NEWS BEAT DUST SCREENS ERECTED FOLLOWING WILDFIRES In a move aimed at enhancing road safety in the wake of last month’s wildfires in Lāhainā, the Hawaii Department of Transportation is spending more than $2 million to install a 30,000-linear-foot dust screen along two roadways on Maui. Workers began to install the screen along Honoapi‘ilani Highway (Route 30) and the Lāhainā Bypass (Route 3000) on Aug. 16. The project is expected to be completed within a month. “Once the road opened up, we saw a lot of users coming along the highway where [we’re] seeing vehicles or people walking and knowing all the dust can contain a lot of hazardous materials,” said HDOT Deputy Director for Highways Robin Shishido in a news release. “[So] when any wind comes up, we want to make sure they're protected.” Funded by a $3 million quick-release Emergency Relief grant from the Federal Highway Administration aimed to help maintain safe access routes for residents of West Maui, the dust screen will span more than five miles at an esti- mated cost of $2.4 million. The screens are designed to reduce hazards related to poor visibility and air quality and will remain in place as
Vehicles pass a portion of the dust screen erected in Lāhainā in August. PHOTO COURTESY HAWAII DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
long as they are needed, managed by HDOT maintenance crews. This safety measure is part of a larger, multi-agency effort to sustain infrastructure in Lāhainā, involving federal, state and Maui County agencies as well as volunteers. “Ultimately, everything we’re looking at is almost
30,000 linear feet and will cover both sides of Honoapi‘ilani Highway through this area, and also going generally around the whole burn area perimeter,” said Shishido. “We antici- pate this fence will probably be up at least a year or so.” Maui County officials have also instituted nightly access limitations on Honoapi‘ilani Highway. From 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. daily, only residents of West Maui, first responders and local employees are allowed entry. – Jason Genegabus HCATF WRAPS SUMMER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM
Nearly a dozen high school gradu- ates recently completed the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund’s Career Connections Summer Internship Program, taking one step closer to careers in construction. The program, now in its fifth year,
provides six weeks of paid, hands- on experience at major construction sites. Upon completion, graduates gain direct entry to the HCATF apprentice- ship program. “In a world where high school grad- uates are faced with numerous career paths, our program provides a unique insight into the world of construc- tion, offering students the opportunity to explore this rewarding profession,” HCATF Training Coordinator Robert Kapuni Patcho said in a news release. One of this summer’s participants was Leanne Tacadena, a graduate of Waipahu High School. She expressed excitement about starting on a new path in the Hawai‘i construction industry. “I loved it,” she said in the release. “The first day I was intimidated because I was one of the only women on-site, but as the weeks went by, I really enjoyed it and I focused on my goal to become an apprentice.” Tacadena will begin working with general contractor Group Builders Inc. According to organizers, the program aims to address the construc- tion industry’s long-standing challenge of attracting young talent.
This initiative serves as a vital bridge between high school educa- tion and skilled trades, and includes support from local companies including Nordic PCL Construction Inc., Group Builders Inc., Shioi Construction Inc., Nan Inc., Gill Development LLC, BEK Inc., Bruce Matson Co. Inc., Allied Builders System, Viking Construction Inc., Strong Enterprises LLC, Swinerton Builders, La‘au Structures Inc. and Largo Concrete Inc. The internship involves two primary phases: initial preparatory training that covers OSHA 10 and First Aid/ CPR certifications, material handling and basic tool safety; followed by a six-week, full-time internship. Students work closely with mentors, including journeyworkers and field supervisors, to gain a nuanced understanding of the construction field. Half of the program’s graduates will enter their senior year of high school with a focus on careers in the trades. For more information on the HCATF and the organization's Career Connections Summer Internship Program, visit hicarpenterstraining.com . –JG
HCATF interns pose for a photo after graduation. PHOTO COURTESY HCATF
64 | BUILDING INDUSTRY HAWAII | OCTOBER 2023
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