Annual Report 2009-2010
UHM Landscape Advisory Committee
Krauss Hall courtyard
University of Hawaiʹi at Mānoa Landscape Advisory Committee
Annual Report – July 2009 – June 2010
www.hawaii.edu/bgm/landscaping/
LAC Mission Statement
The impression created by a university campus has a powerful effect on students, faculty,
staff and visitors. Properly maintained, a university campus is much more than just the buildings
and their rooms: it is also the functional and aesthetic organization of outdoor spaces and all
they include. Properly maintained, the campus landscape and its associated amenities become
the fabric that holds the buildings together and makes the campus's powerful impression a
positive one. Without a strong advocate for the quality and maintenance of its landscape, an
urban campus such as the University of Hawaii at Manoa loses green open space as well as trees
and becomes cluttered with ad hoc utility installations, unauthorized projects and guerilla sales
tables, and unkempt construction sites.
The Landscape Advisory Committee has been a strong advocate for the University of
Hawaii Manoa campus since 1996 by promoting an attractive, appropriate, and sustainable
campus environment with a Hawaiian sense of place that encourages and fosters positive
academic and social interactions These positive interactions include assuring the long-term
health of plants on campus, assisting with the timely maintenance of all landscape features and
providing opportunity for members of the campus community to propose landscape
improvements. Moreover, the Landscape Advisory Committee looks to the future by advocating
landscape practices that are water and energy efficient, the perpetuation and expansion of the
green landscape environment through tree canopy, shrubs and ground cover plantings, and the
development of an attractive and functional walkway system, with opportunities to sit down, all
of which will continue to help foster positive academic and social interactions on the University
of Hawaii Manoa campus.
The Committee was formed in 1994 by the Vice President for Academic Affairs to assist
the Landscaping Office. It has also long assisted Campus Planning, and it currently provides
reports to the Assistant Vice-Chancellors for Campus Services (David Hafner) and Financial &
Physical management (Eric Crispin) and other committees under their direction.
Committee composition during 2009-2010
Janet Gillmar (Architecture) Chair
Andrew Kaufman (TPSS) Vice-chair
Richard Criley (TPSS) Recorder
Roxanne Adams (B&G)
Orville Baldos (TPSS, graduate student rep.)
Jim Caron (English) (resigned)
Adam Williams (Botany, undergrad rep.)
Edw. Hiapo Cashman (Hawaiian Studies)
Laura Ruby (Art)
John Stimson (Zoology)
Michael Thomas (Botany)
Eric Crispin (Asst. V-Chancellor
for Financial & Physical
Management)
The Landscape Committee met 9 times during the period to receive and review reports,
provide advice, and initiate actions on a variety of projects and policies impacting the landscape
of the Manoa campus of the University of Hawaii.
PRINCIPAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Landscape Equipment
LAC supported the acquisition of a bucket truck and street sweeper. These were received during
this period.
Ficus benjamina comosa petition
Adam Williams, the undergraduate representative on LAC, generated a petition to save the Ficus
benjamina comosa tree that was due to be removed to make room for a recreation complex to be
added to the Campus Center. While garnering 1900 signatures (including an online petition) to
save the tree, the effort was unsuccessful. Replacements were propagated to be installed at some
other site on campus.
Memorial Trees
The Joyce Watson Memorial Tree was reinstalled on the Maile Way side of Hamilton Library
following completion of renovations. A memorial plaque (10/20/2009) was installed for UHM
Planner and LAC member, Wallace Gretz, at a monkey pod tree on the Dole Street side of
Andrews Amphitheater. Plaques were installed for Vincent Pollard (tabebuia near Moore Hall)
and Vincent Defeo (Kukui on East-West Road side of BioMed). Rocks and a plaque were to be
installed for the Holoholo Memorial.
Arbor Day (November 2009)
Trees from the UHM Grounds nursery were transplanted to Metcalf Field behind the University
Lab School
Earth Day (April 25, 2010)
With the support of the UHM Grounds crew and numerous campus and community volunteers,
trees and ground cover plants were installed on the Makai side of the swimming pool complex.
