Who We Are
OUR MISSION
AIA is Architects — the community of architects, joining together to accomplish things individual architects cannot do alone.
AIA Honolulu strives to meet the needs of our members and in doing so to shape our communities through good design. We view thoughtful planning and collaborative leadership as critical to our shared successes.
THE AMERICAN INSTITUTE OF ARCHITECTS
The AIA is the voice of the architectural profession and the resource for its members in service to society.
Based in Washington, D.C., the American Institute of Architects (AIA) has been the leading professional membership association for licensed architects, emerging professionals, and allied partners since 1857.
AIA Honolulu is a Chapter of the AIA representing and serving members on the island of Oahu, Hawaii, and Kauai. Within these islands, AIA Honolulu represents and serves over 700 individual member architects, associates, and allied design professionals. Organizationally, we are a local membership organization incorporated as a 501(c) 6 non-profit corporation and guided by the laws of the State of Hawaii.
AIA Honolulu and AIA Maui are the local components overseen by the AIA Hawaii State Council.
OUR PURPOSE
To help each other put our talents to work to create better places for people to live, work and play through:
COMMUNITY
Building a healthy & welcoming profession
KNOWLEDGE
Sharing experience & wisdom
ADVOCACY
Extending the influence of our profession’s values.
2026 – 2030 STRATEGIC PLAN SUMMARY
AIA National has identified two goals in its 2021 – 2025 Strategic Plan (Web) and while they have not yet released their 2026-2030 Strategic Plan, initial information suggests there is strong goal alignment between AIA Honolulu and AIA National.
AIA Honolulu has established strategic priorities for 2026–2030 to guide our work and focus our impact over the next four years. Our three Strategic Priorities are:
1. COMMUNITY: AIA Honolulu inspires the community to take pride in architecture.
- Increase feeling of belonging and connection amongst existing members and the next generation
- Improve leadership engagement at the Committee and Board levels
- Expand creative opportunities for the public to experience architecture and the profession
- Build out external partnerships.
2. KNOWLEDGE: AIA Honolulu fosters engagement around sharing expertise.
- Provide forums for emerging and experienced voices
- Strengthen a culture of cooperation and collaboration to benefit the profession as a whole
- Provide cross-professional exchange opportunities
- Increase internal awareness of AIA Honolulu’s priorities and successes
3. ADVOCACY: AIA Honolulu positions architects as thought leaders in all aspects of the built environment.
- Prepare members to be advocates
- Serve as an advocate between government bodies and architecture professionals
- Elevate the voice of architects to the public
HISTORY OF AIA IN HAWAII
In 1926 the classified telephone directory of Honolulu listed 11 architectural offices and the Territorial Board of Registration named 29 architectural registrants.
There existed several local groups, .i.e. the Engineering Association, the Artists Association, and the Architects Society of Hawaii, but none of these fulfilled the role of an architecturally oriented organization devoted to the improvement of the profession.
Six pioneering architects, Hart Wood, Charles W. Dickey, Walter L. Emory, Marshal H. Webb, Ralph Fishbourne, and Edwin Pettit wrote to the American Institute of Architects (AIA) requesting a charter to form a local Chapter.
On October 13, 1926, a charter was granted from the AIA to form the Hawaii Chapter of the American Institute of Architects. In 1975, at the direction of the AIA national organization (also known as the Institute), the name of the Hawaii Chapter was changed to the Hawaii Society, The American Institute of Architects, continuing to represent the interests of AIA members in Hawaii.