IIDA Hoʻohuli Awards 2023

The headboards in the guest rooms feature fabrics that were inspired by the Aloha shirt, which dates back to the 1930s and was created by a Japanese shirt-maker; kapa cloth made by Native Hawaiians from natural fibers; and the plaid striped pattern called palaka, which was worn by Portuguese cowboys and is still popular today.

This year we celebrate our 3rd Biennial International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Hawaii Pacific Chapter’s Ho’ohuli Awards at the Prince Waikiki on Saturday, October 21, 2023. The awards’ mission is to promote the value of Hawai‘i designers and perpetuate the interior design profession. This prestigious competition aims to recognize and celebrate the outstanding achievements of talented individuals and firms within the Hawai‘i design community who have demonstrated innovation, creativity, and a commitment to pushing the boundaries of excellence in interior design. Winning a Ho‘ohuli Award is a mark of exceptional commercial design, vetted by seasoned and trusted leaders in the national interior design community.

Our profession is built upon a foundation of creativity, vision, and the ability to transform spaces into captivating environments that not only meet functional needs but also inspire and elevate the human experience. The Ho‘ohuli Awards serve as a platform to honor those who have exemplified these qualities and have contributed significantly to the growth and advancement of our industry. Participating in this competition not only provides an opportunity for public recognition but also fosters a sense of camaraderie among fellow designers. It is a chance to share ideas, celebrate successes, and inspire one another to continue pushing the boundaries of what is possible in our ever-evolving industry.

This year’s competition was an inspiring showcase of the best and brightest in local interior design. We invite you to read on and learn more about each award winning project and recipient.

On behalf of the board of directors and our chapter members, thank you to our 2023 Ho‘ohuli Award sponsors. We are so honored and fortunate to have your partnership and support. Thanks also to our hard-working Ho‘ohuli committee members and all the firms and designers who submitted these thoughtful projects for consideration. And congratulations to all the exceptional award winners!

Mahalo,

Raynette Tasha Aggabao,
IIDA, NCIDQ IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter President

Meet the Jurors

Moderator: Cheryl S. Durst
HON. FIIDA, LEED AP
International Interior Design Association

An exceptional communicator, innovator, and visionary leader, Cheryl S. Durst is the Executive Vice President and CEO of the International Interior Design Association. Representing 15,000 members across 58 countries, Cheryl is committed to achieving broad recognition for the value of design and its significant role in society.

At IIDA, Cheryl has set an agenda that leads the industry in creating community, advancing advocacy, and continuing decades of work toward equity. She is a member of the International WELL Building Institute Governance Council; a Trustee for Chicago’s Museum of Contemporary Art and the NYSID; and the first-ever recipient of the Interior Design Hall of Fame Leadership Award. She is the first African American woman to be inducted into the industry’s Hall of Fame. A lifelong knowledge enthusiast and voracious reader, Cheryl never walks away from meeting someone without gleaning a bit of their story — a talent she currently employs on her monthly podcast, The Skill Set, which focuses on the intangible skills that make us good at what we do.

Juror: Verda Alexander
Co-founder
Studio O+A

As the co-founder of Studio O+A, the San Francisco design firm responsible for groundbreaking offices at Facebook, Microsoft, Slack, McDonalds and many others, Verda Alexander has spent 30 years in the design industry redefining workplace and looking ahead to the future of work itself. Verda’s work focuses on expanding the conversation around design, social justice, climate activism and art. Combining a multi-disciplinary career with a passionate commitment to improving lives through design, her typical contribution to a project is to question received wisdom, test basic assumptions and look beyond conventional solutions to a more creative path. Verda’s experimental projects for O+A, range from pop-up installations on the future of the office to a mobile design lab partnering with communities across California. She recently completed an open source toolkit called “The Eco Playbook,” to challenge designers at her firm and across the industry to put planet and people first in the design process. Verda writes and speaks regularly on the ethics and aesthetics of design as the new editor at large for Metropolis Magazine. Verda also co-hosts “Break Some Dishes,” a podcast that engages innovators from industry and design in conversations about meeting the challenges of climate change.

Juror: Peter Harrison
IIDA, LEED AP ID+C

Peter is a recognized emerging leader in the built environment. He brings a fresh, collaborative spirit, and gregarious enthusiasm to his role as a project designer, sustainability strategist, and strong mentor to the next generation of designers. Foundational to his perspective, Peter has enjoyed a breadth of experiences: from collaborating on two of America’s Best Airports, Portland and San Francisco, contributing to a member-driven masterplan for a sports facility, to designing dynamic and inclusive workplaces for clients including Intel, Apple, and Brooks Sports. Throughout his project experiences, he strives to bring a strong sense of self-authenticity and encourages empathy and vulnerability as necessary assets to stakeholder and team engagement.

