The Daniel Kahikina Akaka State Veterans Home is a 120-bed skilled nursing facility located in Honolulu on the island of O‘ahu. Situated on a compact 6-acre rectangular parcel approximately three miles west of Pearl Harbor, the site offers sweeping views of the mountains to the north and the Pacific Ocean to the south. This prominent location not only provides a serene environment for residents but also honors the significance of Hawaii’s veterans with a thoughtfully positioned facility.

Given the site’s limited size, the design embraces a two-story solution to maximize the available footprint. Each floor features four 15-bed small house wings, providing a total of eight households. The community center is strategically stacked over two levels to enhance operational efficiency and minimize staff travel distances. Architecturally, the building draws inspiration from historic Hawaiian sugar mills, incorporating a residential softness into the industrial vernacular to create a warm, welcoming, and contextually appropriate environment for residents.

Each of the 120 private resident rooms is housed within one of the eight households, each complete with a dining area, household servery, garden lanai, living room, quiet room, and a dedicated caregiver workspace. Natural light is a key feature throughout the home, achieved through extensive glazing and clerestory windows. The centrally located community center supports over 20 staff offices, a full-service commercial kitchen, laundry and pharmacy facilities, four canteens, support spaces, large balconies to capture the stunning views, and four staff break areas—ensuring a highly functional and comfortable environment for both residents and caregivers.