New O Ka Hale Surfboard Collection at the Hawaii Convention Center (3rd Floor Concourse)

Drawing inspiration from the inventors of surfing, the Polynesians, these hand-shaped alaia (traditional Hawaiian surfboards) blend the old with the new, and honor those who shaped and rode before us in Hawai‘i. Sustainably sourced and crafted by Lloyd Boards on the Island of Kaua‘i, each piece is designed with the shape of grains in mind so no two are the same.

The Center’s O Ka Hale Surfboard Collection can be viewed at our 3rd Floor Concourse outside of Room 317AB (to the right of main escalators). For more information on each board, click HERE.

The Hawai‘i Convention Center is home to a permanent art collection in partnership with the Hawai‘i State Foundation on Culture and the Arts and its Art in Public Places program. It also hosts rotating collections in displays throughout the building. Artworks are open to the public from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

To view the Center’s art collection, click HERE

From left: The ‘Auana , The Pueo, Koa Wai Kula

Malama Maui

Assistance Center Relocated to Ke‘ehi Lagoon

Effective Sunday, August 13, the Assistance Center at the Hawai‘i Convention Center has been relocated to the Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial at 2685 N. Nimitz Highway in Honolulu. 

The American Red Cross will continue to offer these same services to Maui evacuees at Ke‘ehi Lagoon Memorial. Shuttles offering free transportation from the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport to Keʻehi Lagoon Memorial will be running throughout the day and can be found outside of baggage claim 9 and baggage claim 20 at the airport.

For updates on Maui and Hawaiʻi Island Wildfire, click HERE

For donation opportunities, click HERE

To volunteer with the Red Cross, click HERE or email volunteerpacific@redcross.org

For assistance in locating loved ones in Maui, please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Select Option 4 and follow the voice prompts for “Hawaii Wildfires”

Na Leo Pilimehana Holiday Concert 2022

Na Leo Pilimehana has found a new home for the holidays at the Hawaiʻi Convention Center! Join us for a special holiday dinner concert at our 4th floor Kalākaua Ballroom on Saturday, Dec. 17, 2022.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Celebrate the holidays with loved ones and friends while enjoying a special buffet dinner and live performance by the best-selling Hawaiian female group in the world. Na Leo Pilimehana, which in Hawaiian means “voices blending together in warmth,” captures the group’s style of soothing, melodic voices. With 23 Na Hoku Hanohano Awards, Na Leo, consisting of three childhood friends – Nalani Jenkins, Lehua Kalima and Angela Morales-Escontria, has written, recorded and performed more than 20 No. 1 hits.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. with a special guest performer Maunalua, a Na Hoku Hanohano Award-winning Hawaiian music trio. A buffet dinner from the Center’s Executive Chef Hector Morales starts at 5:30 p.m. Signature cocktails and light refreshments will also be available for purchase at the bar. Concert starts at 7:00 p.m.

Free entry for children 0-2 years. Strollers are allowed but anyone occupying a seat must purchase a ticket.

Date & Time:

Saturday, December 17, 2022
5:00 p.m.: Doors and bar open
5:30 p.m. – 6:45 p.m.: Buffet dinner 
7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.: Concert

Location:
4th Floor, Kalākaua Ballroom
Hawaiʻi Convention Center
1801 Kalākaua Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96815

For more information, please contact info@hccasm.com or call 808-943-3500.

BUY TICKETS HERE

Hawai‘i Convention Center Launches Carbon Offset Program for Meetings, Events

Meeting planners can offset the environmental impact of their events by reforesting native trees in Hawai‘i

The Hawai‘i Convention Center is launching a first-of-its-kind program that provides carbon offset opportunities for all meetings and events.

The program provides meeting organizers with the opportunity to offset the carbon footprint of their meeting, as well as offer individual attendees the ability to select and plant endemic and native trees virtually or in-person. These efforts are part of the Center’s Hoʻomaluō (to conserve or manage wisely) conservation program. Hoʻomaluō guides the Center’s leadership in environmental best practices, including energy consumption, water use and waste diversion.