On projects, his work has included healthy material research and sustainability, storytelling through graphic communication, and technical construction documentation. Instilled from living in the Pacific Northwest, Peter has a passion for sustainability and has gained professional credentials including LEED AP ID+C, Fitwel Ambassador, and Living Future accreditation. He is also actively involved in the International Interior Design Association and the U.S. Green Building Council.

Juror: Nita Posada
IIDA, LEED AP BD+C
Skylab Architecture

Nita’s career has been broadly focused, including programming, planning, management, and design for academic, workplace, hospitality, healthcare, civic, and athletics projects. As Director of Interior Design for Skylab, Nita has had the pleasure of extending her work internationally to clients in South America and Europe. She has a Bachelor of Interior Architecture from the University of Oregon and is heavily involved in her community. Nita is a Past President of the Oregon Chapter of IIDA.

Ho’ohuli Awards Committee

Chair: Raynette Aggabao

Alana Yasui, Bill Bohan, Cyd Shizuru, Erika Zelasko, Greg Endo, Helene Oclinaria, Holly Boling Ruiz, Kaily Domit, Kamlyn Ikeda, Kera Yong, Keri Powlison, Kim Quezada, Kimi Logan, Laverne Kawakami, Lyndsay Brady, Malia Maldonado, Merrie Chung, Michael Yasui, Monique Palisbo, Musuai Pauulu, Pam Peay Sabrina Jones, Trixie Jenks, Violet Inouye

About Ho’ohuli Awards and IIDA Hawaiʻi Pacific Chapter

The 2023 Ho‘ohuli Awards, hosted by the International Interior Design Association (IIDA) Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter, honors outstanding commercial interior design in Hawai‘i. Ho‘ohuli is Hawaiian for “change,” which captures how interior design transforms spaces, creating fresh experiences for occupants.

The biennial event celebrated its winners at an exquisite gala on October 21, 2023, moderated by Cheryl S. Durst, Vice President & CEO of IIDA; emceed by Unyong Nakata, Founder and Principal of Nakata Advisory, LLC, and featured an esteemed panel of industry experts from outside Hawai‘i.

Since 2016, the IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter has been a professional resource to commercial designers in the local design community. As a Chapter within a global professional organization, we strive to enhance Interior Design’s value by promoting design excellence. Our mission is to elevate our profession and create positive impacts on businesses and the people behind them.

Explore more at iida-hi.org and join us on Instagram at @iidahawaiipacific.

The Ho’ohuli Award

Wayfinder Waikiki
Firm: The Vanguard Theory
Client: Dovetail + Co
Location: Waikīkī, O‘ahu

Located in the heart of a vibrant Waikiki neighborhood, the 228-room Wayfinder Waikiki consists of a main tower built in 1970 and a three-story annex from the 1950s. The ID team was challenged with converting two very different properties into one cohesive destination, creating a design narrative that was clearly Hawaiian.

Prior to the renovation, the hotel lobby was compartmentalized, featuring dark unusable spaces. By opening up the floor plan, natural light now floods the space. Boarded up walls were replaced by sliding wood shutters, which welcome trade winds into the building, and blur the line between the exterior landscape and the interior areas. Vibrant colors were strategically placed in the public areas to attract the guest’s line of sight to the restaurant, bar, and retail areas.

The Against All Odds Award

Pacific 19 is geared towards a younger traveler looking for an independent brand, local connection, and a value-oriented price. The room furniture is utilitarian, flexible, and outfitted with amazing merchandise to help guests create the ultimate adventure. | Photo: Mark Kushimi

Pacific 19
Firm: The Vanguard Theory
Client: Nine Brains
Location: Kailua-Kona, Hawai‘i Island

The client needed a design that reflects the hotel’s adventurous guests. Originally, the renovation budget was $13,500/key for 122 rooms with a 20-month lead-time. However, that took a sharp turn as the previous hotel owner removed all the existing furniture upon departure and the hotel needed to start operations in six months.

The Impact Award

The STEM Center features sustainable and educational elements, such as natural ventilation, rainwater catchment, day light controls, an astronomy viewing deck, test plot gardens, and landscaping with native plants. | Photo: Linny Morris

Girl Scouts of Hawai’i STEM Center for Excellence
Firm: G70 Design
Client: Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i
Location: Hale‘iwa, O‘ahu

The vision for the STEM Center is to provide a 21st century experiential learning facility for 4,800 local Girl Scouts, students, and community members. The Center treads lightly on the footprint of the camp and speaks to the Girl Scouts of Hawai‘i’s mission. Energy-efficient lighting and ceiling fans keep the naturally ventilated rooms comfortable.

