CANstruction 2026: Creativity, Team Spirit and Community Impact

Office Pavilion was proud to once again support CANstruction Honolulu as the sponsor of the Best Team Spirit Award.  Now in its 21st year, the annual event brought together eight local architecture, design, engineering, and construction teams for a creative competition with a meaningful purpose.

This year’s theme, “CANtennial: Designs of the Decades,” celebrated AIA Hawaiʻi’s 100th anniversary by challenging teams to bring different decades to life through larger-than-life structures made entirely from canned goods.  From iconic designs to memorable moments in history, each team found its own creative way to interpret the era.

The finished structures were on display at the Central Pacific Bank Downtown Atrium from September 14–18, giving the public an opportunity to see the installations up close and vote for the People’s Choice Award.

Celebrating Team Spirit

The Best Team Spirit Award went to We CAN Do It!, representing the 1940s and created by Bowers + Kubota Consulting, ENPRO and Hensel Phelps.

Their structure—a LEGO-inspired Rosie the Riveter—brought the iconic “We Can Do It!” image to life, and the team carried that theme beyond their build. Wearing coordinated Rosie the Riveter T-shirts and signature red bandanas, they embodied their concept and brought an extra level of creativity, enthusiasm and team spirit to the competition.

As a fun way to celebrate the winning team, this year’s trophy took inspiration from the iconic Hawaiian Sun juice can—a playful connection to both CANstruction and a familiar local favorite. Reimagined as an “Office Pavilion” can, the design featured its own team-spirit-inspired ingredients and details while keeping the recognizable look and feel of the original.  Inside were an assortment of local snacks and treats, along with an Amazon gift card, to help the winning team celebrate.

Congratulations to the 2026 Winners!

Best Team Spirit: 1940s — “We CAN Do It!” by Bowers + Kubota Consulting, ENPRO and Hensel Phelps
Best Original Design: 1940s — “We CAN Do It!” by Bowers + Kubota Consulting, ENPRO and Hensel Phelps
Structural Ingenuity: 1990s — “The ’90s Called...They Still Care.” by G70 and Hawaiian Dredging
Best Meal: 1930s — “The Can Francisco Crossing” by Lowney Architecture & Swinerton Builders
Best Use of Labels: 1970s — “Rolling Forward CANS in Motion” by WhiteSpace Architects and Iwamoto Engineering Consultants, Inc.
Most Cans: 2000s — “iCAN” by Design Partners Incorporated and Castle & Cooke Homes Hawaii, Inc.
People’s Choice Award: 1990s — “The ’90s Called...They Still Care.” by G70 and Hawaiian Dredging

More Than a Competition

While the creative structures are what make CANstruction so much fun to see, the event's impact extends well beyond the competition.  The canned goods collected through the event are donated to the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, helping provide food to people and families throughout our community.

This year, CANstruction raised $33,588.98 and collected 17,110 pounds of canned goods for the Hawaiʻi Foodbank.

Since CANstruction began in Honolulu, the event has continued to bring the local design and construction community together around creativity, collaboration and a shared commitment to giving back.

Mahalo to AIA Honolulu, the Hawaiʻi Foodbank, this year’s participating teams, and everyone who helped make CANstruction 2026 another memorable event.  We’re grateful to be part of a tradition that brings the design community together while making a difference in Hawaiʻi.