Hawk and Company: Summer Jensen on Minimalism, Biophilic Design, and Indigenous Stewardship
From Beyond the Design by Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
March 13, 2026 · 46 min · Season 4 · Episode 8
About this episode
Summer Jensen discusses her design philosophy that combines minimalism with Hawaiian values and sustainability.
In this inspiring episode of Beyond the Design, we welcome Summer Jensen, founder of Hawk and Company, whose design philosophy merges luxurious minimalism with deep Hawaiian values and a profound connection to nature. Growing up in Hawaii climbing waterfalls and spending afternoons at the beach, Summer wasn't exposed to traditional architecture the way mainland children might be—but that absence became her greatest strength. When she arrived at school on the mainland, she discovered a whole world of design that had been waiting for her, and she's spent her career capturing "moments of awesomeness"—spaces that evoke the serenity of walking through a rainforest or sitting peacefully on a beach, bringing those emotional experiences into the built environment. Summer shares the meaning behind her firm's name Hawk and Company, explaining the Hawaiian concept of aumakua (spirit protectors) and how she was named after the hawk—Kamali'i Hokua Ka'iolani, meaning "the royal star child of the heavenly hawk." She discusses how working on ultra-luxury projects in London and Monaco exposed her to the environmental cost of high-end design, inspiring her shift toward sustainability without…
People in this episode
Host: Cray Bauxmont-Flynn
Guest: Summer Jensen
Topics covered
- minimalism
- biophilic design
- indigenous stewardship
- sustainability
- luxury design
Keywords
- minimalism
- biophilic design
- sustainability
- Hawaii
- luxury design
- indigenous stewardship
- architecture
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Hawk and Company
Places: Hawaii, London, Monaco, Port of Long Beach
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