hit enter to search
One Big Home
2018

Honolulu Museum of Art Honolulu, HI

moderated by

Catherine Cruz

Co-host of Hawaii Public Radio's The Conversation

with

Trevor Ozawa

Council Member, Honolulu City Council District IV

and

Dean Sakamoto

Dean Sakamoto Archtects LLC, SHADES Group

and

Tyler Dos Santos-Tam

Hawaiʻi Construction Alliance

and

Paul Brewbaker

TZ Economics

and

Thomas Bena

Director, ONE BIG HOME

One Big Home— They paved paradise: Debating mega-mansions in Hawai'i

What are the social, political, and applied science implications of the issues of monster homes in Hawaii? In light of the recent legislation that was introduced in Hawaii to limit monster homes, how do we better understand the many factors that cause housing issues in our community?A discussion about urban planning, architecture, gentrification, and monster homes in Hawai'i, moderated by Catherine Cruz, co-host of Hawaii Public Radio's The Conversation.

Special thanks to community partners Mālama Mānoa and HI Good Neighbor.

Honolulu Museum of Art Honolulu, HI

Film Synopsis

A carpenter on Martha's Vineyard takes off his tool belt and picks up a camera to document—and fight—the incursion of massive seasonal homes that is changing the face of his island.

Gentrification comes in many forms. On the tiny island of Martha’s Vineyard, where presidents and celebrities vacation, trophy homes threaten to destroy the island’s unique character.

Twelve years in the making, One Big Home follows one carpenter’s journey to understand the trend toward giant houses. When he feels complicit in wrecking the place he calls home, he hangs up his tool belt and picks up a camera. Bumping up against angry homeowners and builders, he works with his community and attempts to pass a new bylaw to limit house size.


About the Speaker

Thomas Bena, filmmaker