From the left, APCSS Director, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Leaf, U.S. Senator to Hawaii, Daniel Inouye, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Samuel Locklear, and Chief of Staff for the Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, Peter Verga, untie a Hawaiian maile during the opening ceremony of Maluhia Hall at the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies August 24, 2012 in Honolulu. Maluhia Hall provides the Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies more than 10,000 sq.ft. of additional classroom space. The new facility will be come home for the next generation of Asia-Pacific security professionals attending APCSS executive educations programs focused on security cooperation.
The Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies celebrated the official opening of Maluhia Hall, a new state-of-the-art learning center today. The $11.4 million learning center brings more than 10,000 sq ft of additional classroom space to support U.S. Department of Defense’ security cooperation and executive education programs.
According to APCSS Director, retired U.S. Air Force Lt. Gen. Dan Leaf, “the building is designed for education. In addition to the extra capacity for courses and workshops, the building itself is engineered with improved acoustics and Information Technology connectivity to support the programs. It is also built to be sustainable which is very important to our community.”
U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (Honolulu District) awarded the $11.4 million contract to Sumo-Nan JV II LLC, an 8(a) small business, in August 2010. Upon final completion, Maluhia Hall is projected to attain a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ‘Gold’ rating. Sustainability has been successfully integrated throughout the building design phase and construction process.
The ceremony was attended by about 300 guests including 73 members of the current course in session. The Comprehensive Crisis Management course includes Fellows from 34 different countries throughout the region.
Guest speakers at the ceremony were: U.S. Senator Daniel Inouye; Admiral Harry B. Harris, Jr., U.S. Pacific Command; Mr. Peter F. Verga representing the Office of the Secretary of Defense for Policy; and, APCSS Director Lt. Gen. (Ret) Dan Leaf.
Senator Inouye, who is considered one of the founders of the Center, reminisced about participating in a similar ceremony to dedicate the main Asia-Pacific Center for Security Studies building almost 12 years ago to this day. His speech then still resonates today emphasizing the need for building a regional “Ohana,” with “Aloha” to achieve “Ho’o pono pono” meaning reconciliation or to make things right.
The new Maluhia Hall bridges the past with the future: Its name “Maluhia” which means a haven of rest and peace is inspired by a World War II rest and recreation facility used to bring soldiers together during time of war, its artwork and landscape complements Hawaii’s unique environment and culture, and its design hails the future as a model of technology and sustainability.
Since 1995, more than 13,000 course alumni and workshop participants from 104 countries have benefited from this U.S. Department of Defense institute. The new wing will provide additional classroom space to support the professional development of future security cooperation professionals.
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More Info on LEED Gold rating:
Maluhia Hall is projected to attain a U.S. Green Building Council Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) ‘Gold’ rating. Sustainability has been successfully integrated throughout the building design phase and construction process. This integration and consciousness is reflected in practically every design aspect: energy (over a 30% reduction in energy budget, incorporating a follow-on photo voltaic system), water (high efficiency fixtures), maintenance (ease and lower impact on the environment), materials (renewable, sustainable, and recycled materials), and landscaping (xeriscaping, ethno-botanical garden with native and indigenous plants).
Link to Maluhia Hall Fact Sheet
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The newly constructed infrastructure together with modern and innovative learning arrangements, I guess, increase the APCSS’s capacity to deliver more quality learning platform for increased no. of participants. Thus, it may equally be possible to cater more incumbents to accommodate in the same session without compromising for learning facilities than ever before. With these points in mind, will APCSS increase the intake per session for this year on?
Aloha! In answer to your question – yes, it gives us more capacity and it provides a facility that was built with education in mind (as opposed to a converted warehouse). However, the number of Fellows we have coming through our doors will still depend on the budget that we received.
r/Mary