Hawai‘i Convention Center Hosts Local Events While its Transformation is Underway

For Immediate Release: March 18, 2026
HTA Release (26-04)

03-18-2026 The Hawaii Convention Center Transformation is Underway - FINAL.pdf

HONOLULU - A significant two-year repair and renovation project is now underway at the Hawai'i Convention Center (HCC). While large-scale, weekday conventions have been paused during the construction, local events continue during non-construction hours, including evenings and weekends.

This renovation marks the first major update to the Hawai'i Convention Center since it opened in 1998. The transformed venue will be completed in late 2027 and reopen in January 2028 in time to celebrate its 30th anniversary.

A Two-Year Transformation

In January 2026, Hawai'i Tourism Authority (HTA) embarked on a two-year transformation of HCC to be a modern, world-class venue that rivals other convention destinations.

"HCC is a cornerstone of Hawai'i's visitor industry and an economic engine to drive business to hotels, restaurants, retail stores and activities statewide," said Caroline Anderson, HTA interim president and CEO. "The Hawai'i State Legislature has recognized that modernization of the convention center enhances the visitor experience while generating meaningful economic impact for our local community. The state funds entrusted to us are being used to restore the splendor and grandeur of the Hawai'i Convention Center and take this valuable asset to an exciting, new level to create extraordinary experiences for both visitors and residents."

"We hit the ground running at the start of the new year and our construction partners are committed to staying on schedule to welcome back meetings, conventions and incentive trips in early 2028," said Teri Orton, Hawai'i Convention Center general manager, who oversees the center's day-to-day operations and capital improvement projects. "In the meantime, we're continuing to host events for local organizations. Our goal is to optimize the convention center's 1.1 million square feet of space and create memorable experiences for visitors and kama'āina alike."

"We are excited for these critical investments to take shape, ensuring the Hawai'i Convention Center remains a world-class gathering place and maintaining Hawai'i's global position as a premier meetings, conventions and incentives destination," said Lynn Whitehead, vice president of global meetings, conventions and incentives sales for Meet Hawai'i. "The meetings market creates a lasting ripple effect, supporting local restaurants, retail shops and small businesses, along with community efforts to preserve our natural resources."

Whitehead added, "We continue to work closely with our Hawai'i partners to secure high-value citywide conventions and incentive groups essential for sustaining our economy, while strengthening the overall pipeline for 2028 and beyond."

Starting at the Top

The Hawai'i Convention Center kicked off the new year by preparing the way for a newly reimagined, 95,000-square-foot rooftop plaza, replete with modern finishes and new mechanical elements for improved functionality.

The next phase will include a new performance stage with a 38,000-square-foot canopy for rain and shade protection for open-air events, to take full advantage of Hawai'i's year-round tropical weather.

"The revitalized spaces will honor the Hawai'i Convention Center's iconic open-air island ambiance that resonates with both visitors and kama'āina," Orton said. "These upgrades will embody Hawai'i's unique sense of place while setting a new standard for excellence."

High-resolution images are available here.

About the Hawai'i Tourism Authority
The Hawai'i Tourism Authority is the state agency responsible for representing the Hawaiian Islands around the world - and for holistically managing tourism in a sustainable manner consistent with community desires, economic goals, cultural values, preservation of natural resources and visitor industry needs. HTA works with the community and industry to mālama Hawaiʻi - care for our beloved home. For more information about HTA, visit hawaiitourismauthority.org or follow @HawaiiHTA on Facebook, Instagram, Threads and X.

About Meet Hawaiʻi
Meet Hawaiʻi is a collaboration of the Hawai'i Visitors and Convention Bureau (HVCB) and the Hawaiʻi Convention Center (HCC) to reinforce the brand of the Hawaiian Islands as a world-class destination for global business meetings, conventions and incentive programs (MCI). The Global MCI efforts of the Meet Hawaiʻi team are overseen and funded by Hawai'i Tourism Authority. For information about Meet Hawaiʻi and the hosting of meetings, conventions and incentives, visit MeetHawaii.com.