Architecture meets culture in ”A’ama Nui’

When he first envisioned the layout of his dream family home in Keaukaha on the Big Island, Honolulu architect Rob Iopa sketched out a house on stilts resembling crab legs.

The house’s flat and oblong shape and profile would resemble that of an ‘a’ama, or crab, with lookout windows perched on top like two eyes. The wood lattice screens would resemble that of a hina’i, or fish trap.

As he sketched out these ideas, Iopa and his wife, Rachelle, both born and raised in Hilo, also began to weave a story about the crab to tell their two young sons.

That’s how the seeds were planted for "’A’ama Nui: Guardian Warrior Chief of Lalakea" (WCIT Architecture, $20), the first of a Hawaiian architec- tural book series for children.

It tells the story of a legendary crab who protects the ponds of Lalakea, with colorful illustrations, alongside an architectural sketchbook that lays out the design for the contemporary-style home.

"As the story evolved, the design of the home evolved," Iopa said. "There was this juxtaposition, this back and forth. The story informs the design and the design informs the story."

Researching the history and culture of a place is integral to Iopa’s creative process as an architect, an approach he uses for all of his projects.

Iopa, 45, president of WCIT Architec- ture in Honolulu, redesigned the Royal Hawaiian Hotel and is involved in the redevelopment of the Princess Kaiu- lani Hotel and International Market Place, and the design of a high-rise condo in Kakaako.

While the home has yet to be built, pending the restoration of a historic rock wall on the property, the plans won the American Institute of Architects Honolulu award in the unbuilt category in 2012.

The children’s book evolved next, and was self-published last year in both Hawaiian and English.

"This is a way to express how his- tory and culture are the genesis of creative thought," he said. "We view mo’olelo, stories of the past, as a means to inspire and elicit creative thought."

The book, geared for fourth-graders and older, includes a foreword by Hawaiian scholar Pualani Kanahele and the translation for "The Famous Places of Keaukaha" by the late Edith Kanaka’ole. There is also a visual glos- sary of Hawaiian words.

Two turtle characters in the story, Makana and Makali’i, are named after Iopa’s sons, ages 7 and 5.

Illustrations in the book are by WCIT Architecture vice president Danny Kanekuni, and the watercolors by senior project designer Reuben Chock.

Iopa, meanwhile, has launched Mo’o Studio, a publishing group that aims to tell the stories and history of Hawaii while educating keiki about design and architecture.

Another book, "Hale ‘Olelo: A New Voice Speaks to Hilo," which tells the story behind designing the College of Hawaiian Language at the University of Hawaii at Hilo, is expected to come out soon.

Proceeds from the publications will be split between the WCIT Foundation, which provides scholarships for architecure students, and the Edith Kanaka’ole Foundation.