architecture and spearheading Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design, or LEED, projects for the Hawai‘i government.

“Haleola‘ili‘āinapono has truly been the most challenging endeavor I have ever taken on, requiring me to utilize every skill set I possess,” he says. “The commitment that went and continues to go into the education, research, design, marketing, fundraising, permitting, construction, operations, maintenance and documentation efforts of this project have shaped who I am today and given me the confidence to take on incredible challenges otherwise deemed impossible.”

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In Hawaiian, the home’s name brings together hale (house), ‘ili‘āina (a portion of land managed for the better of the ahupua‘a) and pono (righteousness, proper procedure), elements exemplified at every turn. Ackerman salvaged 75% of the materials for the home locally. He grows 26 types of plants, including fruit trees and vegetative roof gardens. He’s also installed a catchment system that collectively holds 6,000 gallons of water.

“Energy is emanating here,” he says. “I feel very connected to this land and have my hands and feet connected to literally every square inch of our property—every tree, plant, animal and drop of rain that falls on it.”

livingbuildingchallengehawaii.com, @ackitecture