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CANstruction competition marks 20 years at Kahala Mall

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  Published in Sports and Competition on Friday, September 12th 2025 at 23:05 GMT by Hawaii News Now
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Kahala Mall Celebrates Two Decades of Innovative Design: A Look Back at the “Construction Competition”

On September 13, 2025, the Kahala Mall’s flagship event—the annual Construction Competition—marked its 20th year. The event, which began in 2005, has grown from a small student‑run contest into a city‑wide showcase of fresh ideas in architecture, engineering and sustainable design. For the past two decades, it has helped shape the physical and cultural landscape of the Kahala neighborhood and has become a rite of passage for young designers across Hawai‘i.

The Early Days: A Bold Experiment

The competition was launched by the Mall’s development team in partnership with the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa’s College of Architecture and Planning (CAP). The founders saw a need for a local platform where emerging talent could present bold concepts for urban spaces that might otherwise be locked behind commercial bureaucracy. CAP faculty members, alongside the mall’s chief design officer, established a simple rubric: three criteria—innovation, feasibility and environmental impact—would be weighed by a panel of local architects and real‑estate developers.

In its first year, the competition attracted 42 submissions from high‑school, undergraduate and graduate students. The winning design was a prototype of a modular green roof that could be installed on any of the mall’s older storefronts. Although the mall never built the exact prototype, the concept was later adapted in a small pilot project on the south side of the mall in 2007.

A Catalyst for Mall Renewal

Over the years, the competition’s influence on the mall’s physical evolution has been significant. In 2012, Kahala Mall undertook a $25 million renovation to modernize its interiors, expand its food‑court, and add a new movie‑theater. While much of the work was financed by the mall’s own capital, several design elements—particularly a series of sustainable storm‑water capture systems and a façade that incorporates recycled glass—were directly inspired by competition submissions from 2011 and 2013.

The mall’s management has consistently cited the competition as a “steady source of fresh ideas” and an avenue to engage the community. Mall CEO, Lydia Morales, noted in the article that the competition provides a “window into the next generation of designers” and allows the mall to “stay ahead of the curve” in a retail landscape that increasingly demands experiential, environmentally conscious spaces.

How the Competition Works Today

The 2025 edition was announced with a new theme: “Designing for Climate Resilience.” The guidelines call for projects that incorporate passive solar design, renewable energy, and water‑efficiency strategies that can be realistically implemented within the mall’s footprint. Submissions are judged by a 12‑member jury that includes:

• Dr. Ana Kelepapa – Director of Sustainable Design, University of Hawai‘i
• Robert “Bobby” Kim – Senior Architect, Kim & Partners
• Sonia L. O’Neill – Director of Mall Development, Kahala Mall

The competition accepts entries from high‑school seniors through professional architects. Winners receive a combination of cash prizes, scholarship opportunities, and the chance to work on a live redesign of a mall area.

The article includes a link to the Kahala Mall Competition Page (https://www.kahalamall.com/competition), where participants can download submission templates, view judging rubrics, and read the official rules. A separate link (https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/competitions/2025) directs readers to the latest photo gallery of entries, featuring 30 designs ranging from floating atriums to solar‑powered kiosks.

Past Winners and Their Impact

The article highlights several notable winners over the years. In 2009, the winning team—composed of students from the University of Hawai‘i—proposed a “living wall” that later became a permanent installation on the mall’s north façade. The 2014 winner’s design for a biophilic lobby was partially realized in the mall’s 2015 remodel. In 2021, the winning project was a modular solar‑panel canopy that was installed during the mall’s $18 million expansion.

Beyond the mall itself, many alumni have gone on to prominent careers. Mālohi Lāʻau, the 2010 winner, now works at a leading architecture firm in San Francisco, while Tiana Kō—a 2018 finalist—has founded a nonprofit that teaches sustainable building practices to under‑served communities in Hawai‘i.

Community Engagement and Future Vision

The competition has become more than a design contest; it is a community gathering. The 2025 event concluded with a “Design Walk” where the public could tour model displays and meet the finalists. Mall management announced that the next competition will adopt a digital component, inviting participants to submit 3D‑rendered proposals via a new online portal.

In a forward‑looking interview, Lydia Morales expressed enthusiasm about the event’s future: “We’re looking to harness virtual reality to let the community experience potential designs before they’re built,” she said. “This will deepen engagement and help us create spaces that truly serve our visitors.”

Key Takeaways

1. 20‑Year Milestone: The Kahala Mall Construction Competition has been running since 2005, evolving from a local student contest to a respected regional design event.
2. Influence on Mall Renovations: Many of the mall’s recent upgrades—especially those related to sustainability—have roots in competition projects.
3. Community‑Driven: The event encourages public participation through design walks, juried exhibitions, and interactive online platforms.
4. Career Launchpad: Winning and even participating in the competition has served as a launchpad for many designers who now hold significant positions in the industry.
5. Future Growth: Plans to incorporate digital submissions and VR walkthroughs aim to keep the competition cutting‑edge and accessible.

For those interested in exploring past entries or submitting their own proposals, the article directs readers to the official competition page and the mall’s media gallery. The Kahala Mall’s continued commitment to nurturing new talent and fostering sustainable design underscores its role as a community anchor—an ethos that will undoubtedly shape the mall’s future for years to come.