Electricity Floor Plan Hotel Sales Tax Security Set-up Shipping Showcases Wholesale Wi-Fi Importing
Review availability and reserve your space
using the the 2024 Interactive Floor Plan
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- The venue is not union controlled, so you can set up without additional cost or absurd rules
- The more dealers that join, the more that we can spend on advertising. Tell everyone!
- UPS Air Freight will have your pallets awaiting you at your booth on set-up day
- UPS Air Freight charges only 85 cents a pound to ship your pallets! More info below
Why is this show so big and exciting?
More than 1 million people live within 45 minutes of the show, which is on the island of Oahu, a.k.a. the “Honolulu island”. An island chain (archipelago) is named after its biggest island, which in this case is volcanically active Hawai’i which is a 55-minute flight ($89 roundtrip) from Oahu. Our event is supported by a $120,000 advertising budget which gets our brochure into the physical mailbox of all 313,000 homes on the island. Hawaii does not allow billboards, so this method as well as social media will be our primary ad channels.
In addition, the 42,000 active military personnel and their 44,000 family members will be reached via digital sign boards at the gates to the Pearl Harbor, Hickam, Wheeler, Schofield, Fort Shafter and Kaneohe bases. The 312,000 piece mailing does not include the mailboxes on the military bases, so this method and our ads in Hawaii Military Guide (distributed at the commissary) is how we will reach those folks whose combined annual salaries are $2.7 billion (+ free housing).
As we grow, emphasis will be on vendors from Japan, India, China, Thailand, Malaysia, Australia, Mexico and Mainland USA. Our goal is 600 vendors to fill the entire Hawaii Convention Center and become the #2 largest mineral, fossil, gem & jewelry show on Earth (after Munich). We’ve done this already with massive shows in Denver and Tucson. Now we’re doing the same for the Pacific region.
Why is the booth fee so expensive?
It really isn’t. It is expensive to promote a major show. The booth fee alone doesn’t cover the venue rental and large advertising budget that is necessary to attract a large number of customers to make it worth your while to come. So the ticket revenue is needed to pay for insurance, security, staffing, pipe & drape, ticket commission, tables, chairs and electricity. In fact, a major show such as this does not produce a profit for the promoters until the 5th or 6th year when its growth finally exceeds the break-even point. Until then we work for free for you.
OK, I’m convinced. But what do I get for my money?
You can get a 10′ x 10′ booth backed by 8′ high back drape, a chair, printed company name sign, and 1000 watts of electricity. You may configure your booth(s) any way that you wish, with or without tables. Exhibitors may select their booth location when they apply, which becomes final upon receipt of their 50% deposit.
FLOOR PLAN:
The latest floor plan will be supplied to you when you apply since it is too time-consuming to keep it constantly updated here. However, it will be posted here 90 days before the show starts.
BUILDING PLAN:
Kamehameha Exhibit Halls II and III will be used for the first several years. The show will then expand into Hall I as well. (For a larger image, right-click and open in a New Tab)
OUR HOTEL WITH LOW GROUP RATES:
Ala Moana Hotel
We secured 500 room-nights at the gorgeous Ala Moana Hotel (photo gallery) which is just a 4-minute walk away from the Hawaii Convention Center. It is also adjacent to the legendary Ala Moana Center (a huge semi-outdoor mall) which features 160 dining options. It is a 14-minute walk to Ala Moana Beach or an 18-minute stroll under palm fronds to Waikiki Beach. The non-smoking hotel features a Starbucks, an upscale Steak House, two cafes, a swanky cocktail bar, self-service laundry, free hi-speed Wi-Fi, rooftop pool deck, large fitness center with steam and sauna rooms, a business center, and a parking deck — although we recommend that you take a Lyft / Uber from the airport (about $40) and save on the rental car cost and $39 daily parking fee.
Due to the close proximity to the show, please contact the hotel directly for your reservations:
Kona Tower room, Max Guests: 2 = $211 / night 246 square feet / 23 square meters, 1 queen bed and 1 sofa, microwave, coffee maker, mini-fridge, but no balcony.
