Plans are underway for the development of five new cabins at Scouting America, Aloha Council’s Camp Pupukea, designed pro bono by Honolulu-based architecture firm G70.
The local scouting chapter has used the 70-acre hillside property overlooking Oahu’s North Shore for overnight camping and recreation since the early 1960s. Prior to that, the site was a military training camp, according to Blake Parsons, an Eagle Scout who has served as Scout Executive and CEO of Scouting America, Aloha Council, since November 2023.
The camp improvements aim to serve scouts, business and nonprofit organizations and community groups, as well as those seeking refuge during natural disasters.
“This is unlike any other project that we’ve done before,” Parsons told Aloha State Daily. “Most of the types of buildings and projects that we've done have been more utilitarian, and I think this project is meant to appeal to a greater audience than just scouts. And [G70 helped] envision the ability to bring more people to our property and generate revenue to support our mission, which is really commendable.”
He continued, “Our properties are being opened to greater community use year-round. We have all kinds of groups go up there that really want to get out in the great outdoors from scouts to homeschool groups to church and yoga groups.”
The cabin project is part of the Camp Pupukea Master Plan, which was approved by the state Department of Land and Natural Resources in 2014. Still in the planning and design phase, the Aloha Council has secured a permit and completed an Environmental Assessment for improvements to the site, with plans to complete construction by 2028, Parsons said.
On-site amenities, such as the camp’s dining hall, commercial kitchen, swimming pool, chapel, amphitheater and hiking trails, will remain open once construction begins, he noted.
“When the architect met [with us], our parameters were that we wanted something that was going to fit into the conservation use of our property,” Parsons said. “We're trying to disturb the ground as little as possible, using natural woods, yet hardy material. We wanted people to be able to walk into these [cabins] with their boots on, so it’s durable, but still looks and feels nice.
“Maybe shabby chic would be a good description for it,” he said with a laugh.
The new cabins, designed to “maximize airflow and connect the interior directly to the natural surroundings,” will sleep a total of 125 overnight guests, the Aloha Council noted.
The cabin design was selected from an internal competition by G70, which sought to “protect tree roots and avoid ground disturbance through an elevated design,” while also featuring deep overhangs, sliding doors and screened openings for natural airflow and “a strong connection to place,” according to the Aloha Council.
Charles Kaneshiro, G70 chairman, told ASD in emailed responses to questions, “I am most proud that Scouting America wanted to push the envelope on what these cabins could be and embraced the idea a design competition to explore potential solutions. In the past, we had built very functional, low-cost cabins that served its purpose, but this new direction represents our aspirations to create a cabin design that is deeply rooted in place.”
Kaneshiro is an Eagle Scout, Aloha Council board member and member the Aloha Council’s Properties Committee.
“My top priority as a board member is to promote scouting, support fundraising and lend my experience and knowledge to capital projects on our properties,” he said. “The Properties Committee is made up of volunteers from the construction industry including developers, architects, engineers and contractors. We regularly discuss, coordinate and implement projects at all Scouting America properties throughout the state.
When asked what skills as a scout he still uses today, Kaneshiro said, “Many!”
“The Scout law is ingrained in how I try to [be] …Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean and Reverent. As for practical skills, I often use fire starting talents when grilling and knowing how to tie a taut-line hitch comes in very handy.”
Parsons added that funding for construction will come through a capital campaign launching later this year. “We expect this project to be in excess of $5 million, including all the infrastructure work.”
He noted that “there is still some [funds] coming” coming from previous capital campaigns across Aloha Council’s properties statewide, though monies are going toward “mainly finishing up existing projects.”
“We’ve already started discussions with some of our key donors over the years,” Parsons said. “Moving forward, it’ll be filling them in on a solid schedule and budget and showing the value for the scouts, their businesses, local communities, and how this can be something for generations to come. There will likely be naming rights provided for these buildings, as well.”
The Aloha Council has diversified its funding overall through registration fees, scout shop sales, fundraising, property rentals and more, to generate revenue, he said.
“We stretch every dollar and donation that comes to us,” Parsons said. “It means the world to us when someone does donate and we make sure we use it wisely.”
To learn more about or to support the Camp Pupukea project, click here.
Ongoing construction at other camp sites and membership updates
Parsons oversees a team of 20 staff members and thousands of volunteers, managing a multimillion-dollar operating budget and 500 acres of camp properties statewide.
“Weʻre building about a $2.5 million dining hall at Camp Maluhia [on Maui] and replacing five bunkhouse cabins there, and an office and medical lodge,” Parsons said.
At the nonprofit’s Camp Alan Faye, on Kauaʻi near Waimea Canyon, a Trading Post pavilion is being built, thanks to a state grant-in-aid received in 2022, he said, adding that on Hawaiʻi Island, the Aloha Council is currently working on a conservation district use permit and the master plan for Camp Honoka'ia.
When asked how membership is trending, Parsons said, "We’re staying stable at about 4,000 scouts. There’s a lot of activities out there for youth to be apart of, so making sure we’re providing a great experience is what we’re focused on ... ensuring that our camps and properties are high-quality, high-adventure places people want to go see."
"One of the biggest spikes we’ve seen is girls participating in the program," he continued. "This started in 2019 and now 20% of our membership is female. Seeing that type of enthusiasm for the program is amazing. I think it has really opened up a lot of opportunities for us, and down the road, it’ll create even more opportunity for family camping.
Scouting America, Aloha Council will host its annual Distinguished Citizen Dinner on Thursday, Oct. 30, at the Sheraton Waikīkī. This year’s fundraiser with honor Hawai‘i Community Foundation. Individual tickets are available for purchase, with proceeds directly supporting the Aloha Council’s programs serving more than 3,500 youth across Hawaiʻi, Guam and American Samoa. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
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Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
