DTL is a Hawaiian
Strategy Studio
As a native Hawaiian owned and operated firm, it’s in our DNA to celebrate and elevate our host culture....
This year as we celebrate our 5th anniversary we reflect back on all the things we've done.
We’ve never heard of a Hawaiian Strategy Studio either…
…but we felt Hawai‘i needed one. DTL (detail) is a multidisciplinary studio that helps businesses, governments, organizations, and communities navigate change. Our unique approach, moves clients from where they are to where they need to be.
We’ve built a respected reputation within our community as a creative interpreter of culture through planning and design. Our deep understanding and knowledge of Hawai‘i’s sensibilities and sensitivities has resulted in successfully facilitating dialogs, bridging perspectives and developing appropriate collaborative solutions to both challenging issues and exciting opportunities within our community.
OUR CLIENTS
KŌKUA
DTL is committed to our community and culture and giving back through in-kind kōkua. 20 percent of our time is spent providing in-kind kōkua to support projects, non-profits and causes that champion the community and culture.
Our process + services
We frame our practice within a Hawaiian sense of place, because to know a place is to know its environment, its people, and its culture across time. Place sits at the intersection of Hawai‘i’s past and future, the physical and the cultural. Understanding it gives way to opportunities, obstacles, and points of convergence. We know that with each client, the best way forward is a matter of orientation — where you come from, where you are, and where you’re going. If strategy is a process of repositioning, we believe that success requires the alignment of a client’s genealogy, journey, stories and values.
OUR PROCESS IS CENTERED IN OUR CULTURAL METHODOLOGY
GENEALOGY
We begin every project as close as we can get to its source, and through cultural and historical research, we trace its lineage, origin to outcome.
STORIES
Navigation is both science and art, and we bring a diverse network of expertise to ensure the utilization of both. Listening to the stories of a place and its people shows you the way forward.
JOURNEYS
From visuals and messaging to presentation and promotion, we deliver the story of a future that you and your stakeholders tell together.
VALUES
We help you know your values so you can better share them through what you create. Hawai‘i is a complex place to do business, and in order to embrace change, you must know why you excel.
OUR SERVICES
STRATEGY
Positioning
Training
Coaching
Executive Placement
Entitlements
PLANNING
Community Engagement
Cultural Integration
Placemaking
Events
Cultural Programming
DESIGN
Branding
Graphic Design
Content Development
Web/Mobile Development
Environmental Graphics
COMMUNICATIONS
Public Relations
Crisis Management
Media Relations & Training
Social Media
Translations
STRATEGIC PARTNERS
Featured Work
Let’s Talk Story
725 Kapi‘olani Blvd, 4th Floor
Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813
(808) 593-3048
@dtlhawaii
Celebrated every Tuesday after Thanksgiving, Giving Tuesday is a global call to take action and make a difference. This time serves as an opportunity to reflect on the impact of giving—through donations, volunteering, or amplifying the work of organizations uplifting our communities.
Here are a few local nonprofits creating meaningful change across Hawaiʻi:
🌱 @hookuaaina – Utilizing kalo farming as a tool for cultural, environmental, and personal healing
👶@kalauokekahuli – Supporting families with culturally-rooted prenatal and postpartum care
🌍 @lelealohaofficial – Honors Hawai‘i’s rich genealogy for ‘ohana; protecting land, ocean, water resources, and building healthy communities beginning with Lahaina
💛 @lunalilohome – Providing compassionate care for kūpuna
🌊 @nakamakai – Empowering keiki to be ocean stewards and mālama ʻāina
🎨 @paifoundation – Preserving Native Hawaiian arts and traditions for future generations
🌿 @papahanakuaola – Restoring ecosystems and educating through cultural practices
#dtl#dtlhawaii #hawaii #supportlocal #shoplocalhawaii #givingtuesday
#DTLProjectHighlight ~ In 2016, DTL partnered with Kamehameha Schools to establish Hālau ‘Īnana, a collaborative space designed to foster leadership, creativity, and educational opportunities for the lāhui. This forward-thinking initiative blends kūpuna wisdom with horizon technologies, reimagining education and career pathways to empower the next generation of Native Hawaiian leaders.
Hālau ‘Īnana serves as a hub for students to connect, engage, and transition from high school to careers, with programs focusing on leadership development, social entrepreneurship, and innovation. By supporting knowledge creation, resource sharing, and innovation incubation, it creates a space where education, culture, and commerce thrive in harmony.
