PBX Hawai

Attendees, exhibitors & solutions

Who this event is for

Industry trends

Key trends shaping this market and its wider industry.

Hotel tiers

A range of accommodation options near the venue and across key areas.

Local transport

Get around the city with these convenient transport options.

Frequently asked

Glossary

1

General contractor (GC)

The prime contractor that holds the contract with the building owner, coordinates specialty subcontractors, runs the construction schedule and carries site safety responsibility. At a Hawaii building show, GCs are the buyers who compare product systems, lead times and island freight terms before specifying.

2

Subcontractor (sub)

A trade specialist - electrical, mechanical, plumbing, roofing, concrete, glazing, drywall - contracted by the GC to install a defined scope. Subs visit PBX Hawaii to evaluate installation systems, consumables and supplier support rather than finished design.

3

MasterFormat / spec section

The CSI MasterFormat numbering system that organizes construction work into divisions and numbered spec sections (for example Division 07 for thermal and moisture protection, Division 08 for openings). Exhibitors that publish product data in spec-section format are easier for architects and engineers to specify.

4

Building information modeling (BIM)

A coordinated 3D model of structure, envelope and building services used for clash detection, quantity take-off and fabrication. Hawaii design and construction teams increasingly ask suppliers for BIM objects and technical data at the booth, not just brochures.

5

Value engineering (VE)

A structured cost review that proposes alternative materials, systems or details to hit a budget without losing performance. On island projects, VE discussions often turn on freight cost and availability of replacement parts, which makes supplier lead-time data a show-floor question.

6

Change order

A written modification to contract scope, schedule or price signed after the original agreement. Contractors evaluating new products at the show need to know how quickly a supplier can issue revised submittals when a change order lands.

7

Punch list

The closeout list of incomplete or defective work that must be corrected before final payment and occupancy. Finishes, sealants and hardware shown at PBX Hawaii are frequently judged on how they perform at punch-list inspection.

8

LEED and green building certification

Third-party rating systems (LEED, and local equivalents) that score energy, water, materials and indoor environmental quality. Hawaii projects pursuing certification look for recycled content, low-VOC and energy-performance documentation from exhibitors.

9

Hawaii building code and county permitting

Hawaii adopts building codes at state level, while permits and inspections are administered by the county - on Oahu, the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP). Products and assemblies shown at the Blaisdell Center need documentation that supports county plan review.

10

Solar water heating requirement

Hawaii law has long required solar water heating systems on new single-family homes, subject to variance conditions. That makes solar thermal, PV and high-efficiency water heating recurring topics on the Honolulu show floor.

11

Ohana unit / accessory dwelling unit (ADU)

Hawaii's term for a secondary dwelling on a residential lot, now encouraged by state and county rules to add housing supply. Builders serving Oahu homeowners look at compact kitchens, prefabricated units and utility connections suited to ohana construction.

12

Prevailing wage (HRS Chapter 104)

Hawaii public construction work is subject to state prevailing wage requirements under Hawaii Revised Statutes Chapter 104, with federal Davis-Bacon rules applying where federal funds are involved. Exhibitors selling to public-sector contractors should expect payroll and certified-payroll questions.

13

Wind load and hurricane detailing

Hawaii's high-wind exposure drives code requirements for connectors, roof tie-downs, impact-rated glazing and continuous load paths. Structural connectors and envelope products that carry clear wind-load test data get attention from island contractors.

14

Drayage and material handling

Moving exhibit freight from the venue dock to the booth, handled by the show's official material-handling contractor. Because almost everything reaching Oahu arrives by ocean or air freight, exhibitors should plan drayage and return shipping well before the show.