LIHUE — With the call being issued for more housing, and new car sales being strong on the local marketplace, who is going to build them, or keep them running said a spokesperson from the Contractors Association of Kauai, during its 62nd annual meeting and installation of officers at the Kauai Marriott Resort and Beach Club.
Dr. David Lassner, president of the 10-campus University of Hawaii system, addressed the issue during his address before approximately 200 members and guests on the future of vocational education programs on the community college level, including Kauai’s own Kauai Community College that has its roots going back to when it was known as the Kauai Technical School.
The meeting served as a platform where CAK honored six companies and individuals with its service awards for contributions to the island and the construction industry.
Mark Oyama of Mark’s Place and Contemporary Flavors Catering was named to The Tetsuro “Rosy” Maeda Member of the Year after being recognized for his dedicated community service that ranges from fundraising for the Big Brothers Big Sisters program to keeping the scholarship funding for culinary arts students at the Kauai Community College alive with the presentation of the new and updated 2019 Poipu Food and Wine Festival that was recently presented to a sold-out audience at the Koloa Landing Resort.
Jeff Fisher of Earthworks Pacific was named to The Kenneth Shioi General Contractor of the Year honor for the company’s contributions to a variety of community events and fundraising efforts. Fisher and a crew of five helped break down the CAK Home Show that was hosted earlier in the spring as well as participating as a platinum sponsor of the CAK Scholarship Golf Tournament that is a major source of funding for the annual CAK scholarships for students in the construction and engineering trade. Earthworks Pacific, despite being a signatory company to several trades, is also a strong supporter of the CAK safety training programs.
Jerry Nishek and the Kauai Nursery and Landscaping earned The Hideo Tanaka Sub-Contractor of the Year award for the company’s support of the annual home show, CAK safety training programs, and scholarship golf tournament.
Dustin Moises, the CAK member representative from the Department of Water, was named the recipient of The Wayne E. Ellis Associate Member of the Year for his support of the home show, the safety training programs and environmental workshops, and the CAK scholarship program.
Fujita and Miura Public Relations was named the recipient of The Robert Rask Spirit of Community Service award for the firm’s leading sponsorships of new CAK members, corporate sponsorship of the scholarship golf tournament, and its overall community volunteerism.
Tom Shigemoto of Alexander and Baldwin was bestowed a special Distinguished Service award for his decades of support of both the CAK and the construction industry in the issues ranging from planning issues to building permit feedback to housing issues, and a range of other county issues that spans more than 40 years in both the private and public sectors.
The Honorable Gerald S. Matsunaga, an honorary CAK member, presided over the installation of the CAK 2020 officers and directors that is led by president Jacquelyn Contrades of Shioi Construction. Demetrio Tolentino of Jas. W. Glover is the vice president, Jerry Nishek of KNL is the secretary, and Preston Chong of First Hawaiian Bank is the treasurer.
Alicia Leong of Ka‘iwa Construction is designated as the Immediate Past President.
The 2020 CAK Board of Directors includes Trinette Kau‘i of A&B, Fred Pascual of Kauai Island Utility Cooperative, Koa Duncan of the Grove Farm Company, Joni Hamada-Patricio of HAMCO Glass and Glazing, Matt Reeves of Earthworks Pacific, and Nathan Konishi of Pacific Blue Construction.
The Contractors Association of Kauai, announcing its 2020 Home Show on April 3 and 4 in partnership with First Hawaiian Bank, was established in 1957 as a trade association of licensed contractors, suppliers and businesses affiliated with the construction industry on Kauai.
