The good news? The Hawaiʻi Convention Center’s long-running roof issues are finally being addressed.
The bad news? While lawmakers approved using $21 million from the Convention Center’s own enterprise fund to fix major leaks, they declined an additional $55 million request for broader modernization. As a result, roughly 19 improvement projects, including new carpet, digital signage, meeting space upgrades, food and beverage enhancements, and IT improvements, have been pushed into a future six-year capital plan. Sound familiar?
Hotels don’t view renovations as optional. They’re simply the cost of staying competitive. Every seven to ten years, owners reinvest in their properties to meet guest expectations, protect market share, and justify higher rates. Convention centers operate the same way.
Right now, we’re treating the Hawaiʻi Convention Center as an expense to maintain rather than an asset to grow. While destinations across the country are investing heavily in modern, technology-enabled convention facilities, Hawaiʻi will reopen in 2028 with its most critical leaks repaired, but many of the upgrades that improve the attendee experience are still waiting for funding.
The Convention Center is more than another state building. It’s an economic engine that fills hotel rooms, restaurants, and attractions across Oʻahu. Fixing the roof is necessary. But repairing deferred maintenance isn’t the same as investing in competitiveness.
Waiting for things to become outdated enough to be trendy isn’t much of a strategy. Now, excuse me while I prepare my overhead projector transparencies for my next meeting.
