{"id":215271,"date":"2025-05-06T14:57:56","date_gmt":"2025-05-07T00:57:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/?p=215271"},"modified":"2025-05-06T18:52:52","modified_gmt":"2025-05-07T04:52:52","slug":"42nd-annual-sandcastle-esquisse","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.hawaii.edu\/news\/2025\/05\/06\/42nd-annual-sandcastle-esquisse\/","title":{"rendered":"Architecture students get creative, Island Style, at 42nd sandcastle competition"},"content":{"rendered":"
Reading time: <\/span> 2<\/span> minutes<\/span><\/span>[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text css=””]
\"architecture
Students pose with their creative rendition of Te Fiti from Moana<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p>\n

Kailua Beach became a creative playground on April 26 as students from the University of Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> at M\u0101noa School of Architecture<\/a> gathered for the 42nd annual Sandcastle Esquisse\u2014a long-standing tradition that blends design, teamwork and island fun.<\/p>\n

\"rubberHeld each spring, the event invites students from all year levels to form teams and build sand sculptures based on a theme. This year\u2019s theme, Island Style<\/em>, encouraged participants to reflect on what makes life in Hawai\u02bbi<\/span> special and express it through temporary works of art.<\/p>\n

\u201cSandcastle Esquisse allows students to celebrate design in a creative, collaborative, and competitive way,\u201d said student Tiana Mangrobang, event organizer with the American Institute of Architecture Students chapter. \u201cIt\u2019s a rare chance to gather students, faculty, and firms in a laid-back setting and experiment with architectural ideas outside the studio.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat makes this event so special is how naturally it reflects the spirit of our design community\u2014collaborative, creative and full of energy,\u201d said Associate Professor Lance Walters. \u201cIt brings students together in a shared experience that\u2019s playful on the surface but deeply rooted in the diverse values of design.\u201d<\/p>\n

Students are given limited time and materials, challenging them to think critically, act quickly, and work closely as a team\u2014skills essential to their future careers. Local architecture firms also joined as both competitors and mentors, bringing a supportive energy that inspires students to push their creativity.<\/p>\n

\u2018Simply being together outside\u2019<\/h2>\n

Freshman Talia Seslar said the best part was simply being outside with classmates. Her team took a creative approach to the theme, sculpting Te Fiti from Moana<\/em>. \u201cThough fictional, she represents real Polynesian cultural concepts. It was a fun way to interpret a broad theme,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

40+ years of design fun<\/h2>\n

\"people<\/p>\n

Judges evaluated each sculpture on creativity, craftsmanship, interpretation of the theme and overall impact.<\/p>\n

What began as a small gathering more than four decades ago has grown into a signature event for students, alumni, and professionals\u2014while still celebrating storytelling, place-making, and the power of design.<\/p>\n

\u201cArchitecture isn\u2019t just about buildings,\u201d said Mangrobang. \u201cIt\u2019s also about connection. We hope to see even more participation next year!\u201d<\/p>\n[\/vc_column_text][\/vc_column][\/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_masonry_media_grid element_width=”3″ css=”” grid_id=”vc_gid:1746579308519-fffda9ad-2019-6″ include=”215188,215180,215187,215184,215183,215181,215185,215179,215178,215176″][\/vc_column][\/vc_row]\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

UH<\/abbr> architecture students shaped sand into creative expressions of island life at the 42nd Sandcastle Esquisse.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":215182,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[25],"tags":[240,239,9],"class_list":["post-215271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-academic-news","tag-architecture","tag-school-of-architecture","tag-uh-manoa","entry","has-media"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t