The AIA Honolulu’s Annual Design Awards is Hawaii’s oldest program of its type—held annually since 1958. Built and unbuilt projects submitted by local AIA members are judged on their merit by a distinguished jury of AIA architects. Our award program is an avenue for AIA Honolulu architects to be recognized by their peers for their effort and dedication to excellence in architectural design.

View AIA Honolulu Design Awards winners since 1958 (PDF).

Congratulations 2018 AIA Honolulu Design Awards Recipients

2018 Design Awards Jury

Juror selection is based upon the locating impartial individuals who represent high levels of achievement, design quality and professional integrity. Every attempt is made to create a balanced panel that will provide fair judgment to all entries.

In 2018, the AIA Honolulu Design Awards jury consisted of five individuals, four of whom were from one of our sister AIA chapters, AIA Seattle. One juror is a member of AIA Honolulu and traveled to Seattle in order to participate in the judging and ensure that the uniqueness of Hawaii Architecture is recognized and appreciated by the non-local jury.

Members of the design awards committee whose firms have submitted in that year may not be present and/or may not participate during any aspect of jury deliberations.

Thank You to our 2018 Design Awards Sponsors!

AIA Honolulu Annual Design Awards Program Details

The AIA Honolulu’s Annual Design Awards is Hawaii’s oldest program of its type—held annually since 1958.  Built and unbuilt projects submitted by local AIA members are judged on their merit by a distinguished jury of AIA architects. All project types are eligible for submission by members—from small home renovations to multi-million dollar resorts.

The Annual AIA Honolulu Design Awards Program provides an avenue for AIA Honolulu architects to be recognized by their peers for their effort and dedication to excellence in architectural design.  In doing so, AIA Honolulu hopes to raise public consciousness, awareness of design excellence and the special role of AIA architects in the community.

Project & Awards Categories

Many award winning projects from this prestigious awards program are now considered architectural landmarks in our islands—appropriate and well-conceived solutions addressing important urban or social concerns.

Project Categories:

Each entry shall be submitted, and may receive an award, in one of the following categories.

1. Commercial/Industrial
2. Institutional
3. Interior Architecture
4. Residential
5. Unbuilt

The number of projects awarded in each category and the level of award shall be determined by the jury.

Juried Awards:

• Award of Excellence: Requires unanimous vote of the jury that a project excels in all aspects. Reserved for those projects which stand out from all of the meritorious award winners. This highest honor recognizes projects which are deemed to exemplify excellence of architectural design on all levels of analysis, and exemplify the highest standards to which AIA members aspire.
• Award of Merit: Requires consensus from the jury that a project is deserving for a high quality of work overall. Granted to projects which display a high standard of architectural quality and design.\
• Honorable Mention: Responds to notable achievements in one or more particular project aspects;
  area(s) that stood out, as agreed through consensus by the jury.
• Sustainable Design Awards: In collaboration with USGBC Hawaii, AIA Honolulu is proud to present the Sustainable Design Award category in 2018. The U.S. Green Building Council Hawaii Sustainability Award celebrates the best of green building and sustainable market transformation. The award recognizes projects “for their integration of design excellence with environmental performance,” which aligns with the American Institute of Architects Committee on the Environment Top Ten Award criteria.

Non-Juried Awards:

• People's Choice Award. First launched in 2007, the People’s Choice Award provides the public an opportunity to view AIA distinguished entrants and determine an annual winner by popular choice. This award aims to encourage public dialog to help shape Hawaii through design excellence.
• The Mayor’s Choice Award. Begun in 1998, the Mayor’s Choice award aims to validate the importance of good design in shaping our city and local communities. Thanks to the honorable Mayor Kirk Caldwell, City and County of Honolulu, for his continued support.
• Hawaii Home+Remodeling: Editor's Choice Award is selected by the editor of the Hawaii Home+Remodeling Magazine from all our residential design award entrants.

View AIA Honolulu Design Awards winners since 1958.

Eligibility Requirements:

Licensed Architect members of this Chapter may enter all project categories.
Associate AIA members of this Chapter may submit in the unbuilt category only.
There is no time limit from when project was completed to when it may be submitted for an award.
There is no limit to the number of submissions by the same architect or firm.
Firms whose employees are members of the jury are not eligible for submission in that year.

The following re-entry rules apply to previously submitted projects:

• Those projects that did not receive any award in a prior year may be resubmitted.
• Previously awarded projects which have undergone substantial renovation may be resubmitted.
• Previously awarded unbuilt projects are eligible for re-submittal upon completion.
• Projects which received past recognition in a non-juried category (such as past Members’ Choice or People’s
  Choice winner) may be submitted in subsequent years for consideration of a juried award.
• All other previously awarded juried projects are not eligible for resubmittal.

Awards Publications

AIA has maintained an excellent partnership with aio Media, publisher of Hawaii Business Magazine. This alliance positions our members within a core readership of business and professional leaders as well as potential private clients. Be sure to pick up their December issue.

Back to top.