Living in a Conservation District

Architect Craig Steely doesn’t shy away from residential projects on Hawai‘i island that are off the beaten path. He has designed and worked with contractors on homes built on hardened lava flow terrain, pastureland on a Mauna Kea slope and in a rural Hāmākua Coast town. One of his most recent projects, dubbed “Lavaflow 8,” is situated in a remote section of the State of Hawaii Conservation District south of Hilo.

According to the Department of Land and Natural Resources’ website, access and construction in the state’s Conservation Districts are strictly regulated “to protect and preserve vital natural resources, including watersheds, water supplies, scenic areas, parks, wilderness, beach reserves and habitats for endemic plants, fish and wildlife.”

Steely says the owners of this off-grid home respect the environment and chose its location aware of the conditions that come with living in the area. Special care was taken by a local botanist to identify endemic and indigenous plants on the property. Invasive species like autograph trees and ironwood trees were removed, while endangered Ischaemum plants were handled protectively. Additions of hala trees, naupaka shrubs and ama‘u ferns serve as natural barriers between the ocean’s spray and the residence.

“The owners loved the wildness of the site — the intense ocean, sky and clouds,” Steely says. “We made them aware early on that the intensity of the weather and nature is extreme there. There is constant upkeep and maintenance. It’s more like owning a boat than a house.”

“Lavaflow 8, like most of the houses I design, are simple houses that focus on experiencing the beauty and power of these amazing and wild sites,” he adds.

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This story appears in the March/April 2026 print issue of Ku‘u Home magazine.