AIA Honolulu 68th Annual Design Awards: Celebrating a Century of Local Architecture

AIA Honolulu held its 68th Annual Design Awards in 2026 to recognize architectural projects that contribute to Hawai'i's communities. The awards program doubled as a centennial observance for AIA Hawai'i, honoring 100 years of architects working on the islands.

This year's program communicates two connected aims: to spotlight local design work across built and unbuilt project types, and to highlight the role of sustained, community-focused architectural practice in Hawai'i. The awards are structured so jurors can distinguish projects that reach different levels of design achievement and to allocate recognition across a range of project types and scales.

The jury may place entries into one of three award levels:

• Award of Excellence: requires a unanimous jury vote and recognizes projects that excel across all aspects of architectural design.
• Award of Merit: requires jury consensus for projects that demonstrate a high overall standard of work.
• Honorable Mention: awarded by jury consensus for notable achievements in one or more project aspects.

Project entries are judged within six categories: Residential, Commercial/Industrial, Institutional, Interior Architecture, Unbuilt, and Student Design. The number of awards in each category and the level assigned are determined by the jury.

Lance Hirai, AIA, served as AIA Honolulu president for 2026 and offered a welcome noting the dual purpose of recognizing design achievement and celebrating the chapter's centennial. The Design Awards Committee was chaired by Ryan Sullivan, AIA, and Stephanie Ing, Assoc. AIA. Additional committee members included Calvin Bulan and Katalina Kim, Assoc. AIA. AIA Honolulu's staff overseeing the awards included Julia Fink (EVP), Camilla Nicholas (Assistant Director), and Jessica Bandol (Admin & Events).

Residential entries include single- and multi-family homes, housing community planning, renovations, additions, and historic preservation where substantial exterior change occurred. Commercial/Industrial entries cover retail, hospitality, industrial and manufacturing projects, including renovations, adaptive reuse, and new construction. Institutional projects include K–12 and higher education facilities, recreation and parks, healthcare facilities, and utilities.

Interior Architecture recognizes substantial interior work with minimal exterior alteration, including tenant improvements and residential interior renovations. Unbuilt entries can be client-commissioned projects intended for construction or theoretical work not yet realized. Student Design Awards are also recognized, providing an outlet to showcase emerging designers.

The awards foreground projects that connect architecture to daily life on the islands: homes, schools, workplaces and public spaces. Organizers framed design recognition as an investment in Hawai'i's future, and the centennial provided an occasion to reflect on the cumulative contributions of architects, clients, consultants, contractors, and community partners.

The awards credit the jurors for careful review and thank the many contributors whose collaborations brought project visions to life. The program lists committee chairs, staff, and committee members who managed submissions and the adjudication process.

For readers tracking design trends in Hawai'i, the AIA Honolulu Design Awards provide a concentrated look at projects and practices that shape the built environment across the islands.