Wai ʻauʻau in Hawaiian means bath water or a bathing place and can even mean splashes of water. They are washrooms that separate the toilet from the wash area and were inspired from Japanese private-ofuro or baths. They would be named Wai'ai for short, even though in Hawaiian it means swirling water of a current when translated, but would also mean in referance to a style of wash room.
The style of the designs merge influences of European, Hawaiian Royalty, Japanese Ryokan (Old Fashion Inn), and Local Hawaii Culture all jumbled into one. The origins come from those wanting to bring back similarities from plantation wash areas in the Japanese and Okinawan camps that was communal, but with a change for private wash areas.These could be found on islands like just about all the islands. Bathroom Design Plantation Hawaiian Style In the 1960s, the American bath room was typical for a house and that was considered in the making of such wash rooms to include a Toilet in a house as well as a Bathing area. A toilet and sink would be in one room while the bathing area had its own room and was either designed for: single bathing, couple bathing, or family bathing. Some homes had the toilet room and the wash room in the same room and this would be called a "communal family bathroom". Previously there would be It was by no means affordable as many would have to have concrete floors and tile if they had some extra money to spare. Walls would be either tiled up, rock walls, or lined with polished Hawaii woods. There would be a stall for a small shower, a walk down soaking bath, and some Hawaiian decor and accents. Colors would usually be the popular styles of the 1960s or earthly colors. Many who could afford the ideal wash room would be considered wealthy back then. Luckily a few still exist as I was able to talk to some owners of different ethnic backgrounds: Hawaiian-Japanese, Hawaiian-Okinawan, Japanese, Okinawan, and Hapa-Haole. Water Angle Positioning At the top the shower and clothing storage area is where you can wash yourself off or next to it is a sitting onsen bucket wash area. The water flows down gradually until you step down a stair well. It allows a place of seclusion like a private feeling, but when you look up its still wide open really, so it makes you feel like your bathing on a mountain. The reason being is because its designed around the structure of the natural mountain and the water flow is suppose to emulate that of the mountain itself to not disturb it and respect it. From a utility stand point it helps excess water flow into the drain as well to make sure there isn't excess water. The last steps into the soaking bath area often times would be decorated differently or appeared more like a bench or sitting area as it would be a place to sit in the water. Wai'au Inns In Manoa, a few plantation workers even had dreams to make Hawaiian inspired Hawaiian Inn that would feature lauhala mattes, private baths, communal baths, and public areas. This would be at a higher cost for a scenic area in more scenic rural areas that would feature a sort of help yourself, ala carte affordable purchase, to create a social space on relaxation and cleanliness. Kama'aina people were imagining what would be in the future by basing their knowledge of caring of the water of the streams that were intertwined bathing in Hawaii. Deeply rooted within Hawaiian values of the waters importance of the mountains to the oceans.this might have been one other way that people would show concern for the water back then as well as think of ways to use the water to its fullest. In the Valleys in Hawaii there were bathrooms that were apart of history from the post-plantation days into the modern era where a connection of bathrooms and Hawaii would intertwine. Each valley has its own stories about the water and its importance and this was something Hawaiians and Japanese saw similarities within their culture to care for water sources. This would lead to a sort of "Local Bathing Ettiquette". Famous Hawaii Water The water was said to have a refreshing feeling in the bath with mineral packed water back in the day and had pipes and water quality that was great and infostructure that newly introduced along with limited water usage. Less people were using the water and this would create a reputation for Hawaii water being famous for "Hawaiian water" that was flowing from each of the valleys that had plentiful rain. You would think that with geothermal that there would be plenty of natural onsen... However, you don't really see too many if at all any best using any sort of geothermal, unless it's geothermal energy. Most of the baths are man-made and the water is heated using a water heater rather than the natural heat of the underground water wells. Types of Styles of Baths But many of the places that there were bath houses or homes that had either traditional Japanese Baths, local Japanese baths, or Hawaiian designed baths with a Japanese twist... We're either renovated for more modern-day bathrooms that are much smaller and less communal.
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