Department of Accounting and General Services

HONOLULU — Leiopapa a Kamehameha, also known as The State Office Tower, is set to sport a new look in its lobby soon. The state of Hawaiʻi Department of Accounting and General Services (DAGS) built the16-story commercial property on the corner of Alakea and Beretania Streets in 1991. After some three decades, the lobby’s wood ceiling fell prey to termites; the best solution was to remove it.

DAGS’ Central Services Division (CSD), which performs repairs and maintenance on state facilities, hired a contractor to remove the beams and design a new aesthetic for the area. The work started in February of this year.

Termite droppings were falling from the wood in the ceiling, which made that part of the lobby unusable and created extra work for custodial staff. Of much greater concern, eventually the termites would eat through the wood, creating a safety hazard.

The construction crew finished the demolition phase last week and has begun repairs. “The second phase is to restore energy-efficient lighting in the lobby. Our attached agency, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, has for years used this lobby to display artwork, and we’d like to let them do that again soon in a renewed space,” said DAGS Director and Comptroller Keith Regan.

CSD Administrator James Kurata detailed the changes. “It’s going to look different from the original because we’re not putting back a wood ceiling. We’re going to paint the ceiling to match the wall color for a uniform look. Then we’ll install modern LED lighting.”

The project’s awarded bid came in at $116,888. The contractor has a total of 120 calendar days, so it’s scheduled to be finished in April 2025.