new 1+3+9

1. Shopping mall as a new recycling center

3. Architecture can raise people’s awareness of recycling, encourage people to save their island, and be the first initiative to promote recycling in Honolulu. A new recycling center will be located in an area where local and tourists gather, that is easily accessible, and has the most influence and connection to the locals. Architecture will help to build a new habit for the Hawaiian residents.

9. Recycling has almost become our habit today and it is something each of us can easily participate to save the natural environment. However, Honolulu is extremely behind in green movement compared to other states and the world.

Hawaii, having a small and fragile ecosystem, locals must actively participate to recycle, but instead, they still continue to ignore it which resulted in the expansion of landfills on their beautiful island.

The current problem is 1) Lack of awareness to recycle and pride to save their island, 2) Location and accessibility of recycling facility, 3) Lack of rule or campaign to initiate for people to recycle, 4) Locals are not used to recycling (they don’t know how).

My thesis proposal is to build a new recycling center 1) to raise local’s awareness about recycling, 2) on location that is obvious and easily accessible, and 3) where locals can learn about recycling from the tourists who are already used to recycling.

The site is Ala Moana Shopping Center which is a center of our community that is used as local’s gathering place and also a destination for tourists.

Locals frequently go there to shop, eat at restaurants, gather with friends, and just to walk around because it is easily accessible, thus it is ideal as a new center for recycling.
They can simply go there to recycle as a secondary reason.

Tourists are far more knowledgeable than the locals about recycling, thus they can teach the locals how to recycle by their behavior, which would start interactions between the two groups.

If recycling becomes habit for the locals, Ala Moana Center will be revitalized which will help the economy and community while making the city greener.

The program will be a recycling center, but not just a room. Architecture itself must be sustainable and also has ability to attract people. I will have to work on the program further, but I’m decided on the location.