The Live Award

The client wanted to transform the existing ground floor space into a sales gallery that captured the tower’s brand, utilizing the existing footprint and architectural elements. | Photo: Mark Koshimi

Ulana Sales Gallery
Firm: InForm Design
Client: The Howard Hughes Corporation
Location: Kaka‘ako, O‘ahu

Located in a 1962 mid-century building designed by famed architect Vladimir Ossipoff, the Ulana Sales Gallery pays homage to the existing architecture by incorporating mid-century nods through decorative lighting selections, finishes and the inclusion of mid-century modern furniture. These include a custom-designed solid walnut slatted couch and a custom monkeypod reception desk.

The Maker Award

Muliwai is a custom art installation that captures the energy of the mixing of waters where a stream meets the sea, resulting in a rich and abundant shoreline. | Photo: Oliver Koning

Muliwai
Firm: WCIT Architecture
Client: First Hawaiian Bank
Location: Waikīkī, O‘ahu

One of First Hawaiian Bank’s goals with each branch is to celebrate and provide an experience that is unique to the area and community in which it is located. For the Waikīkī branch, it is important that customers are given an opportunity to learn and be inspired by a story of Waikīkī’s past.

The Play Award

Guestroom furniture, wallcoverings, and most fabrics were made in collaboration with local artists. The bedside pendants are wrapped in lei – intertwined strands of pikake and pakalana flower buds, both symbols of love and celebration. | Photo: Read McKendree

Wayfinder Waikiki
Firm: The Vanguard Theory
Client: Dovetail + Co
Location: Waikīkī, O‘ahu

It was important to create a sense of place so guests knew they were nowhere else but Hawai‘i. The inclusion of lush tropical foliage and sustainable acacia wood on the ceiling and walls creates a welcoming reception area with a cultural narrative.

The Shop Award

The design utilizes the visibility from the existing 28-foot wide sliding glass entrance to conceptionally divide the interior space in land and sea on each end of the entrance. | Photo: Brandyn Liu

Local Motion Outrigger Reef Waikiki
Firm: Wander X Wonder
Client: Local Motion Hawaii
Location: Waikīkī, O‘ahu

The design emphasizes the classic surf legacy of the brand while introducing the brand’s renewed lifestyle image. Shipping containers house the checkout counter and glass display case. The exterior of the containers features typography and graphics that express the history, origins, and locations of Local Motion stores.

The People’s Choice Award

The custom sculpted facade of the reception desk is engraved with gentle curves which are reflected above in the curvilinear ceiling feature. On the floors, an undulating, wave-like pattern creates flow throughout the space. | Photo: Lew Harrington, Harrington Photography, Inc.

Straub Medical Center – Ear, Nose & Throat (ENT) Clinic
Firm: Stantec
Client: Straub Medical Center / Hawai‘i Pacific Health
Location: Kaka‘ako, O‘ahu

Located in downtown Honolulu, with unobstructed views of Honolulu Harbor, the design of this clinic highlights the importance of wai (water) to the community. Kaka‘ako was once comprised of fishing villages and salt ponds, and this deep connection to wai is reflected in the circulation, finishes, graphics, and curated artwork.

The Member of the Year Award

Monique Palisbo Assoc. IIDA, Leed Green Associaate, Well AP
Title: Interior Designer
Firm: Next Design LLC

Monique has been an active member of the IIDA Hawai‘i Pacific Chapter since she was a student at Chaminade University of Honolulu. She has consistently participated in IIDA activities, events, and committees and joined the IIDA’s Board of Directors as the VP of Advocacy. She is the current President Elect.

The Legacy Award

Sheryl Seaman, IIDA, AIA, Leed AP
Title: Vice Chairman
Firm: G70

Sheryl has served as president and chief operating officer of her firm and has served on the boards of professional and civic organizations in her 50 years of practice. She enthusiastically mentors student interns and young designers to enter international design competitions to instill design exploration, inclusivity, and social empathy in professional practice.

Honorable Mention Awards

The Dine Award Honorable Mention

Photo: Oliver Koning

Senia
Firm: WRNS Studio
Client: Anthony Rush & Katherine Nomura
Location: Downtown, O‘ahu

The Live Award Honorable Mention

Photo: Fernando Marroquin

Ritz-Carlton Penthouse Residences, Waikiki Beach
Firm: Guerin Glass Architects
Client: Irongate
Location: Waikīkī, O‘ahu

The Play Award Honorable Mention

Photo: Marion Philpotts-Miller & Jennifer Barron

Hotel Wailea Suites, Maui, Hawaii
Firm: Philpotts Interiors
Client: Hotel Wailea
Location: Wailea, Maui