Hawaiʻi Technology Academy (HTA), a public charter school, established its Lahaina campus after the 2023 Maui wildfires to give local keiki a caring, supportive place to learn. SSA was brought on in June 2026 to design the landscape for the school's temporary transitional campus while its permanent facility is completed. Construction had to be finished by the start of school in August. With so little time, the project ran almost as design-build. SSA worked closely and in real time with the owner, project management team, architect, general contractor, and landscape contractor, often settling design decisions in the field.
Working within the existing buildings, paving, and hardscape, SSA programmed the site to maximize outdoor space for students and provide as much shade as possible. SSA sourced large field-stock trees so the shade would begin to fill in rapidly. Native trees and plants were used wherever possible to support native plant education and stewardship. The palette also includes lei-making species, plants that attract butterflies, and fruit trees, so children can pick flowers, make lei, and learn to care for and harvest fruit. SSA refined site circulation to work within ADA accessibility and emergency vehicle access requirements while preserving open lawn for picnic tables and future shade and play structures. Existing trees, boulders, and donated plants were worked into the design, with boulders reused for seating and climbing. Screening was added where views or access needed to be limited.
The campus opened on schedule, and the school was very pleased with both SSA's responsiveness and the new outdoor spaces for its students.