Canned Structures Take Over Pearlridge For A Good Cause

Each year, AIA Honolulu Chapter invites teams of local architects, builders and engineers to compete in its Canstruction competition, erecting buildings made entirely of canned food. Last year, ADM Retail Planning and Architecture competed with its entry, ‘Join the Race to Drive Out Hunger.’ This year’s competition takes place Saturday at Pearlridge Center, Uptown Center Court. Photo by Doug Blagriff.

This weekend, American Institute of Architects (AIA), Honolulu Chapter will present its ninth annual Canstruction competition, hosting nine teams who will create structures made entirely of canned food.

A team-building opportunity for competitors, the event also will donate the canned food used to Hawaii Foodbank. To date, the event has donated more than 280,000 pounds of food.

This year’s theme is “Childhood Dreams,” representing its goal to prevent children from ever going without a meal.

Each company participating in the event is required to purchase or collect the canned goods that will be used in the construction.

“Each construction is anywhere from 1,500 to 4,000 cans of food,” said event co-chair Reid Mizue, an architect with Omizu Architecture Inc. “So you can see how it can get pretty expensive for companies.”

Building will begin 9 a.m. this Saturday at Pearl-ridge Center’s Uptown Center Court.

While building takes place, members of AIA Honolulu also invite keiki ages 5-12 to its Kids Can Corner.

“Kids coming in can begin to build with cans, sort of like Legos, and play with them,” said Mizue. “(We’re) trying to teach the keiki how to help Hawaii Foodbank — donate a can of food to the less fortunate in our own community and then you can have fun as well.”

Admission to Kids Can Corner is a donation of at least five cans of food.

Each “canstruction” will be on display for two weeks. During this time, friends and family of competitors, and shoppers also are encouraged to vote for the winner of the People’s Choice Award.

To do this, bring a can of food and place it in a shopping cart that will be next to each structure.

One can of food equals one vote.

For more information, visit aiahonolulu.org.