New building rules would allow thatched hale on Maui

'Oiwi: A Native Hawaiian Journal
February 2004

By Sterling Kini Wong

As a final exam, participants in a hale-building certification class construct a thatched stucture in just 48 hours. Bottom left: Sen. J. Kalani English congratulates course graduates. Photos: Tina Barnes/courtesy of Maui Nui Botanical Garden

Hawaiian hale, or grass-thatched houses, may no longer be a thing of the past on Maui if rules are adopted that would allow for indigenous architecture in the Maui County building code. The proposed building-code rules, which took more than two years to draft, would be the first in the nation to allow indigenous architecture, according to state Sen. J. Kalani English (D, East Maui- Lana'i-Moloka'i), who first initiated the proposal to amend the building code when he was a member of the Maui County Council.

English, a Native Hawaiian from Hana, said he proposed the changes because he was disturbed that many people believed thatched hale were unsafe and inferior to Western structures. Hale have been tested and refined by Native Hawaiians for hundreds of years, he said, and are very capable of enduring storms because wind passes through them easily.

English explained that because of the stigma that hale are unsafe, people were reluctant to consider changes to the building code, so he had to change the terminology of "grass hut" to indigenous architecture to entice people and alter their mindsets.

With the passing of many of the kupuna who possess the knowledge of indigenous architecture, he said, the proposed rules represent not only the revitalization of a nearly lost art, but also afford indigenous structures parity with Western structures within the context of building codes.

"We did not want to enter a new millennium and lose these practices," English said. "And this is a good indicator that we are willing to look at past models for future endeavors."

Maui County Development Services Administrator Ralph Nagamine said the rules are expected to be approved by county attorneys and signed by the mayor of Maui in the next few months. Nagamine said that other counties statewide have inquired about the building-code changes but are waiting for the completion of Maui's pioneering effort before following suit.

The proposed rules would allow for four types of hale, the largest of which would measure 30 by 60 feet. The hale could be used for sleeping, meeting and eating.

Retail businesses would be allowed in some hale, but none are to be used as commercial kitchens because of fire concerns.

The rules are designed to maintain much of the cultural integrity of traditional hale, while providing some modern compromises.

Generators, plumbing and electrical systems would be prohibited in hale, for example, but hale located within 100 feet of another structure would be required to have fire sprinklers. In addition, hale used for sleeping would have to have battery-operated fire alarms.

Modern amenities such as screen, plastic and mesh would also be prohibited from being attached to hale, but use of nylon cord instead of coconut sennit would be permissible for lashings, and cement would be used to stabilize the hale's rock foundation.

Instead of having contemporary architects and carpenters design and build a hale, the proposed rules require that a certified hale builder construct the house. In order to fulfill this need, Maui Community College enlisted master hale builder Francis Sinenci to teach an indigenous-architecture certification course. Students in the class learn the process of building a hale from the bottom up, which includes gathering thatching and structural materials, tying the lashing and soaking wood in salt water to protect it from termites.

Last September, after nine months of training, 10 students graduated from Sinenci's course to become the island's first certified hale builders. For the course's final exam, in addition to a written portion, the students built a hale at the Maui Nui Botanical Garden in just 48 hours.

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