Here's the 'Best in Hawai’i Architecture' in 2026

More than a dozen displays of architectural design have been recognized by AIA Honolulu — the Honolulu chapter of the American Institute of Architects — as the best in Hawai‘i at the 68th annual Design Awards.

Since 1958, the awards have honored excellence in architectural design. More than 220 people attended an awards gala Friday, July 24, at the Hawai‘i Theatre.

More than 1,000 votes were cast by the public over two weeks in June for the 20th annual People's Choice Award, according to an announcement from AIA Honolulu. Other awards were determined by a panel of jurors composed of AIA member-architects that included three local jurors as well as architects based out of Kansas City and Canada.

You can check out the list of winners, as well as pictures of the projects, below.

Award of Excellence

Kona Farm Distillery, Kailua-Kona, Hawai’i Island

Firm: WRNS Studio

Additional Design Firms: Engineering Partners Inc. (civil and structural engineer), Interface Engineering (mechanical, plumbing Engineer), Ronald N.S. Ho & Associates, Inc. (electrical, energy engineer), Jordan Consultants, LLC (specifications), Coffman Engineers, Inc. (code and fire protection), Sherwood Design Engineers (water recycling), Umemoto Cassandro Design Corp. (landscape architect), Salter, Inc. (AV, telecom and acoustic), Vitok Engineers (distilling), Hirata & Associates (geotechnical), Marshall Associates (food service)

Contractor: KPRS

Award of Excellence and The Hawai’i Energy Award for Excellence in Energy-efficient Design

Hugh and Mary McCormick Innovation & Discovery Center, Honolulu

FIRM: G70

Client: Hawai‘i Baptist Academy

Contractor: Allied Builders Systems

Award of Excellence

Haleola‘ili‘āinapono, Honolulu

Firm: Bowers + Kubota Consulting

Additional Design Firms: NOEI (structural engineer of record for the building), Buehler Engineering (structural engineer of record for the PV array), CADE Engineers LLC (electrical engineer of record for the PV system), JPB Engineering (geotechnical engineer), S.S. Dannaway Assoc. (fire protection engineer), Dennis Poma (wastewater engineer)

Client: Aaron and Jessica Ackerman      

Contractor: Bryan Allen Construction

Award of Merit

Mystical Rose Oratory Pavilion, Honolulu

Firms: Guerin Glass Architects PC and Geoffrey Lewis Architect, Inc.

Additional Design Firm: Wolf Landscape Architecture (landscape architect)

Client: The Marianist Center of Hawai‘i

Contractor: Hanson Construction, LLC

Award of Merit

Hale Mau‘u, Hawai’i Island

Firm: Walker Warner

Additional Design Firms: Catherine Kwong Design (interior designer), David Y. Tamura Associates (landscape architect)   

Contractor: Metzler Contracting Co.

Honorable Mention, People's Choice Award and Mayor's Choice Award

'Iolani School Arrillaga Student Center, Honolulu

FIRM: WCIT Architecture       

Additional Design Firm: Gensler (co-design architect)

Client: 'Iolani School

Contractor: Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc.

Honorable Mention

President Theodore Roosevelt High School Gymnasium, Honolulu

Firm: Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd.

Client: State Department of Education

Contractor: Nan, Inc.

Honorable Mention

Downtown Branch, American Savings Bank, Honolulu

Firm: Dean Sakamoto Architects LLC

Additional Design Firms: Coffman Engineers Inc. (mechanical consultant); Nakamura, Oyama & Assoc Inc. (electrical consultant); Censeo AV + Acoustics (acoustic consultant); Albizia Project and Four Square Solutions (millwork)

Client: American Savings Bank          

Contractor: Ralph S. Inouye Co. Ltd.

Honorable Mention

Kaiāulu o Kuku‘ia, Lahaina, Maui

Firm: Design Partners Inc.

Additional Design Firm: D & T Designs (interior and non-architectural)

Client: Ikaika ‘Ohana

Contractors: Maryl Group Construction Inc.; Goodfellows Bros.

Honorable Mention

The Park on Ke‘eaumoku, Honolulu

Firm: Design Partners Inc.

Client: Ke‘eaumoku Development Owner LLC

Contractor: Nan, Inc.

Honorable Mention

Māhualauhīnano - Keaukaha Resiliency Center for Learning, Hilo, Hawaiʻi Island

Firm: Ferraro Choi and Associates Ltd.

Client: Ka ʻUmeke Kāʻeo Public Charter School and Hui Hoʻoleimaluō

Community Impact Award

Lili‘uokalani Center, Honolulu

Firm: Flansburgh Architects

Client: Lili‘uokalani Trust

Contractor: Kiewit Corporation

And new this year — and only for 2026 — is the Centennial Awards, which honor architectural projects of "lasting significance that have stood the test of time," the announcement noted. The award recognizes "exceptional designs" that have been completed at least 25 years ago by a current or former member of the AIA Honolulu Chpater or its predecessors.

Those honorees include:

• Hawai‘i Kai Corporate Plaza, Honolulu. Built in 1987. Submitting firm: CDS International.

• Hawai‘i State Capitol, Honolulu. Built in 1965. Submitting firm: AHL.
• Honolulu Academy of Arts, Honolulu. Built in 1978 and 2001. Submitting firm: John Hara Associates Inc.
• Maui Community Arts & Cultural Center, Kahului. Built in 1994. Submitting firm: John Hara Associates Inc.
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Stephanie Salmons can be reached at stephanie@alohastatedaily.com.