Waikiki Tower room, Max Guests: 4 = $247 / night 345 square feet / 32 square meters (40% bigger than Kona Tower rooms), 2 double beds (max. guests 4) or 1 king bed and 1 chair pullout bed (max. guests 3), microwave, coffee maker, mini-fridge, and balcony.
The Ala Moana Hotel, Looking North:
The Ala Moana Hotel, Looking North-West from a higher elevation: 
SALES TAX & REGISTRATION:
Everyone selling services or merchandise in Hawaii must have a Hawaii General Excise Tax (GET) license. The more common name for this document is a “Business License”. Technically, Hawaii does not have a “sales tax”, but all merchandise offered for sale is subject to Hawaii’s GET. Nobody is exempt from being charged, not even schools, charities or wholesale buyers. You must collect 4.712% on every retail sale and 0.5% on every wholesale sale and submit the collected amount to the Hawaii Department of Taxation before December 20, 2023. This is the same process as other shows in NJ, CO, AZ, CA, and all other states that have a sales tax.
But first, you need to apply for your 1-time / permanent $20 GET license. It’s easy! Click this link (https://hitax.hawaii.gov/_/) and then follow the three easy steps:
REPORTING AND PAYING THE GET THAT YOU COLLECTED:
Keep records of your sales and after the show return to (https://hitax.hawaii.gov/_/) and follow the three easy steps to submit the collected GET amount:
For more information, visit the Department of Taxation website at https://tax.hawaii.gov.
SECURITY:
Provided 24 hours a day beginning with setup day on Tuesday. The staff is comprised of off-duty (or retired) Honolulu Police Department or Sheriff Division officers.
We also bought a new 8′ wide x 8′ deep x 8′ tall walk-in vault for those with high-value items. The reservation rates are $150 for each carry-on luggage and/or small box, $250 each for full size suitcase and/or large box or crate, and $500 for a wheeled stacked cart.
SET-UP HOURS and TEAR-DOWN HOURS:
Set up is Tuesday, October 29 from 9 am to 9 pm You will unload your automobile on the parking deck Level 2, and come down by either of two freight elevators to Level 1 (street level) where the show takes place. UPS Freight, trucks and other vehicles over 6′ tall will unload at a loading dock on Level 1, which cars are not allowed to enter. You cannot load through the street level lobby doors.
The venue does provide dollies for your use free of charge. When you arrive please come to the check-in booth in the lobby and be given an ID badge.
Tear down and load-out begins at 6 pm on Sunday and ends 5 hours later at 11 pm. It then resumes the next day at 9 am until 5 pm when we must be completely vacated. If you are shipping out with UPS, then they’ll pick up your pallets on this day.
SHIPPING TO THE SHOW:
Do not ship pallets to the convention center. Instead, you will ship to UPS Air Freight’s depot in Honolulu to enjoy our absurdly low negotiated rates and simplified logistics. Ship your pallets from within 50 miles of any major US airport (such as Denver or Los Angeles) via UPS Air Freight at these 2024 rates per pallet:
21+ days before show start = 85¢ per pound + $65 trade show fee
5-20 days before show start = $1.65 per pound + $65 trade show fee
1-4 days before show start = $2.45 per pound + $65 trade show fee
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- The rates are higher if the origin is more than 50 miles from a major airport.
- There is an $85 lift-gate fee if the origin does not have a loading dock.
- There is an $85 fee if the origin is a residence.
- This rate includes delivery to your booth at the Hawaii Convention Center.
- THERE ARE NO OTHER FEES.
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Are you shipping from Asia?
Rates are updated every 3 months and depend on oil prices, but as an example, on December 6, 2023 the rate was $5.70 / kg to ship to Honolulu from Japan.
That does not include customs clearance charges (which are not high) and duties (if any). Allow enough time for shipping and clearance process. We strongly recommend that you send your pallets 30+ days before the show starts. The UPS trade show staff will assist you through the entire process.
To learn the current rate for your shipment from Asia (or any other continent), send an email with your shipping origin, estimated pallet weights, and description of contents to TradeShow@UPS.com and ask for a quote. Be sure to say that you are shipping to the Honolulu Show in Oct/Nov 2024 to get their best price.
