Aloha Executive Director's Message

One of the biggest hot-button topics in Hawaii right now is education. Providing a well-rounded, meaningful learning experience for our children is necessary to ensuring that our next generation of leaders is well-equipped to handle the challenges of the business world.

The Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP) has always held the belief that education, training and mentoring are keys to success in our industry. We are proud of the fact that we have played a significant role in establishing several educational initiatives to develop strong business leaders and a skilled workforce for construction in Hawaii. That's why it's good to see that there are organizations out there that, despite the tough economy, are taking it upon themselves to invest in the future - contributing to positive change that will be felt throughout the entire community.

Most of us are familiar with Kamehameha Schools and its mission to improve the well-being of people of Hawaiian ancestry. But what many people don't realize is just how much the organization is doing to benefit our state as a whole. In fiscal year 2009 alone, the organization invested $83 million in community-based programs, including funds that went into Hawaii's public charter schools, keeping students in the classrooms despite the state's ongoing struggle with teacher furloughs. Its efforts to enhance the quality of education in Hawaii also include two large development projects – a redevelopment of its Kapalama campus and a proposed master-planned community in Kakaako – which will create jobs and opportunity for our local workers. During a time when many other businesses are shying away from development, Kamehameha Schools is moving forward, investing now to provide a brighter tomorrow for its students, stimulate the economy and put the construction industry back to work.

Across the state, several of our member contractors are seeing first-hand the benefits of education-based development. Nordic PCL Construction, Inc. is serving as general contractor on the new $64 million Ewa Makai Middle School in Ewa Beach, a state-of-the-art facility which is scheduled to welcome students in January 2011. Hidano Construction, Inc. recently transformed a Honolulu Community College computer lab into a professional-grade recording studio that is the only one of its kind in the entire University of Hawaii system. And development of the first phase of the University of Hawaii West Oahu campus is being led by design-assist partner and general contractor Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. These projects, along with the efforts of Kamehameha Schools, serve as good examples of how smart investment can have positive effects that reach far beyond the classroom.

Our issue this quarter focuses on educational development and the importance of investing in the next generation. Judging from the commitment and long-term vision of educational institutions throughout our state, Hawaii's future is looking bright.