As Lead Partner, DTL played a pivotal role in shaping the vision and delivering culturally rooted, forward-thinking programming to enhance post-secondary success.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #strategy #planning #design #culture #community #hawaii #hawaiianculture #kamehamehaschools #halauinana
While Thanksgiving feasts are being held today, our DTL ʻohana has chosen to focus on celebrating Lā Kūʻokoʻa, Hawaiian Independence Day, honored every year on November 28th.
This day marks Hawaiʻi`s recognition as an independent nation in 1843, thanks to the efforts of Timoteo Haʻalilio, William Richards, and George Simpson. It is a celebration of identity, aloha ʻāina, and the resilience of the Hawaiian people.
By celebrating Lā Kūʻokoʻa, we honor the significance of Hawaiian sovereignty and the continued efforts of our Native Hawaiian community to protect our lands, traditions, and rights. As an organization, we will continue to do our part to preserve our culture, and advocate and uplift Native Hawaiian communities.
♥️ Raise your banners Hae - Aloha Lā Kūʻokoʻa kākou!
#dtl #dtlhawaii #lakuokoa #independenceday #hawaiianindependenceday #haehawaii #alohaaina #hawaiianhistory
As the holiday season approaches, we encourage you and your ʻohana to shop and support local. This weekend, explore a variety of markets and craft fairs filled with unique, handmade items, delicious treats, and thoughtful gifts crafted right here in our community.
Which market will you be visiting?👇
#dtl #dtlhawaii #hawaii #shoplocal #supportlocal #shoplocalhawaii #smallbusinesses
#DTLProjectHighlight ~ The Live Aloha Hawaiian Cultural Festival celebrates and promotes Hawaiian culture in the Pacific Northwest, offering a free, family-friendly event that connects the community with the arts and traditions of Hawaiʻi. This festival responds to the growing number of Native Hawaiians relocating to the continental U.S. due to economic challenges in Hawaiʻi, including high living costs and limited job opportunities.
With over 15,000 attendees annually, the festival features two stages of entertainment, 70+ vendors, and cultural workshops. It serves as a "home away from home" for Hawaiians in the PNW, fostering a deeper connection to their heritage and preserving their cultural roots.
In 2019, DTL proudly contributed to the festival’s success by helping manage production, vendors, entertainment, sponsorships, and social media efforts.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #strategy #planning #design #culture #community #hawaii #hawaiianculture #seattle #livealoha
November 19th is National Entrepreneurs Day, a reminder to uplift the small businesses that shape our communities. By supporting local, you invest in our lāhui, preserving culture, creating jobs, and keeping Hawaiʻi’s economy strong. Here are a few to check out:
🧘🏽♀️ @kumanaactive: Founded by Kawehi Leon Guerrero, this eco-friendly brand promotes healthy lifestyles and sustainability with activewear made from recycled ocean materials.
🌱 @polipolifarms: Lehia Apana and Brad Bayless grow indigenous and Polynesian canoe crops using ancestral knowledge and sustainable farming practices to support ecosystems.
👚 @puahinahawaii: Started by Loui and Fumi Cabebe and now owned by Kūpaoa musicians Kellen and Līhau Paik, this Kauaʻi-based brand celebrates Hawaiian flora with timeless, elegant fashions.
🧩 @surfshackpuzzles: Mahina Tuteur and her family create marine-themed puzzles featuring work by wāhine artists, crafted from 100% recycled materials, with proceeds supporting ocean conservation.
📚 @shopmoohawaii: Kailee Freitas and her ʻohana design school supplies to immerse keiki in Hawaiian culture and values, making it part of everyday life.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #hawaii #shoplocal #supportlocal #shoplocalhawaii #smallbusinesses
#DTLProjectHighlight ~ Turtle Bay Resort is located in the moku of Ko‘olauloa along O‘ahu’s northeastern coast. The moku, which stretches from Waimea to Ka‘a‘awa, was abundant with good soil well-watered by mountain streams.
A string of settlements hugged the coast, sandwiched between well-stocked bays, reefs, and rich, productive valleys. Legends of Kahuku speak of it as a once-floating island, famous for hala groves that sheltered its people in this windy northern corner of the island.
In an effort to honor and revitalize this heritage, Turtle Bay Resort underwent an extensive redesign of its 410 guestrooms, public spaces, food and beverage outlets, and pool areas in 2021.
