Bank of Hawaii Executive Office Honolulu, Hawaii

I opened a shop in downtown Honolulu in 1988 and ran it until 1996. During that time, there was a very strong economic base in Japan, and Japanese individuals and businesses were seeking to invest in Hawaii. This was due in part to the deep kinship relationships that had evolved since Asians first came to work in Hawaii during the plantation era of the 19th century. Hawaii is also a favored vacation spot for the Japanese.

As designers and others in the trades came to realize the quality of craftsmanship in our shop, we began to bid on jobs for some of the top businesses, hotels and residences in the islands. We kept the most interesting work, and directed some to other woodworking shops in Kaaka'ako. This job was one we did in the early 1990s.

The plans called for a large video-conferencing screen to be a central element of the space, as the isolated nature of the island community mandates communication through advanced technology. Koa-framed casework frames the screen in an octagonal arrangement, with veneering of ash burl on the façade of the upper and lower drawers and doors. All edge detailing and handles are made of solid koa wood.

The pedestal-base executive desk repeats the octagonal form of the room, using curly koa ash burl veneer, as in the wall cases.