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College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources


Office Address:
St. John Plant Sciences Lab
Room 110

Contact Information:
Tel: 808-956-7958
Fax: 808-956-3894
Email: kaufmana@hawaii.edu

Office Hours:
By appointment

Mailing Address:
University of Hawaii at Manoa
3190 Maile Way, St. John 102
Honolulu, HI 96822
Welcome to the Tropical Landscape & Human Interaction Lab
Dr. Andy Kaufman, ASLA, MLA, Ph.D.

Associate Professor / Landscape Specialist
Peer Reviewed Design Projects


landscape design
landscape design
landscape design

HIG Gathering Garden, University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI. 2007.
The HIG Gathering Garden is located on the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus. The School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology (SOEST) requested a re-landscaping project for the outdoor space surrounding their buildings. This space needed to provide eating areas for lunch time users, overflow space from the library, and a space for formal gatherings. The design incorporated gravel pads for circular picnic benches, a sculptured open lawn area for formal gatherings, and extensive use of native plants as well as tropical exotic species planted under canopies of existing Plumeria trees. (This project won the Betty Crocker Landscape Award: Scenic Hawaii, Inc. Award of Honor in the Community Garden category 2007.)

Magoon Research Facility, College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources (CTAHR) Honolulu, HI. 2006.
CTAHR’s vision and mission is to actively educate students and all citizens of Hawaii while fostering a healthy environment. This design integrated both of these ideals by providing a public space where tropical plants and sustainable design come together to provide a hands on learning experience, while providing an aesthetic façade for the Magoon research and instructional facility. A mosaic of tropical planting beds representing both Hawaiian native and exotic tropical plant materials are composed to give students and the public a comprehensive example of the diversity of tropical plants grown in Hawaii. An open pathway design invites people into this landscape where they can experience this tropical vegetation oasis through a self guided tour. Seating nodes are also incorporated to allow for instructional lectures as well as a place to study and contemplate this unique tropical setting. (Under Review)

Hawaii Hall, University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI. 2006.
Hawaii Hall is one of the most historic buildings on the University of Hawaii’s Manoa Campus and has recently undergone extensive renovation. In order to update the existing landscape and compliment the new renovation, this design’s main focus was to first protect the existing palm collection that was surrounded by turf and was being damage by maintenance practices. This was achieved by creating flowing planter beds around the palm collections. Secondly, was to replant time period vegetation that represented Hawaii, as well as reflecting the time period architecture of Hawaii Hall. (This project won the Betty Crocker Landscape Award : Scenic Hawaii, Inc. Award of Appreciation in the Community Garden category 2006.

National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific Visitor Lookout (United States Department of Veteran's Affairs)
Honolulu, HI. 2005.
This landscape design’s intent is to provide an aesthetic and functional public space for the estimated 5 million people a year who visit Punchbowl Cemetery. Specifically, to offer a sense of place which respects not only the current day use of the area but to acknowledge the rich past and provide a Hawaiian sense of place through plants and interpretive amenities. Native Hawaiian plants are used extensively within planting mosaics which reflect waves of the ocean. Shade structures are also included through out the design to allow visitor’s a reprieve from the intense solar conditions generated from the surrounding hardscape. (Accepted and under project revision).

Na Kamalei Discovery Garden. Ko'olauloa Early Education Program. Hau’ula , HI. 2005.
This design was to generate a place where parents and their young children could come to spend time with each other and to learn about the environment and Hawaiian culture. Design elements include: Pizza planter garden, Music garden, Raised vegetable planting beds, Reading garden and Climbing garden. (Accepted and in construction).

Sherman Court Yard, University of Hawaii. Honolulu, HI. 2004.
The main objective in this design was to replace an existing landscape that originally was landscaped with inappropriate plant materials and placement. Over the years, maintenance was not kept up and the courtyard grew into a state of aesthetic and functional disrepair. A concept was developed to use native Hawaiian plants since the courtyard was surrounded by Tropical Plant Sciences and Botany departments. The plantings represented various ecosystems throughout Hawaii, from dry to mesic to wet. (Won the Award of Excellence in the Community Garden category from Scenic Hawaii. Inc. 2005 Betty Crocker Landscape Awards); and Won the Beautification Award in Government Landscaping from The Outdoor Circle, Hawaii Chapter 2006.

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Questions about this site? E-mail Andy Kaufman