Maui Meditation Retreat

Garage to Temple 2020

with master furniture maker Stephen Hynson

This project was for the Heart of Consciousness Retreat Center in Haiku, Maui. The group had recently acquired the property which had been a botanical garden featuring dozens of varieties of palm trees. An off-the-grid mid-century modern house is sited at top of a rise overlooking the jungle down to the Pacific Ocean. Antique Indian temple doors frame the entry to the meditation space. We built a small utility building as well.

Coming from the land of 4’ frost footings and sub-zero winter temperatures, building in Hawaii is technically simple. However, being 2400mi from the mainland presents logistical challenges as do the hungry insects. All lumber must be pressure treated. Water for the house is collected off of the roof into a cistern and all electricity is solar generated. All in all a wonderfully chill way to wait out the covid travel restrictions.