Dane has experience with integrating cultural concepts, participatory planning and incorporating community input. He believes hybridizing contemporary architecture practice with cultural ideology will allow for a creative approach that adds value to meaningful architecture design in Hawaii. During his three years with the land management team at the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Dane worked on viable ways to integrate best management practices in land and environment, perpetuation of culture and commerce, and how each relate to overall health of Native Hawaiians. His doctorate research project, titled Architectural Site Intimacy, received the Award of Highest Distinction in Architecture Research by Hawaii Architectural Foundation and assisted OHA in the master plan of Kukaniloko.