As architects, we have a responsibility to our island neighborhoods. We have studied, trained and, over time, developed a unique skill set that combines art, science and technology. We celebrate all these things during April’s Architecture Month events, many of which are free to the public.

Architects affect our world most through the profound influence of design to shape our community. They wield that power for the common good by:

» Designing and ensuring the construction of buildings that reduce our carbon footprint;

» Reducing the amount of building and construction waste in our landfill;

» Working on forward-thinking mass transit design.

Architecture is more than just buildings. It’s about the past, present and future. It’s about energy and people. And it’s about the excitement of the possible.

As a community, we need to recognize the profound influence of design on our common perceptions of Hawaii. Design shapes communities on many levels, whether we are conscious of its impact or not.

Everything we touch, everything we see in the built environment is a product of the design process. Plazas, public spaces, even things considered natural like parks and landscaping, are intentionally designed. These spaces define our community and shape our public perceptions.

Think of how joyous a simple family outing to a park is, in which you spread out a big mat for a picnic and let the kids run around in all the wide open green, grassy space. That space is there by design.

Someone once said that we get the government we deserve. This is also true of our buildings, parks, roads, mass transit facilities, agricultural land and so on. We get what we deserve.

The intrinsic beauty of Hawaii is the foundation from which architects ply their craft. Beyond a mere creative process, we must factor in that in Hawaii, buildings consume 64 percent of electricity produced, or 25 percent of all energy consumed. Transportation consumes approximately 50 percent.

New projects must draw their energy from Hawaiian Electric Co., H-POWER and renewable energy sources. Projects are designed with a mind toward minimizing their energy-consumption impacts. With construction waste and detritus from demolition making up 40 percent of landfill materials, many projects are now built with an eye toward reclaiming previously cast-off materials.

The state’s clean energy initiative toward 70 percent clean energy consumption by 2030 will also have an impact on Hawaii’s built environment.

AIA Honolulu has a 154-year history of meeting Hawaii’s design needs, which we celebrate during Architecture Month throughout April.

AIA Honolulu invites you to go to aiahonolulu.org online to sign up for events to attend with your family.