I am running because I believe that gratitude is not an emotion but rather an action.  The AIA has been a foundation of not just my career as an architect but also in my community's time of greatest need.  After the disaster and tragedy of the 2023 Maui fires, the AIA was the first to provide support and guidance to help us recover.  I never envisioned this as a way to repay my gratitude and provide that foundation for others but when I was recently asked to consider running I became invigorated and excited about architecture more than I have in years.  Knowing that through this process I will get to build relationships and learn from others as well as share my experience and elevate our conversation about how architects can design the solutions that humanity needs.  We have to tackle the existential crisis our society faces from housing affordability, sustainability, resiliency and climate change.  By doing so we will demand more value and recapture our position in our communities as essential change agents for the world. 

For ten years, I have been the principal of a very unique architecture practice that has been honing our climate-responsive and economical design solutions, and we have been able to remain profitable and build a mid-sized firm that supports young architects.  In 2020, Hawaii Off-Grid Architecture and Engineering was the first architecture firm in the world to commit to all new buildings we design being net-zero at a minimum.  We have been providing clients with solutions that not only solve problems of accessibility to infrastructure but also save them hundreds of thousands of dollars over the last decade, while at the same time increasing acumen in integrating technology and sustainability.   Energy prices have increased 38% since 2020, while renewables have dropped more than 50% in that same time.  Today, more architects than ever have solutions that work across climate zones to cut carbon emissions and create profit while doing so.  

Feel free to e mail me directly at david@hioffgrid.com or schedule a call with me via Calendly

AIA should help architects stay ahead of rapidly changing climate conditions by providing education, research, and advocacy that support high-performance and climate-responsive design. I believe our profession can move beyond net-zero and toward regenerative, carbon-positive approaches that contribute positively to the environment.

Architects bring design thinking, technical expertise, and community understanding to housing solutions. By working alongside policymakers, developers, and communities, we can help create housing that is attainable, durable, and rooted in local needs. Addressing housing affordability is both a social responsibility and an opportunity for the profession to lead.

It means communities thrive when they are prepared. It means architects succeed when their work delivers lasting value. And it means our profession grows stronger when we step forward to help solve the challenges that shape people’s lives.