Category: News & Updates

  • 2025 IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Hoʻohuli Design Excellence Awards

    2025 IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Hoʻohuli Design Excellence Awards

    On Saturday, October 11, 2025, the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter hosted its 4th annual Hoʻohuli Design Excellence Awards at the ‘Alohilani Resort Waikiki Beach, honoring transformative interior design projects across Hawai‘i that reshape how people live, work, and connect.

    A Celebration of Transformation and Community

    True to its Hawaiian meaning of “to change or transform,” symbolized by the vibrant King Kamehameha butterfly, the Hoʻohuli Awards recognize designs that go beyond aesthetics to impact functionality, health, well-being, and cultural resonance. IIDA CEO Cheryl Durst opened the event virtually, praising Hawai‘i’s designers for setting “the highest standards for design that is responsive to place, environmentally sensitive, and culturally grounded,” emphasizing design as “the story of change.”

    The evening gathered the local design community—commercial interior designers, students, educators, and industry partners—in a tight-knit celebration of excellence.

    2025 Award Highlights

    Standout winners showcased the depth of Hawai‘i’s talent:

    • Grand Hoʻohuli Award: Yohei Sushi Kahala by Wander x Wonder, lauded as “a space that doesn’t shout—it resonates,” blending thoughtful restraint with cultural clarity.
    • Next Design dominated with wins for Central Pacific Bank Kahului, Fertility Institute of Hawai‘i, and Uncle Paul’s Corner Store, highlighting their versatility across categories.
    • LIVE Award: Capitol Place Amenity Spaces by InForm Design, a 4,200 sq ft renovation transforming lobby, theatre, and event spaces for enhanced security, flexibility, and emotional well-being.
    • Learn Category: PACE at RISE Center by AHL, a dynamic entrepreneurial hub at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa fostering innovation through modular classrooms, meeting rooms, and cultural integration.

    These projects exemplify hoʻohuli’s spirit of renewal, connection, and community impact.

    Featured in Hawaii Business Magazine

    Our awards program received prominent coverage in Hawaii Business Magazine, including a dedicated online feature and a beautiful print magazine spread highlighting the winners and event.

    Explore more on our site:

    Mahalo to all participants, sponsors, and the ‘Alohilani Resort for making this unforgettable. Stay tuned for 2026 submissions!

  • IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Featured in Hawaii Business Magazine

    IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Featured in Hawaii Business Magazine

    The IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter’s 2023 Ho‘ohuli Awards were recently highlighted by Hawaii Business Magazine, showcasing outstanding commercial interior design projects from across our islands. The feature celebrates how local designers transform interior environments to support the way Hawai‘i’s communities live, work, and connect.​

    Ho‘ohuli, meaning “change,” reflects the power of design to reshape spaces and experiences while honoring Hawai‘i’s unique culture and sense of place. The awards recognize projects and teams that exemplify design excellence, innovation, and a commitment to elevating the built environment in our region. Since 2016, our Chapter has served as a professional resource for commercial interior designers, with a mission to promote design excellence and elevate the impact of interior design on people and businesses.

    We are proud to see our members’ work and our Ho‘ohuli Awards platform recognized on such a visible stage. Mahalo to Hawaii Business Magazine for helping us share the story of Hawai‘i’s designers and the value they bring to our community.​

    Stay tuned for updates on our upcoming Ho‘ohuli Awards and other IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter programs that continue to advance design in our region.

  • Board Retreat 23-24

    Board Retreat 23-24

    IIDA Hawaii Pacific Chapter’s Annual Summer Retreat & Onboarding: A Day of Productivity, Empowerment and Camaraderie!

    The 2023-24 board members came together for an inspiring day of strategic planning and building connections. Following a day of growth and inspiration, we capped it off with a delightful dinner. Get ready for an amazing year ahead!

  • IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Featured in Hawaii Business Magazine – 2021 Ho‘ohuli Awards

    IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter Featured in Hawaii Business Magazine – 2021 Ho‘ohuli Awards

    The IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter’s 2021 Ho‘ohuli Awards were featured in Hawaii Business Magazine, spotlighting exceptional commercial interior design projects across Hawai‘i. The coverage highlights how local designers create transformative spaces that support the ways our communities live, work, and gather.

    The Ho‘ohuli Awards, Hawai‘i’s only commercial interior design awards program, are held biennially to recognize outstanding and original design work in the state. In 2021, winners were announced in a virtual presentation on October 21, reflecting the resilience and creativity of our design community during a time of significant change. Rooted in the Hawaiian concept of ho‘ohuli—to change—the awards celebrate projects that elevate the built environment while honoring our islands’ unique culture and sense of place.

    We are honored that Hawaii Business Magazine helped share the story of our 2021 Ho‘ohuli Award winners and the impact of commercial interior design in Hawai‘i. Mahalo to our members, partners, and sponsors who made the 2021 program possible and continue to support design excellence in our region.​

    Keep exploring 2021 Ho‘ohuli Awards

  • Inaugural 2019 Ho‘ohuli Awards Launch Hawai‘i’s Premier Commercial Interior Design Program

    Inaugural 2019 Ho‘ohuli Awards Launch Hawai‘i’s Premier Commercial Interior Design Program

    In 2019, the IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter proudly launched the very first Ho‘ohuli Awards, Hawai‘i’s commercial interior design awards program dedicated to celebrating outstanding and original design across the islands. The inaugural program, presented in partnership with Hawaii Business Magazine, marked a major milestone in elevating the visibility and impact of commercial interior design in our community.​

    Rooted in the Hawaiian concept of ho‘ohuli—to change—the awards were created to honor projects that transform interior environments and, in turn, the people who experience them. From workplaces and hospitality venues to learning, living, and community spaces, the 2019 winners demonstrated how thoughtful design can support functionality, health, well-being, and a strong sense of place. As the inception year, the Ho‘ohuli Awards set out with a clear mission: to promote the value of Hawai‘i’s designers and help perpetuate the interior design profession for years to come.​

    Winning a 2019 Ho‘ohuli Award quickly became a mark of exceptional commercial design, with projects vetted by seasoned leaders in the national interior design community. The feature in Hawaii Business Magazine further amplified this recognition, bringing the work of our local design firms to a broader business and community audience. We are incredibly proud of our inaugural winners and the foundation they laid for what has grown into a signature program for the IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter.​

    Keep exploring the 2019 Ho‘ohuli Awards