Moanalua Gardens is an inspired place. Unlike the more popular Instagram-worthy tourist destinations in Hawaii, Moanalua Gardens lies on the backside of the infamous and instafamous Stairway to Heaven Trail. The gardens capture a history and preservation not immediately obvious to its visitors. Its story is complex and challenges the very notion of the “tourist destination”. 

In this studio, we will research how the garden captures the essence of its history and preservation to offer a new take on the tourist destination. We will uncover hidden stories, sites, and histories of this sacred site to inform the way tell the other side of lost narratives. Following site visits, interviews and analysis, each team will design and execute “storytelling methods” that engage with visitors in a unique and interactive way. We will reveal something about the former and make connections to the current as the Un-Tourists of Hawaii. 

Before you start this test, follow the instructions here: Installing Arduino

GloFlo is designed for overtaxed people to manage stress and improve focus by encouraging them to take a moment to relax their minds. The soothing white light energizes the mind and helps the user focus. The lamp consists of lights on the end of eight arms that move up and down. The mechanism is controlled by the users hands in proximity of the sensors on the device. As you move your hands closer to the sensor the lights move up and if you move them farther away the lights move down. If you remove your hand from the sensor entirely the lights move back to their original state in the upwards position. An Arduino inside the base relays information from the ultrasonic distance sensor to the servo which moves a certain number of degrees depending on the distance measured from the sensor to the moving hand. The servo spools up string that attaches to each of the arms, which then pivot on the y-axis in unison. The lights, which are always powered on while the device is plugged in, are attached to the end of each arm. The meditative motions conducted by the user in combination with the soft white lights will serve asa helpful way to reach a calm and relaxed state of mind.