The Center’s carbon offset program is also in alignment with the Hawai‘i Tourism Authority’s (HTA) vision of Mālama Kuʻu Home (Caring for My Beloved Home). HTA’s objective is to help empower the community to have a greater voice in tourism’s future, with a focus on regenerating the environment, perpetuating the Hawaiian culture, recognizing Hawai‘i’s multiethnic cultures and supporting responsible economic outcomes.

“The Hawai‘i Convention Center’s industry-leading environmental practices help reduce the impact of our meetings and events, and provide organizers and attendees with customized, turnkey options to protect our natural resources right here in Hawai‘i,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, managed by ASM Global.

In 2018 the Center achieved Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) v.4 O+M Gold certification, which was recertified in 2021. In January the Center was recognized among 14 venues and events with the 2021 Hawai‘i Green Business Program (HGBP) Award by the State of Hawai‘i for its energy efficiency and sustainable business practices.

The Center has offered its One Million Trees initiative since 2016, partnering with the statewide nonprofit Hawaiian Legacy Reforestation Initiative (HLRI) to reforest native and endemic trees in Hawai‘i. The Center’s new carbon offset program is offered through Hawai‘i-based Legacy Carbon, which is dedicated to providing the highest-quality, cost-effective certified carbon offsets in the world. The program has been certified by the prestigious Switzerland-based Gold Standard Foundation and is the first forestry project in North America to issue Gold Standard credits.

The Hawai‘i Convention Center’s carbon footprint was calculated by Greenview in partnership with Legacy Carbon. Greenview is a sustainability firm that provides hospitality organizations with research, consulting and advisory services, as well as the leading online sustainability data platform.

To learn more about the carbon offset program, visit the Center’s website or e-mail info@hccasm.com.

Hawaii Convention Center to Fully Reopen Exhibit Halls After Hosting Agencies Serving Our Community

The Hawai‘i Convention Center will fully reopen its Exhibit Halls for meetings and events in January 2022 after hosting multiple public sector agencies and programs during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Throughout the pandemic, the Center worked with state agencies to quickly provide temporary space that allowed for additional staffing and social distancing, while delivering important public services such as unemployment claims processing for the Hawai‘i Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR), COVID-19 contact tracing for the Hawai‘i Department of Health, vote counting for Hawai‘i’s Office of Elections, and Hawai‘i Bar Exams for the Hawai‘i State Judiciary. Most recently, the Center’s Exhibit Hall 1 served as a location for DLIR, DOH, and the Hawai‘i Housing Finance & Development Corporation (HHFDC)/Catholic Charities operation providing rental and housing assistance to local families. The DOH will move to a smaller space at the Center through spring 2022, while all other agencies will be returning to their original offices.

“The Hawai‘i Convention Center was pleased to serve our community by offering space so these agencies could provide important services in a safe and socially distanced manner,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, managed by ASM Global. “As the COVID-19 pandemic has progressed, the needs for these spaces have changed, and we will be welcoming meetings and events back to our Exhibit Halls.”

The health and safety of guests and employees is the Center’s top priority, and it continues to follow guidelines set by the State of Hawai‘i and the City & County of Honolulu. The Center has developed and implemented health and safety measures led by ASM Global’s comprehensive VenueShield program.

The Center has also developed new virtual meetings packages to offer guests the convenience of attending meetings remotely. This full array of turnkey video-production services includes professionally coordinated pre-recording management, webinar and live-stream production, and hybrid meeting design and execution across a variety of popular virtual platforms.

Visit HawaiiConvention.com for updates and additional information about booking a meeting or event. The Center’s interactive virtual map offers a complete 3D tour of rooms and facilities.

About the Hawai‘i Convention Center

“Where Business and Aloha Meet,” the 1.1 million-square-foot Hawai‘i Convention Center provides a spacious, modern and flexible meeting space in the heart of Honolulu – all with an award-winning team and renowned aloha spirit. Conveniently located between East and West, the Center is a global leader for a diverse array of meetings and events, just steps from 30,000 hotel rooms in iconic Waikiki. The Center is a state-owned facility opened in 1998, and is managed by ASM Global. For more, visit HawaiiConvention.com.