POLICY PROPOSALS
LAC reviewed a proposal on an Integrated Landscape Master Plan offered by Janet Gillmar.
LAC approved two policy proposals on a Tree Care Plan and Tree Canopy Preservation.
REVIEWS and ADVICE
Campus Center Recreation Center
Through the efforts of Janet Gillmar who assumed some of the planning duties following Mr.
Gretz death, the LAC provided advice on relocation of utilities, Legacy walkway, ADA
accessibility, trees (breadfruits in the old engineering quad), parking, fire hydrant and fire access,
as well as on the loss of the old banyan.
Adopt-a-Landscape projects
LAC received requests and provided advice for projects at the Energy House and BioMed
courtyard B. Discussion was held on the value of the program and whether it should be
discontinued, renamed, or revised. No decision was made. Forms are available online to request
such projects.
Campus sites
Renovations to Bekesy lab will necessitate replacing part of the landscape. LAC advice was
sought on suitable replacements. LAC advised against donation of a Confucius sculpture with
placement in a prominent site. A concrete berm to prevent water from entering Edmondson Hall
replaced a boat holding area but has become a skateboard ramp. Fencing was advised.
Relocation of a rainbow shower tree and the Bumpei Akaji sculpture were approved, with the
sculpture to return following completion of C-More Laboratories. Renovation of McCarthy
Mall was deferred pending reconstruction of Edmondson Hall and receipt of a proposed
Landscape Master Plan. Reconstruction of Gartley Hall has meant the relocation of trees and a
proposal to site new trees, possibly in the quad fronting Architecture. Hamilton Plaza has been
proposed for a facelift and LAC advised on suggestions such as removal of the wall between the
library and Paradise Palms café, construction of a pavilion in the olive terrace, changes in the
stairs from McCarthy Mall, and relocation of bicycle parking. A proposal to replace the aged
Henke Hall complex with a new classroom/auditorium complex was debated as the site had also
been considered for a campus park. Projection of the auditorium into McCarthy Mall line-ofsight was received negatively. LAC toured the site to determine what plantings would be
threatened and recommended retention of the large Gold Tree (Tabebuia donnell-smithii). The
new Information Technology Center on Correa Road elicited much discussion as landscaping
was not included in the original budget and UH would have to provide it. LAC had impacts on
relocation of trees and the pathway between the site and Physical Sciences building. Hawaiian
Studies requested comments on a structure for their Kanewai Loi, and LAC offered advice on the
project to a student design team and on proposed ADA access to the site.
While no decisions were reached on the renovation of the Krauss Hall and John Young ponds
which have been deteriorating for years, LAC urged the adoption of the site by a volunteer
group. With Outreach College gone (they helped with maintenance), UHM Grounds has had to
assume care, but they are stretched for funds and persons to look after the historic site. The
Sinclair Grove (trees originally established by Joseph Rock near Sinclair Library) and the Joseph
Rock Palm Collection at Hawaii Hall are both in a state of limbo, the former for lack of irrigation
to support installation of new trees and the latter for funds to support acquisition of new palms. A
charrette by Architecture students for a new landscape design adjacent to Campus Road near
Sinclair Library was held, but no designs were approved.
The proposal by LAC to change the name from Varsity Gate to Mo’ili’ili Gateway was moved
forward in the System in spring 2010.
Hawaii Hall Frescoes
The deployment of a series of frescoes were discussed at length during the year. Clean-up,
framing, and ultimate site of placement were subjects of discussion. Ultimately they were placed
in Hawaii Hall.
Bikeways and pedestrian pathways
LAC was asked to advise on efforts to guide bicycles off the sidewalks and protect pedestrians.
This will become part of a landscaping master plan. LAC provided a stencil design for
placement on sidewalks, but another campus body provided an alternate design which was
applied to sidewalks to indicate bicycle dismount zones.
Landscape Advisory Committee website
Access to the website was lost following Dr. Bridge’s retirement and efforts to regain access
were made by Dr. Thomas. The website was to be updated to include annual reports and other
actions by the LAC as well as provide a repository for memorial tree designations and other
historical information on the campus landscape.
There many other issues that came before LAC that were not settled during this period.
Respectfully submitted,