Our newest team member, Darren Shirai

“Growing-up in Honolulu, Hawai’i, I learned about the uniqueness and global significance of Hawaiian ecosystems, as well as the integral role of nature in indigenous Hawaiian culture. The schools I attended throughout my childhood had lush campuses that reflected community values and understood the role of nature in determining a high quality of life. This awareness of nature as an integral part of daily life informed the schools’ decision to provide verdant outdoor spaces within a learning environment for young children. Many child development experts theorize that the origin of healthy environmental ethics in adults begins early in life, the result of sustained positive experiences in nature and the personal value associated with those experiences.

Searching for a way to make a tangible and positive contribution to society led me to the profession of Landscape Architecture. I was drawn specifically to the design aspects of the profession, learning that the positive memories and experiences provided by thoughtfully designed landscapes can add just as much value and meaning to a person’s life as material wealth. I continue to be motivated by the belief that the design of outdoor spaces can result in a sustainable positive relationship with local ecologies and a legacy of reconnecting people to the restorative power of the natural world.”

Darren Shirai
Landscape Architect