CLIMATE RESPONSIVE BUILDING DESIGN
Honolulu – Hawaii
Part 1 – Climatic Investigation
In general, Honolulu has a steady climate throughout the year. This includes mild temperatures, moderate
humidity, winds coming from the northeast, and sporadic high volume rainfall. For Honolulu, and most of Hawaii,
there are two distinctive seasons, summer between May and October, and winter between October and April.
Because Hawaii is surrounded by the Pacific Ocean, the air carries a significant amount of moisture. Since it is
more than 2,000 miles from mainland Unites States, the air that reaches it spends enough time over the ocean to
moderate its properties. Because of this, unlike most of the United States, Honolulu’s (Hawaii’s) hottest months or
not June and July, but August and September, and its coolest months are not December and January, but February and
March.
Over the year, Honolulu’s averages between twenty to twenty-five inches of rain per year, mainly coming
between the months of October and April. Many times, up to half of the years rainfall may occur within a day or a
few hours from severe, “quick” storm systems. These months of high rainfall also bring humidity. During the winter,
humidity can reach up to eighty percent, and in the summer over sixty percent, with the mornings generally being
more humid.
Part 2 – Climatic Comparison to San Francisco
San Francisco and Honolulu are both mild climates that do not drastically vary throughout the year. Although
Honolulu on average is about twenty degrees hotter than San Francisco, both cities vary only about fifteen degrees
throughout the year. Relative humidity in both cities is similar, with Honolulu being slightly higher. But because of
the higher temperature of Honolulu, the humidity is out of the comfort zone for the average person. Average wind
speed in the two cities is also very similar, only differing in direction. Wind in San Francisco comes mainly form the
northwest while in Honolulu they come from the northeast.
www.prh.noaa.gove - www.weather.com - www.cityrating.com - www.windfinder.com - www.flickr.com
HONOLULU WEATHER CHARTS
Average Precipitation
Average Temperature
3
100
90
2.5
80
70
2
60
High
50
Low
40
1.5
Precipication
Inches
1
Temperature
(F)
30
20
0.5
10
0
0
January
May
January
September
May
September
Month
Month
Average Humidity
Cloudiness
90
35
80
30
70
25
60
50
Morning
40
Afternoon
30
Humidity
(%)
20
Cloudy
20
Partly Cloudy
15
Days
Clear
10
5
10
0
0
January
May
September
January
Month
September
Month
Average Wind Speed
Wind Probability
90
16
80
14
70
12
60
10
50
Probability
40
8
MPH
6
Mile Per Hour
4
30
Probability (%)
20
2
10
0
January
May
0
May
Month
September
January
May
September
Month
PALAPA/TIKI HOUSING
Part 3 - Case Study
Palapas are made from a material that can be found all over the islands of
Hawaii, palm leaves. When they are dried, they can be woven and manipulated
into various shapes and sizes. They are bound to bamboo poles, creating a
structure that can replace walls and roofs.
Because of its availability, native Hawaiians have been using this method for
hundreds of years to create homes and other structures. Even today in new
construction, this method is still popular in Hawaii and other tropical climates.
PALAPA/TIKI HOUSING
Part 4 - Modern Adaptation
Closed System
Open System
Shading Study
This palapa housing system uses indigenous materials and native practices, and uses them in a new manner. Because of Hawaii’s climate, shading is a necessity. Dried palm leaves provide ideal characteristics for shading, they are
light weight, can be easily manipulated, and there are and abundance of them on the islands.
This design uses the old building practice, and introduces a new system. By creating screens that act as “garage
doors”, two important features are revealed. When the doors are raised, not only do they provide shade for its inhabitants, but they allow for a breeze to pass through the structure, providing natural ventilation.