Convention Center $64M repair project in limbo amid leadership crisis

Yahoo

22-05-2025

HONOLULU (KHON2) — Just weeks after posting one of its most profitable months, the Hawaii Convention Center is now facing a new wave of uncertainty.
A $64 million rooftop repair project is now in limbo, with no clear leadership in place.
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April 2025 marked a high point for the Hawaii Convention Center, with a surge of conventions and events, like the state's largest pickleball tournament and total revenue for the month at $2.5 million. The success presented at the HTA Budget and Finance and Convention Center Committee meeting.
'We hosted a total of 28 events for the month which was four more than what we had budgeted from the year prior,' said Teri Orton, Hawaii Convention Center General Manager.
But at a time when momentum seems to be building, the two year, $64 million rooftop repair project is on hold. The project, focused on repairing severe corrosion and leaks in the rooftop terrace deck, was expected to begin in early 2026 and take nearly two years to complete. Another $35 million in repair and maintenance projects were planned to be done during the two year repair timeframe.
The project was designed to continue operations during construction, with events shifted to weekends and only use of the lobby level event space.
While the renovations present short term challenges the long term vision is to have a revitalized convention center that continues to be a cornerstone for Hawaii's tourism and event sector but who will lead these projects going forward remains to be seen.That's because Isaac Choy, HTA Acting Chief Administrative Officer and Vice President of Finance, is now on administrative leave amid an internal investigation for reports of a hostile work environment.
His absence as a key financial decision-maker has created a leadership vacuum at a critical moment.
'I think the reality is it is going to be difficult, if not impossible, to gain that expertise because of the lack of historical knowledge from this contract from inception,' said James McCully, HTA Board Member.
Committee members asked about an internal plan, to find out there is none.
'So, Caroline, when this occurred meaning your recommendation or decision to put Isaac on administrative temporary leave, did you have a solution to this?' asked McCully.
'The solution was to reach out to the comptroller and ask for assistance from DAGS,' said Caroline Anderson, HTA Interim President and CEO.
Convention Center officials said they've already had to reschedule large conventions to other venues for 2026 and 2027. They say a delay in construction would impact the island's economy.
'We absolutely cannot let the project run behind schedule because it will mean we will have to relocate additional business we have put our word on the line to those customers holding for 2028,' said Orton.
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The leadership issue is expected to be discussed in next week's HTA board meeting.
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