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After an extensive $3 million renovation lasting five months, the Hawaii Suites have officially reopened to the public within the Neal S. Blaisdell Center’s Exhibition Hall, confirmed city officials.
Initially built as an expansion to the Exhibition Hall in 1993, the Hawaii Suites consist of 12 meeting rooms that offer flexible spaces for smaller events, breakout rooms, or expanded exhibition space, according to the city.
The renovation project focused on enhancing safety, energy efficiency, and deferred maintenance. The updated features include movable acoustic divider walls, individual thermostat controls and air handlers for each room, energy-saving “dimmable” lighting, top-quality commercial flooring and wall finishes, and modern solar shades for a refreshed look, stated officials.
Dita Holifield, director of the city’s Department of Enterprises Services, expressed satisfaction with the completed renovation project, which was finished within the scheduled timeframe and budget. Holifield added, “We can now promptly resume business and reopen our doors to host our community events, meetings, and activities.”
The Wiki Wiki One Day Vintage Collectibles and Hawaiiana Show, an annual event that has been held at the Blaisdell Center for the past 32 years, will mark the reopening of the Hawaii Suites on Sunday, according to the city’s announcement.
The Blaisdell Center, formerly known as the Hawaii International Center, was constructed in 1964. The Exhibition Hall and the administrative building of the facility, including the Galleria and Box Office, underwent their last renovation in 1992.
Meanwhile, larger-scale renovations are already in progress at the Blaisdell Center.
In February, the city commenced a $43.6 million campuswide capital improvement project managed by the Department of Design and Construction, with Pacific Architects Inc. and WCIT serving as consultants.
The project focuses on upgrading the arena and concert hall, aiming to install new lighting and electrical systems, fire sprinklers, roofing, air conditioning, and other essential updates. The concert hall is expected to be closed for a full year as part of these renovations.
During the renovation period, events that cannot take place at the Blaisdell Center will be relocated to alternative venues, including the Waikiki Shell, as announced by the city.
In March, John Condrey, the city’s project manager, revealed that approximately six years were spent on developing a master plan for the extensive renovation of the Blaisdell Center.
Initially estimated to cost around $400 million, the cost rose to approximately $773 million in a subsequent draft environmental impact statement, which called for the demolition of the arena, Exhibition Hall, and parking garage.
In 2020, due in part to the escalating cost of the city’s rail line project, the Caldwell administration chose to halt the Blaisdell renovation.
Condrey explained that after it became clear that the project couldn’t move forward, city staff devised a budget for a scaled-down renovation to ensure the campus can function effectively for the next 20 years. He stated, “This is the bare minimum, this is what we have to do to make the campus work.”
The arena will be closed until November, while the concert hall is anticipated to reopen on June 30. The city assures that no full campus closures will be necessary during the construction process.
For more details about the project, please visit blaisdellcenter.com or email [email protected].
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