Saturday Briefing

By Eric Masutomi

Since its opening in April 2006, Waikiki Beach Walk has been the recipient of an impressive array of local, national, and international design and development awards. The latest accolade came on August 25, when the Hawaii Chapter of the American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) presented Outrigger Enterprises Group and its landscape architectural consultant, Walters, Kimura, Motoda, Inc., its prestigious 2009 Award of Excellence for General Design.

David Carey, Mel Kaneshige, and I were honored to accept the award as guests of Janine Mori of Walters, Kimura, Motoda, Inc., at the ASLA’s gala Professional Awards Dinner at Waikiki Yacht Club. The ASLA awards, given every three years, recognize the best in landscape architecture for design, planning and analysis, and communications.

Eric Masutomi; Janine Mori, Walters, Kimura, Motoda, Inc.; Mel Kaneshige; and Chris Dacus, President, ASLA Hawaii

In a pleasant surprise, the award was presented by current ASLA Hawaii president Chris Dacus, who many in our Outrigger ‘ohana will remember from his days as a member of Outrigger’s Marketing department. Waikiki Beach Walk was chosen by a juried panel from among 24 entries, the largest number of nominees in the history of the chapter’s awards program. In his introductory remarks, Chris stated, “The jury was drawn to honor projects that had transformational qualities; landscapes and plans that changed the community not just through design, but by providing sensitive, creative and sustainable environmental design solutions.” In selecting Waikiki Beach Walk, the judges noted, “What a great direction Waikiki has taken; a heartily done project.  Tourists as well as local residents should be proud of this accomplishment and direction.”

This recognition by the ASLA is particularly meaningful as it validates Outrigger’s desire from the outset to create, in Waikiki Beach Walk, a place that is uniquely “Hawaii,” through extensive use of indigenous plants and tropical materials, a design evocative of Waikiki, and expansive open spaces and water features that will welcome and delight residents and visitors for years to come. Congratulations and mahalo to Walters, Kimura, Motoda, Inc., for its seminal role in helping us achieve this vision.