Bamboo Design

The Bamboo plant is one of the most useful materials on earth. It can replace many other materials and become a green material science resource that can alleviate many environmental concerns that traditional materials bring to the manufacturing environment. Bamboo is regenerative, it re-grows each time it is harvested and can grow for decades. I am a proponent of bamboo uses, growing bamboo plantations and finding new and exciting uses for this incredible resource. The rebirth of bamboo technology is still in its infancy and there are more breakthroughs to come. Textiles, Building Materials, Materials Sciences, Paper Products, Foods, Art, Erosion Mitigation, Carbon Sequestration, Bio-Remediation, Charcoal Production and many others.  I grow 10 types of bamboo on my farm in Hawaii and I am excited to be on the edge of this growth.

Bamboo has a long history in Asia as a material that provides many diverse functions and can stand as a central resource to build communities around. It has been used for thousands of years and is still relevant in our modern world. Current research is exploring uses in electronics, advanced material sciences, state of the art green textiles and a myriad other uses and more discovered each day. Given a piece of bamboo, each person can see something unique and different coming out of the flexible grass plant and express their individuality through arts, crafts and sculpture. Classes in bamboo design and building are cropping up in dozens of countries worldwide. Design, Build, Architecture firms in such countries as Columbia, Vietnam, India, Thailand, Bali and Indonesia are expanding the boundaries of design and constructing modern masterpieces expressing the diverse properties of this incredible green resource. Some of these buildings have won prestigious awards across the design and architecture fields and are drawing more awareness and appreciation of bamboo in the building materials sciences and design arena. Laminated bamboo beams and posts are expanding the ever growing field of modern bamboo manufacturing technologies. The strength and utility of these bamboo timber products will usher in a new and more flexible green resource for designers and architects work as they search more for dynamic and flexible building products to meet the demands of a more environmentally conscious building clientele.

My experience in automotive engineering and high end residential building serves me well as I assist my clients to further develop their ideas, designs and products in a co-creative and passionate environment. Designing and building gardens and farms in both Michigan and Hawaii have also added to the diversity of my experience. Attending Timber Framing school at the Timber Framer’s Guild 3 week intensive training at the Heartwood Institute gave me insights and hands on experience with both modern and ancient building techniques as well as engineering insights into the limits of materials and joinery systems.

Teaching- I provide classes, workshops and personal coaching on Thriveability related topics, such as Bamboo Construction, Soil Biology, Compost Tea Brewers, Living off Grid/Solar, Growing your own Orchard, Design and Layout for Project Development and Homesite planning, Vitality and Healthy Lifestyle choices and living with Passion and Energy. My experience teaching authentic Korean Tae Kwon Do under the direct supervision of Grandmaster Sang Kyu Shim instilled in me a deep reverence for the path of the true educated martial artist and a lifelong passion for learning and growth. This path of personal development led us through the classical teachings of ancient sages such as Lao Tzu, Sun Tzu, Confucius, Plato, Socrates, Buddha, Tolstoy, William James, Rumi, Dan Millman and others. Offering classes for my community here and abroad has nurtured my sense of place and keeps me on my toes for further breakthroughs in topics that both fascinate and inspire me. Lifelong learning is a core principle and keeps me both young and moving through the material.

 Eco Weddings

Ecologically conscious weddings are a new venture for me and my team. I have been involved in the bamboo world and have designed and built a few custom bamboo wedding arbors and other wedding accessories with a ecological bent for 2 years and I am furthering my development in a partnership with Big Island Tents and Bob Simms. This team is one of the largest Wedding companies in Hawaii and have a depth of experience and professionalism unmatched in Hawaii. I am developing several new wedding arbors from locally sourced bamboo and natural materials. Whatever your heart desire, my team and I can help you visualize, design and build your ecologically sensitive and beautiful wedding arbors, candles, place settings, as well as some rare photo shoot locations never imagined by the standard models.

• Hawaiian Bamboo Wedding

• Arbors Choose from our Premium Hawaiian Bamboo Wedding Arbors designs, or send me your designs and I will custom build it for your amazing wedding day!

• Build your own Wedding Arbor with expert guidance, add in some Vases, Torches a small bridge. Let your imaginations run wild!

• Pick your own flowers, leaves, fruits and bamboo from my Bamboo and Flower Farm

• Photo Shoots in Pristine Hawaii Ohia Forest with Organic gardens, 8 types Bamboo, Yoga Deck and Bamboo Bridge on my 5 acre farm.

• LED light shows

Workshops

Bamboo Half-day, One-day workshop or Three-day workshop and we build something useful.

Custom Bamboo Furniture

• Tables

• Lamps

• Japanese Tori’I Gate

• Japanese Gate

• Tori’I Gate

• Bamboo Outdoor Shower

• Bamboo Fences

• Tipi w LED

• Tip

Product Development

Bamboo Plantations

• La’au Mana Bamboo Plantation in North Kohala, Hawaii Island

• Tree Plantings at Waiki’I Ranch, Hawaii Island

Education

• Living Out Your Wildest Dreams with Passion.

• Designing your own gardens, farm, Ponds, Waterfalls and small forest from scratch. How to integrate a mini eco system on your land.

• The Way of the Martial Artist

• Designing, Planting, Growing and Enjoying your own organic garden.

• Living OffGrid on a Permaculture Style Farmstead and Growing lots of food.

• An introduction to automotive technology, repairs, maintenance and how your car works.

• Advanced Automotive repair principles and techniques. Brewing Compost teas and application

• An introduction to basic carpentry.

• Choosing the right car for you and your family.