Website Refresh

CHALLENGE

Palama Settlement, a storied nonprofit serving the Kalihi-Palama community of Honolulu since 1896, was entering a pivotal new chapter. As the surrounding neighborhood prepared for transformative developments — including new residential growth and infrastructure investment — the organization embarked on a renewed master plan to redevelop its historic campus. With this evolution came the need to modernize its digital presence.

The existing website, designed many years prior, no longer reflected the vitality, services, or future ambitions of the organization. Key issues included an outdated user interface, limited mobile optimization, and a fragmented structure that made it difficult for users to understand Palama’s programs, history, and impact.

CLIENT

Palama Settlement

PROJECT SCOPE

Site Mapping
UX Strategy & Architecture
Front-End Website Design
Photo Art Direction
Client Services 
Project Management

Visit the site 
sOLUTION

Our team partnered with Palama Settlement to design a new website that would honor its past while positioning it confidently for the future. We approached the project with empathy for the community and a deep appreciation for Palama’s role as both a service provider and community anchor. Key upgrades included:

  • A reimagined site map and content structure – Palama offers a wide range of services, from youth sports to senior activities. We reorganized these offerings by audience — Youth & Teens and Adults — creating a more intuitive, user-centered experience that makes it easier for community members to find the programs that serve them.

  • A modernized visual identity – clean layouts, refreshed typography, and authentic photography to reflect the organization’s warmth, professionalism, and grassroots energy.

  • Streamlined user experience – intuitive navigation and clear calls to action that simplify access to programs, events, volunteer opportunities, and donations.

  • Mobile-first responsiveness – a fully responsive site design to ensure accessibility across devices, especially important for users accessing the site from phones.

  • Future-ready framework – a scalable backend and refreshed site architecture to accommodate future growth in programming and digital engagement

RESULTS

In the first two weeks after launch, the new website immediately demonstrated its value as an engagement tool — generating 30 new email newsletter signups, three volunteer inquiries through the online form, and multiple applications or inquiries related to open job postings — a notable uptick compared to previous activity.

Staff members report greater ease in updating the site, and community members now have a clearer path to register for programs, explore services, or get involved. The site also serves as a more credible, compelling touchpoint for donors and partners.

By transforming an outdated platform into a digital foundation built for growth, the new PalamaSettlement.org empowers the organization to better share its story, deepen engagement, and inspire support as it looks toward the next 130 years of service.

With this redesign, Palama Settlement enters its next era not only with physical renewal on the horizon, but with a digital presence to match its evolving role in the surrounding community and beyond.