Working with WCIT Architecture, DTL contributed in-depth cultural research to inform land planning and programming. DTL also developed a comprehensive Cultural & Historic Report, facilitated community outreach, and coordinated messaging. The project culminated in updates that reflect the region’s identity, completed with community support and a shared vision for the future of this storied land.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #strategy #planning #design #culture #community #hawaii #wahipana #hawaiianculture #hawaiianhistory #kuilima #kuilimapoint #turtlebay #turtlebayresort #northshore #northshoreoahu
Aloha Lā Hānau e ka mōʻī ʻo David Kalākaua! He was born on November 16, 1836, to Chief Caesar Kapaʻakea and Chiefess Analea Keohokāole near Pūowaina (Punchbowl).
During a time when Hawaiian traditions were in decline, Kalākaua was determined to revive the culture and restore pride among his people. His guiding motto, “Hoʻoulu Lāhui,” meaning to increase the nation, reflected his vision for the future.
Kalākaua`s efforts ensured that hula, music, and other cultural practices continue to thrive today. We honor him for his kindness, resilience, and aloha.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #hawaii #hawaiianculture #kalakaua #kingkalakaua #merriemonarch #merriemonarchfestival
Makahiki season marks a time of celebration and rest, honoring Lono, the god of peace and fertility. Traditionally occurring from around November to February, Makahiki was a time for games and festivities across the islands, where skill, strength, and teamwork were put to the test through various competitions.
What other Makahiki games have you participated in or would like to try?
#dtl #dtlhawaii #culture #community #hawaiianculture #hawaiianhistory #lonoikamakahiki #makahiki
The Council for Native Hawaiian Advancement (CNHA) is a non-profit organization dedicated to enhancing the cultural, economic, political, and community development of Native Hawaiians. They provide access to capital, financial education, and counseling services, particularly for low and moderate-income families. CNHA also offers various community programs and has partnerships to support workforce development, housing, and business growth.
In 2020, DTL provided graphic design services for CNHA, including designing their website and preparing advertisements and collateral materials, for their annual convention. For the convention, DTL led the communications and public relations efforts by connecting CNHA to various news and media outlets, helping to amplify their mission and events. Additionally, to introduce new leadership and reexamine the organization`s priorities, DTL facilitated a strategic planning session with members of the board, ensuring a clear vision for CNHA’s future impact.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #strategy #planning #communityengagement #projectmanager #projectmanagement #hawaii #cnha #councilfornativehawaiianadvancement #nativehawaiian
Makahiki season, beginning with the sighting of makaliʻi (the Pleiades constellation), is a time to honor Lono, the Hawaiian god of agriculture, procreation, and rain.
From late October or early November until February or March, work pauses, and both the aliʻi and makaʻāinana join together to celebrate their hard work through feasting, competing, and playing games like ʻulu maika (disk rolling), mokomoko (boxing), and kūkini (foot racing). It was a time to honor the abundance of ʻāina and wai that sustain and nourish our islands.
During Makahiki, Lono was traditionally honored through a carefully crafted wooden image assembled on every island. This image stood around twelve feet tall, featuring a carved head at the top and a crosspiece at the neck, adorned with white kapa cloth, ferns, and feather lei.
Known as the akua loa for its long circuit around the island, Lono traveled clockwise, stopping at each moku, where konohiki presented offerings for Makahiki, including feathers, pigs, kapa, and poi.
#dtl #dtlhawaii #culture #community #hawaiianculture #hawaiianhistory #lonoikamakahiki #makahiki
It’s the anniversary of the world premiere of Waterman! 🎬 Three years ago, the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival opened with this powerful documentary at Bishop Museum, celebrating the life and legacy of Duke Paoa Kahanamoku.
Waterman, directed by Isaac Halasima and produced by @gsd_sidewinder, reveals Duke’s profound impact as a global icon, cultural ambassador, and waterman. Mākaha’s own Duane DeSoto brought Duke to life in the film’s reenactments of iconic moments.
DTL was honored to support this project through brand development, website design, graphic design, PR, and social media content. Our team collaborated with local partners to amplify Duke’s legacy and connect Waterman with audiences in Hawai‘i and beyond.
Follow @waterman_movie to relive the journey and celebrate Duke 🏄♂️
#dtl #dtlhawaii #ambassadorofaloha #dukekahanamoku #dukepaoakahanamoku #waterman #watermanthemovie #legend #waikiki #hawaii