What was supposed to be a one-year fix has turned into a two-year scheduling nightmare. The Hawaiʻi Convention Center’s long-delayed $64 million roof replacement—along with a slate of other upgrades—will now stretch through 2027, putting millions of dollars in group travel at risk. The HTA has issued an RFP and is scrambling to juggle 18 major citywide events over the two-year span, working with organizers to shift dates or find alternate venues somewhere in Hawaiʻi. To give you an idea of the impact, the Rotary International Convention was expected to bring in $35-$40 million to the local economy. The Legislature first punted on this in 2017—when the price tag was half as much. Now we’re paying for that lack of foresight, literally.
A $227 Million Plan. Zero Shovels. Now at Auction.
February 17, 2026
