Hawaii Convention Center - Honolulu, Hawaii - Focal Point for Business in Oahu

The $350 million Hawaii Convention Center (HCC) was designed by local architectural firm Wimberly Allison Tong & Goo to be a study in ecology, energy-efficiency, and functional artistry. Since its opening in 1998, the HCC has won a number of awards for its design, which reflects the unique culture, community and environment of the Islands.

In the airy, naturally lit glass-walled lobby, a misty waterfall pours down 70 feet to a pond flanked by abstract steel "trees'' and real coconut palms. Canvas canopies cover the foyer, looking much like cresting ocean waves or the sails of tribal canoes. Leading to the Ala Wai Promenade is a grand exterior staircase, and lush landscaping adorns more than 60 percent of the property, including an award-winning rooftop garden that occupies 2.5 acres with ponds and tropical flora.

Original artwork has been incorporated into the HCC, such as pieces created by local youth and a fresco by the late Jean Charlot. The towering glass walls reveal the dramatic mountains to the south as visitors travel up the multi-level escalators. Every aspect of the Center has been designed to be pedestrian friendly and aesthetically pleasing.

The HCC's energy-saving systems center on its $10 million ventilating and air-conditioning system, which was engineered especially for Honolulu's tropical climate. To ensure air quality, special filters have been fitted to the air intakes that absorb diesel and gas vapors, thus insulating the exhibit halls, lobby, administrative areas, food service area and main kitchen from pollutants outside.

HCC by the numbers is an inspiring facility. There is more than 200,000 square feet of exhibition space in the main hall, which features drive-on floor access and can handle load capacities of up to 350 pounds per square foot. The registration lobby alone takes up 35,000 square feet and the production kitchen occupies another 20,000 square feet.

The HCC's 47 meeting rooms total 149,768 square feet in usable area. There are also two separate high-tech theaters with tiered seating that can be used for presentations or screenings. And with 30,000 hotel rooms in the vicinity, one-third of which are within a mile of the Center, there is plenty of space for out-of-town visitors.

Roughly 10 percent of meeting rooms are executive quality. There is a special teleconferencing center, several lounges and informal gathering places, and niches for displays. Even the 27,500-square-foot parking area and its 700 stalls can be utilized for convening outdoor events, in addition to 3.5 acres of terraces, lanais, and courtyards.

The HCC is wired for every possible need. There are LAN, WAN and shared or dedicated Ethernet connections, coaxial cable for video interconnects in all major building areas, wireless phone service, six-station simultaneous interpretation rooms, press rooms with global links to any country , connectivity to the network for computers in all meeting rooms, and high-speed Internet access throughout the facility.

Business services are available on site for attendees and exhibitors, including photocopying, transparencies, collating and binding, laminating, out-bound shipping and packaging and computer related services. The Business Center is conveniently located on the meeting room level.

All catering at the HCC is handled internally for meals and banquets, coffee and refreshment services, theme parties, crew-staff and green room catering, concessions and booth services. No samples of food product, alcoholic or non-alcoholic beverages or other consumables may be distributed at the HCC without prior written permission from the Food & Beverage Director.

The Hawaii Convention Center is located just 7.5 miles east of Honolulu International Airport and 1.5 miles west of Waikiki Beach, The address is 1801 Kalakaua Avenue, Honolulu, HI 96815.