2026 Design Awards Submission

CALL FOR SUBMISSIONS OPEN FOR

Current AIA & Assoc. AIA Honolulu Members

The AIA Honolulu’s Annual Design Awards is Hawaii’s longest-running 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.

2026 Key Dates

Submissions Open:                 Monday, March 23, 2026
Submissions Deadline:           Monday, May 18, 2026
Design Awards Celebration:          Friday, July 24, 5:30-9pm at the Hawaii Theater in Honolulu. Winners will be announced.

Start Your Online Submission TODAY

You will create a unique login for your submission account when you enter online.
You can submit one or multiple projects within that same account.
Start today and review/edit until the above mentioned submission deadline.

Start Your Online Submission HERE

Submission Fees for AIA & Assoc. AIA Honolulu Members

  • $400 for the First Entry (Built and Unbuilt Projects) AND
  • $300 for each Additional Entry

After Tuesday, May 19, 2026 no refund requests from entrants will be considered.

Information & Submission Guidelines

View and print our AIA Honolulu Design Awards Information (PDF) below for detailed information on submission dates, fees, eligibility, submission requirements, project categories, award levels and jury.

View AIA Submission Guidelines & Awards Information

COMMON APP for AIA Framework for Design Excellence

AIA Honolulu is aligned with AIA’s Framework for Design Excellence with the integration of 10 key principles into the award program requirements. The Framework identifies specific metrics to evaluate buildings that illustrate progress toward a zero carbon, equitable, resilient and healthy built environment.

AIA Honolulu’s Design Awards follows AIA’s Design Excellence criteria using the COMMON APP (Excel document).

Submittals must complete the COMMON APP to the best of your ability (except Unbuilt, Distinctive Detailed, and Centennial Award project categories) , highlighting project performance through narratives and metrics. Each section of the sheet relates to a principle of the Framework for Design Excellence.

AIA FRAMEWORK FOR DESIGN EXCELLENCE + COMMON APP WEBINARS

Eligibility Requirements

AIA & ASSOC. AIA

  • Licensed and current Architect members of this Chapter may enter all project categories.
  • Curent Associate AIA members of this Chapter may submit in the UNBUILT project category only.

There is no time limit from when a 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 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.

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. New! Centennial Award (choose this project category for consideration of an Centennial Award)
  2. Commercial/Industrial
  3. Distinctive Detail (choose this project category for consideration in our Distinct Detail Design Awards)
  4. Institutional
  5. Interior Architecture
  6. Residential
  7. Unbuilt

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

Award Levels

AIA HONOLULU 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.

AIA HONOLULU SPECIALTY AWARDS

    • Distinctive Detail Award: Created to honor individual building components and design features that on built projects including new project entries and ones that until now may not have been recognized for overall achievement. Can only be awarded to projects submitted in the Distinctive Detail project category, as agreed through consensus by the jury.
    • This Year Only & Submission is Free!
      Centennial Award:       Great design only gets better with age. The Centennial Award singles out projects that have stood the test of time for over a quarter-century. To qualify, the project must have been completed at least 25 years ago by an architect who was a former or current member of the AIA Honolulu Chapter or its predecessor organizations. This award is not just about survival; it’s about lasting significance. Can only be awarded to projects submitted in the Centennial Awards project category. The number of projects awarded shall be determined by the jury.
    • Community Impact Award: Recognizes projects that are designed to remove barriers and burdens, physical or abstract, empowering and enabling people to gather, connect, live, and function to their highest potential, ultimately bringing a community together. This award is unique in that it relies on the experiences of end users; therefore, it is recommended that the project be at least 12 months old at time of submission. Awarded through consensus by the jury.

AIA HONOLULU NON-JURIED AWARD

  • 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.

COLLABORATION AWARDS

    • Hawaii Energy Award for Excellence in Energy-Efficient Design: The award recognizes design that embodies Hawai‘i Energy’s mission to assist Hawai‘i’s consumers in maximizing energy efficiency as a critical step to getting to our state’s clean energy goals, saving ratepayers on their utility costs, and protecting our islands’ environment. The winning project will have incorporated energy efficiency as a foundational goal which will provide long-term savings and reduced energy use. The architect of record will be eligible for a $1,000 bonus incentive.
    • Mayor's Choice Award: Beginning 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's Office, City and County of Honolulu, for their continued support.
View the Winners Since 1958

2026 Professional Design Awards Jury

Juror selection is based upon 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. We are excited to soon introduce our 2025 jury, who this year consists of five individuals, two of whom are members of an AIA chapter outside of Hawaii. Three jurors are Hawaii residents to ensure that the uniqueness of Hawaii Architecture is recognized and appreciated by non-local jurors.

Stay Tuned for Our 2026 Esteemed Professional Jurors!

Entry Policy

Each project must be individually submitted online. Payment processing is done on a per entry basis. You will create a unique login as a user and have the ability to enter multiple submissions within that account. You can go back and review and edit your submission(s) until the deadline. After Tuesday, May 19, Midnight (HST), no changes can be made to any submissions.

A $100 administrative fee will be charged to all withdrawn projects, where AIA has been notified in advance of the request to withdraw. After Tuesday, May 19, 2026 no refund requests from entrants will be considered. There will be no refunds for submissions that are LATE, INCOMPLETE, or disqualified per the deadlines/guidelines of this awards program.

Awards Publication

AIA has maintained an excellent partnership with aio Media Group, 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. All winners will receive the September issue.

Mahalo 2026 AIA Honolulu Design Awards Sponsors

Dickey Sponsor

Wood Sponsors

Ossipoff Sponsors

Preis Sponsors

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