2025 Chapter Awards
The American Planning Association, Hawaiʻi Chapter is pleased to announce its winners for the 2025 Chapter Awards Program. The annual awards are given to recognize individuals, communities, private organizations, public agencies, and professional planning and design firms whose work exemplifies the planning profession’s highest goals and ideals. Award nominations were reviewed and winners selected by a jury of professional planners from the APA Hawai‘i Chapter.
APA Hawai`i presented the following awards at the Hawaiʻi Congress of Planning Officials Conference in August 2025.
An Analysis of Managed Retreat Strategies in Hawai‘i: Policy and Funding Opportunities and Challenges
Office of Planning and Sustainable Development, Coastal Zone Management Program | SSFM International, Inc. | Integral Consulting | Schlack Ito | Solutions Pacific
Faced with the growing threat of sea level rise, Hawai‘i’s Coastal Zone Management Program developed a visionary Beach Resilience Program to guide adaptation in vulnerable coastal areas. The initiative champions managed retreat and uses a locally informed adaptation pathways approach, integrating science, community voices, and traditional ecological knowledge. With 20 actionable recommendations across six key areas, the program lays a transparent, equitable foundation for long-term coastal resilience and beach restoration..
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Mālama ʻĀina Plan
University of Hawai‘i Community Design Center
The Mālama ʻĀina Plan reimagines Moku o Loʻe as a resilient, culturally rooted Native Hawaiian Place of Learning through climate adaptation and Indigenous stewardship. Commissioned by the Hawai‘i Institute of Marine Biology and developed by the UH Community Design Center, the Plan blends biocultural practices, sea level rise strategies, and the eight realms of pono stewardship from ʻAha Kiole councils. Grounded in community mana‘o and guided by principles of place, access, and legacy, it offers a thoughtful blueprint for cultural renewal and environmental care.
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East Honolulu Watershed Management Plan
Honolulu Board of Water Supply | SSFM International, Inc.
The East Honolulu Watershed Management Plan charts a forward-looking path for water resource stewardship through 2040, blending technical rigor with cultural insight. Created by the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, the plan incorporates community input, climate projections, and Native Hawaiian practices to guide responsible use of surface and groundwater. Its unanimous adoption by city and state agencies underscores its strength as a balanced, inclusive framework for long-term sustainability.
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Primary Urban Center Development Plan
City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning and Permitting | Raimi + Associates | Opticos Design Inc. | Strategic Economics Inc. | Townscape Inc. | University of Hawai‘i Sea Grant Program | Wilson Okamoto Corporation
The Primary Urban Center Development Plan offers a comprehensive roadmap for growth, housing, and infrastructure across Honolulu’s most populous region. Led by the Department of Planning and Permitting and Raimi + Associates, the plan reflects years of public engagement and research, addressing coastal hazards, transit-oriented development, and integrated water resource strategies. By aligning with the O‘ahu General Plan and embracing both tradition and innovation, it sets a durable course for equitable development and long-term community well-being.
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Pololū Trailhead Management Plan
Department of Land and Natural Resources | Project Pololū | Townscape, Inc.
The Pololū Trailhead Management Plan exemplifies a deeply collaborative approach to protecting one of Hawai‘i Island’s most treasured cultural landscapes. Developed through a co-management process led by DLNR DOFAW and rooted in the voices of North Kohala’s community, the plan addresses overtourism impacts while honoring local knowledge, kuleana, and ancestral ties. With support from Protect Pololū and Townscape, Inc., the plan offers a grounded model for stewardship that centers cultural integrity and long-term conservation.
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Pāpa‘aloa Park Master Plan and Phase I Development
County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation | PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. | KYA, Inc.
The Papa‘aloa Park Master Plan showcases the power of grassroots leadership in transforming the loss of a historic gymnasium into a community-driven opportunity for renewal. With $10 million in combined state and county funding, the plan blends plantation-era character with updated recreational amenities, ensuring continuity with Papa‘aloa’s long-standing legacy. Through inclusive engagement and thoughtful design, the project reflects local values and sets a strong precedent for citizen-led planning in rural Hawai‘i.
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City and County of Honolulu Storm Water Strategic Plan
City and County of Honolulu Department of Facility Maintenance Storm Water Quality Division | G70
The City and County of Honolulu’s first-ever Storm Water Strategic Plan responds to a clear public call for direction, offering a structured path to improve water quality and reduce flooding across O‘ahu. Developed through broad stakeholder engagement, the plan outlines eight measurable goals and short-term strategies to guide future investments, infrastructure renewal, and climate adaptation. With built-in performance tracking and five-year updates, it sets a practical foundation for long-term environmental and community resilience.
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Village Park Sub-Area Corridor Study / Evolution of Honolulu's Complete Streets Program
City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services | SSFM International, Inc.
The Village Park–Kupuna Loop project stands out as one of Honolulu’s earliest neighborhood-scale efforts to improve street safety and accessibility under the Complete Streets initiative. Sparked by community concerns and guided by collaborative planning, the project introduced traffic calming measures, bike lanes, and roundabouts—resulting in dramatic crash reductions. Its successful progression from study to construction offers a replicable model for safer, multimodal corridors across the island.
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Hāna Community Pathway Study
Maui Metropolitan Planning Organization | Councilmember Shane Sinenci & Staff | Hana Business Council | Hana Ranch | PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc.
The Hāna Community Pathway Study reflects a locally driven effort to create a safer, more inclusive travel experience for residents of all ages and abilities. Led by Maui MPO, the study builds on years of advocacy and landowner support to propose a 5.5-mile multimodal route that preserves Hāna’s rural character while addressing urgent safety concerns. With a phased, adaptable planning model rooted in community values, the study offers a replicable framework for small towns across Hawai‘i.
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O‘ahu Vision Zero Action Plan
City and County of Honolulu, Department of Transportation Services | Nelson\Nygaard | PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. | Austin, Tsutsumi & Associates, Inc.
The Vision Zero Action Plan sets a bold target of eliminating traffic fatalities on O‘ahu by 2040 through a comprehensive, data-informed strategy. Developed by the City and County of Honolulu, the plan outlines 17 goals and 80 steps focused on infrastructure, education, and policy, prioritizing vulnerable road users and high-injury locations. Early successes like solar-powered pedestrian beacons and reduced school zone speed limits demonstrate the City’s proactive approach to safer streets for all.
For full award text: Download Award Board PDF
