Having to rent office space can be a daunting prospect for a fledging business. But working form home isn't always the best idea, either.
Treehouse Coworking in Kailua plans to fill that gap. Co-founder Dawn Hunt explains that she and Keno Knieriem opened the space after experiencing the concept in Texas.
"Coworking is so great because you form a sense of community with people," she says. "When we come home, we had every intention of starting something like this because we were so thrilled and it left such a positive impact on us."
Treehouse members can rent desk space, office space or conference rooms on a daily or monthly basis. With membership comes access to a work station, storage, printing, meeting rooms, a gym, classes, mail service and more. It's an office with all the amenities -- but non of the burdens of renting and managing an independent space.
Similar services exist in town -- like BoxJelly and Impact Hub in Kaka'ako -- but Hunt says that Treehouse is specifically looking to serve those who live outside the business heart of O'ahu.
"Especially from Kailua and Kaneohe, we have been getting people tired of working from home or have used coworking spaces in town and loved it -- but the commute was getting to them. We wanted to just do something that was more local...and provide an outlet here on the Windward side so people have more time to do what they want to."
Another way that Treehouse seeks to set itself apart from the pack is with a strong emphasis on sustainability. The space itself was built with recycled materials -- plus there is a composting garden and bike rack outside. Treehouse also plans to hold regular monthly events that celebrate art and the environment.
This month, Cameron "CJ" J.K. Smith is the featured artist at Treehouse. His work can be found in the community area with a free reception running from 5 to 9 p.m. June 15. For more information about Treehouse, visit treehousecoworking.com.
Publication: Midweek - Community Voice
Writer: Paige Takeya
June 6, 2018 issue
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