LIHUE — The Contractors Association of Kauai closed 2024 with its 67th Annual Meeting and Installation dinner on Dec. 5 at the Puakea Golf Course.
Retired Judge Gerald Matsunaga presided over the installation of officers for 2025 that included Nathan Konishi of Pacific Blue Construction filling the position of CAK president.
Vice President chairs belongs to Lauren Starner of Kikiaola Construction, and Cody Nishek of Kauai Nursery &Landscaping.
“Sharyl Lam Yuen of Grove Farm Company, and Alyssa Carveiro of Earthworks Pacific, will continue in their roles of Secretary and Treasurer, respectively,” CAK said. “Trinette Kaui of McBryde Resources is the association’s immediate past president.”
New board members include Scott Sato of the Kauai Island Utility Cooperative and Demetrio Tolentino of Jas. W. Glover who join current board members Jacquelyn Contrades of Shioi Construction and T-Jay Shigemoto of Hawaii Gas.
Following addresses by Hawaii State Department of Education Superintendent Keith Hayashi, and Audrey Hidano, assistant superintendent for Construction and Facilities, HiDOE, CAK h0nored three member companies and two community resources for their contributions to the community and the construction industry.
Recipients of the CAK Distinguished Service Awards were Puanani Wakuta of Hawaii Medical Services Association who is the account executive for the CAK Group Health Insurance program and Sandi Kato-Klutke, who is retired from the hotel industry but continues to be active with CAK.
Service Rentals and Supplies with Kauai Island Manager Guy Higa was presented the Wayne E. Ellis Associate Member of the Year Award for the organization’s support of CAK, the construction industry and community. Higa was instrumental in implementing the CAK Golf Ball Marker Drop that was held during the annual CAK Scholarship Golf Tournament.
Grove Farm Company vice presidents Shawn Shimabukuro and Sharyl Lam Yuen were recipients of the Robert H. Rask Community Service Award for Grove Farm’s continuous support of nonprofits, agricultural community, schools, including the highly competitive scholarship grants program and the construction industry. Grove Farm’s support spans decades, and in many instances, for as long as the company has been in existence, CAK said.
Kikiaola Construction Company was the recipient of the Tetsuo “Rosey” Maeda Member of the Year Award for the firm’s support of the construction industry, the CAK, and its West Kauai community. Kikiaola was also honored for its long history of preservation work under the leadership of Michael Faye that continues today. Kikiaola also recycled before recycling was cool, CAK said.
The Contractors Association of Kauai was established in 1957 as a trade association of licensed contractors, suppliers and businesses affiliated with the construction industry on Kauai. CAK is also affiliated with the National Association of Home Builders.