Are you shipping from Mexico or South America?
Send an email with your shipping origin, estimated pallet weights, and description of contents to TradeShow@UPS.com and ask for a quote. Be sure to say that you are shipping to the Honolulu Show in Oct/Nov 2024 to get their best price.
Save money!
Exhibit at the Denver Show and ship extra merchandise from there for 85 cents / pound (= $1.87 per kg) . Then talk to the UPS representative and leave your pallets in your booth or tent at the end of the 10-day show. When you arrive at the Honolulu Show to set up, your pallets will be waiting for you next to your booth …utterly convenient!
Ship your pallets to this address:
Your Name
Booth # and Mobile #
C/O UPS-GFF HNL
3375 Koapaka Street, Suite D-180
Honolulu, HI 96819
UPS Freight contact: tradeshow@ups.com (Be sure to mention “Honolulu Show in Oct/Nov 2024”)
Shipping packages (up to 70 lbs / 32 kg) to the Honolulu Show
Do not ship packages to the convention center! Instead, ship to UPS which will receive, store and deliver your packages to your booth on set-up day. Use this address:
Your Name
Booth # and Mobile #
C/O UPS-GFF HNL
3375 Koapaka Street, Suite D-180
Honolulu, HI 96819
UPS will charge a mere $10 per package if you follow the above instructions! Packages must arrive by October 23, 2024 to guarantee delivery to the venue on set-up day.
SHOWCASE / EQUIPMENT RENTALS:
Showcases, both 5′ full vision and table top are available for rent directly from the Honolulu Show. Pipe and drape (as well as poles for your own lights) are also available. Please see the Equipment Order Form for options and pricing. Standard pricing ends October 15, so be sure to get your orders in soon!
Table skirting – simple and elegant draped black coverings for 8′, 6′ and 4′ tables – are also available through Luxe Events Display Company through this Table Skirt Order Form with standard pricing through October 15.
WHOLESALE TRANSACTIONS SUBJECT TO 0.5% TAX:
Wholesale buyers with a business license are subject to a 0.5% General Excise Tax (GET) which is collected by the seller. It is the responsibility of the seller to collect the buyer’s business information and sales transaction data and to submit a report to the State and County of Honolulu. For more information, see SALES TAX & REGISTRATION above.
WI-FI:
Wireless services at the Hawaii Convention Center are provided by Smart City with single day and 3 or 5-day rates. Free Wi-Fi is also available in the lobby and common areas. Please see the Smart City Wireless Services Brochure for more information or contact them directly at 808-943-3059.
IMPORTING:
No taxes are due upon importation of minerals, fossils, gems, jewelry and similar items into the USA. Further, there are no duties on minerals and fossils shipped into the USA. Be sure to have a detailed inventory list and use Harmonized Tariff Schedule (HTS) code number 97050000. This code corresponds to “Collections and Collectors’ Pieces of Mineralogical or Paleontological Interest”.
Most gems, jewelry, semi-precious / precious stones, and precious metals are also exempt from import duties. However there are many exceptions in which the duty is 10% or more. To learn which specific items are subject to duty, please visit the official United States International Trade Commission website and use the Search function.
If only a few items are subject to duty and the amount is low, it is usually fastest / cheapest to pay the duty. However, in cases where the duty would be high, then the exhibitor can acquire an ATA Carnet at a cost of about $300 (+ surety bond at a cost of 1% of the merchandise value).
The ATA Carnet is an international customs document that allows the holder to temporarily (up to one year) import goods without payment of normally applicable duties and taxes, including value-added taxes in more than 71 countries. The ATA Carnet eliminates the need to purchase temporary import bonds. So long as the goods are re-exported within the allotted time frame, no duties or taxes are due. Failure to re-export all goods listed on the ATA Carnet results in the need to pay the applicable duties (which would be the case for items that are sold). The acronym ATA is a combination of French and English phrases “Admission Temporaire/Temporary Admission.”
To learn about and obtain an ATA Carnet please visit the International Chamber of Commerce website.