Building with Nature: Our Hempcrete Walls
At Ahi Mahi Sauna, everything we do is about connection to nature, to community, and to the materials we build with. That’s why, when it came to creating the walls of our sauna, we wanted to use something that reflected that philosophy from the ground up.
Enter hempcrete: a sustainable, breathable, and incredibly natural material made from hemp stalks, lime, and water. It’s solid yet lightweight, completely non-toxic, and has remarkable insulation properties. Hempcrete naturally regulates humidity, stores heat, and keeps interiors comfortable, cool to the touch when it’s hot, and perfectly balanced for that deep sauna warmth.
But what makes our walls even more special is who built them. We had the privilege of having expert Tane from Kohu Hemp running the session, working with a group of talented NMIT students who got hands-on experience creating the hempcrete mix and forming the panels. Together, we learned, experimented, and built something truly unique, blending old-world natural materials with modern design and local energy.
For the students, it was a chance to explore sustainable construction in a real-world setting. For us, it was a reminder of what happens when community and creativity meet purpose.
The result is a structure that literally breathes with the environment, sturdy, beautiful, and made with heart. Our hempcrete walls are more than just part of the building; they’re part of the story.
Built by hand, made with nature, and powered by community. That’s Ahi Mahi.