About ASM Global

ASM Global is the world’s leading producer of entertainment experiences. It is the global leader in venue and event strategy and management – delivering locally tailored solutions and cutting-edge technologies to achieve maximum results for venue owners. The company’s elite venue network spans five continents, with a portfolio of more than 325 of the world’s most prestigious arenas, stadiums, convention and exhibition centers, and performing arts venues. For more, visit www.asmglobal.com.

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MEDIA CONTACT
Teddi Anderson
President, TLC PR
(808) 535-9099
teddi@tlcpr.com

Hawai‘i Convention Center Welcomes Hector Morales as Executive Chef

The Hawai‘i Convention Center welcomes Hector Morales as its new executive chef.

Morales has 25 years of culinary leadership experience in Hawai‘i. He most recently served as the chef de cuisine at Mauna Kea Beach Hotel on the Island of Hawai‘i. He also founded a food service consultancy, working with well-known restaurants in Hawai‘i and Nevada.

Morales previously served as the executive chef at the Polynesian Cultural Center for eight years, overseeing culinary and food services for thousands of guests daily across luaus, restaurants and concessions. He started his Hawai‘i career at O‘ahu’s Turtle Bay Resort, where he was executive chef for 16 years, managing the resort’s three restaurants, as well as the culinary operations for a variety of large-scale events. Morales also advised food and beverage teams at Turtle Bay Resort partner properties throughout the country.

In addition, Morales has extensive international experience. He worked as a chef at the SAS Norway and as the banquet chef for the King of Norway. He also worked as chef de cuisine at The Regent Sydney in Australia.

Morales is a graduate of the Johnson & Wales University Culinary Arts program. His achievements are recognized by the James Beard Foundation and Confrerie de la Chaine des Rotisseurs.

“The Hawai‘i Convention Center is widely known for its culinary innovation, sharing the authentic flavors of the Pacific with meetings and events guests from around the world. We are enthusiastically looking forward to Hector’s leadership and extensive experience as we continue to welcome guests back,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawai‘i Convention Center, managed by ASM Global.

The health and safety of guests and employees are the Center’s top priority, and it continues to follow guidelines set by the State of Hawai‘i and the City & County of Honolulu. The Center has developed and implemented health and safety measures led by ASM Global’s comprehensive VenueShield program.

Visit HawaiiConvention.com for updates and additional information about booking a meeting or event. The Center’s interactive virtual map offers a complete 3D tour of rooms and facilities.

AEG Community Foundation Awards $40,000 in Charitable Grants in Hawai‘i

The AEG Community Foundation, the newly formed charitable arm of AEG, which manages the Hawai‘i Convention Center, has awarded $40,000 in grants to two nonprofit organizations in Hawai‘i. The Foundation’s mission is to support children and families in need in the areas of K-12 education, the arts, and health and wellness in communities where AEG operates.

Left to Right (Jan. 23, 2019): Avery Fukeda, Sales Coordinator, Hawai‘i Convention Center; Teri Orton, General Manager, Hawai’i Convention Center; Arden Salassa, Corporate Relations Manager, Make-A-Wish Hawaii; James Donnelly, Hospitality and Development Manager, Make-A-Wish Hawaii.
Left to Right (Feb. 1, 2019): Auli‘i Hirayama, Development Director, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii; Teri Orton, General Manager, Hawai’i Convention Center; Paddy Kauhane, Interim President & CEO, Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii.

Make-A-Wish Hawai‘i was awarded $25,000 to support its mission of granting life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses, and the Boys & Girls Club of Hawaii was awarded $15,000 to support sports and culinary arts programs for at-risk youth.

“We are pleased that two outstanding organizations in our community, Make-A-Wish Hawai’i and Boys & Girls Clubs of Hawai’i, were selected to receive grants from the AEG Community Foundation,” said Teri Orton, general manager of the Hawai‘i Convention Center. “In its more than 20 years of operation, the Hawai‘i Convention Center has participated in numerous efforts to support and enhance Hawai‘i’s communities, including efforts furthered by AEG’s longstanding AEG 1Community program, which established foundations and programs and contributed more than $120 million in direct financial and in-kind support of charitable, community and civic programs over the past decade.”