Driven by Purpose, Rooted in Aloha
Construction Management Association of America 2024
Project of the Year
CONSTRUCTION and REMEDIATION SERVICES
The West Maui Temporary School Project
The Hui Huliau family of companies consistently delivers quality work ontime and on-budget for some of the federal government’s most challenging projects. Our Small Business Administration (SBA) certified 8(a) companies are eligible for Department of Defense sole source contracts up to $100M without justification and approval, and unlimited dollar value with justification and approval. Hui Huliau is a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO) whose business activities principally benefit Native Hawaiians.
REBUILDING LAHAINA
The wildfires that struck Maui, Hawaii on August 8, 2023 left a wide trail of destruction. For many, everything familiar was gone in an instant. One of the many losses that day was the King Kamehameha III Elementary School in Lahaina. As a Native Hawaiian Organization (NHO), we were honored when Pono Aina Management, a subsidiary of Hui Huliau, was selected to help rebuild Lahaina by constructing a temporary replacement school and providing a safe place for its children to learn.
Our team, led by Troy Crews, Hui Huliau Vice President of Construction, was onsite and ready to begin work within three days of contract award. The challenge was to convert a former pineapple field into a fully functional school for 600 students in just 95 days. Several companies said it couldn’t be done, they would need additional time, but we had confidence in our employees, subcontractors, and the local workforce to deliver on our promise for the children of Lahaina.
In keeping with Hawaiian tradition, a Kahu, or Hawaiian spiritual leader, conducted a ceremony before work began to bless the site and the workers for safety and mark a new beginning. The team also roasted a pig in an imu, or underground oven. That same day a rainbow appeared over the jobsite, reminding the crew of our mission and purpose. Rainbows were a common sight and a source of inspiration for our team.
The first major task was to clear and grade 11 acres for the build site. The mass excavation proved to be challenging because of the rocky, hilly terrain. The team leveled and terraced down 19 feet off the top of the hills and added 19 feet at the bottom, busting and removing rocks as we progressed.
The logistics were complex. We needed 336 rectangular steel units, or modules, shipped across the Pacific from Washington State to California, and then to Oahu, and finally to Maui. We allotted 60 days to get all modules to the island. Unit 336 arrived on Day 60; the team finished setting that last module as the sun went down.
Every morning at 6:30 a.m., 80 to 100 workers gathered in a circle to share their plans for the day. Everyone, including contractors and government representatives, had a voice. Some shared what it meant to them to work on this project; others shared their unequivocal commitment to making this project a success. These gatherings were an act of connection and community in a time when it was most needed, and a powerful way to build an ohana and foster commitment and team spirit.
Throughout the project, at least 85% of the workers were from Maui. Several lost their homes in the wildfires, and some had children who would be attending this school. The team worked 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and through every holiday, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, Martin Luther King Day, and Presidents Day. The entire crew felt the weight of the mission and was committed to completing the project on time.
Pono Aina Management’s local electrical contractor had 30 electricians on-site to run electricity to the entire school. Maui Electrical Company installed a new transformer in record time to establish electrical access to the school, allowing the team to work nights to finish the interior of the buildings. The new transformer ultimately powered the next phase of construction and proved to be key to meeting the 95-day deadline.
After the U. S. and the State of Hawaii flags were raised, workers walked by and paused a moment to take in the sight of the two flags. Their faces lit with pride and appreciation as they reflected on the hard work and dedication that went into making this moment possible. The flag symbolized achievement and captured the ohana spirit and the shared journey that brought everyone together.
The Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) honored our US Army Corps of Engineers customer and our team by selecting this project as the 2024 Project of the Year. Receiving national recognition underscores the role that commitment, collaboration, and ohana played in our collective success.
“Some of you may think that 95 days is a long time, but I have news for you. In the construction industry it’s merely a blip,” said Col. Eric Swenson, the USACE recovery field officer at the time of the school’s dedication ceremony. “We got this work done quickly because the hands behind the tools were invested in the community and committed to delivering for their families, their neighbors, their neighborhood and their community. For most, this was personal and something for which failure was simply not an option.”
The West Maui Temporary School Facility represents the very best in our field – it’s a story of hope, resilience, and tireless commitment to the Lahaina community.
- Elizabeth McCarty Project Manager with US Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District
“The West Maui Temporary School Facility represents the very best in our field – it’s a story of hope, resilience, and tireless commitment to the Lahaina community,” said Elizabeth McCarty, project manager with US Army Corps of Engineers, Galveston District. “In the face of unprecedented challenges, this team not only rose to the occasion but set new standards in construction management by delivering a high-quality facility with speed and efficiency.”
If we are lucky, we have the opportunity at least once in our career to do something that makes a difference and that we carry with us the rest of our lives. We were privileged to do this twice. Another Hui Huliau company was selected as the prime contractor for a 12-month, $220M Maui Wildfire Debris Removal contract to clear debris and ash from commercial, public, and historical properties in Lahaina. Both contracts have special meaning to us.
OTHER CONSTRUCTION PROJECTS
US DEPARTMENT OF STATE
• Upgrade and renovate US Ambassador residences in Belgium, Bahamas, and Zimbabwe and US embassies in the UK, Lithuania, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
• Design-build solar farms in Zimbabwe and Cameroon.
• Replace HVAC chillers at US embassies in Croatia, Czech Republic, Haiti, and Kenya, and the DOS facility in Rosslyn, VA.
• Update the DOS Diplomatic Reception Rooms, including design services to modernize the 1985 décor of the prestigious Benjamin Franklin State Dining Room in the Harry S. Truman Federal Building, Washington, D.C. Updates include architectural painting, commissioned artwork, new flooring, new window treatments, and a custom made 100’ x 40’ carpet.
US AIR FORCE
Tinker Air Force Base, Oklahoma City, OK
• Asphalt paving - Repair, mill, and overlay McNarney Avenue, leaving one lane accessible during each phase. Demolish and replace 10,330 square yards asphalt and 6” of subgrade. Replace 45 square yards sidewalk and place sod. Install new traffic light loops.
• Concrete paving – Complete full depth repair of Tinker Air Force Base pavements, leaving one lane accessible during each phase. Install 2,618 square feet of 8” thick concrete paving in three equal lanes. Sawcut, clean, and seal the control and expansion joints. Lime modification for the entire subgrade. Clean out debris in the storm drain inlet, flushing out the pipe to the next downstream manhole.
Sheppard Air Force Base, Wichita Falls, TX
• Remove the residual rubber and airfield striping of runway 15R/33L and re-stripe the airfield to meet new FAA standards.
Altus Air Force Base, Altus, OK
• Renovate hazardous materials storage facility. Install new HVAC unit with concrete platform and new gas line. Install guard rails and 84 linear feet of fencing. Paint the hazmat storage room and guard rail to match existing finishes.
• Install a new double fiberglass water slide for the outdoor pool.
• Install computer room air conditioning units.
• Repair standing seam metal roof systems using dark a bronze mesh reinforced elastomeric coating.
• Upgrade the Child Development Center electrical, HVAC, fire suppression, and security systems and make interior improvements. Construct an above ground storm shelter to hold 50 people.
• Build a redundant water supply to Altus Air Force Base water system, including control building that houses equipment that communicates with the Base’s Utility Management Control System.
Vance Air Force Base, Enid, OK
• Replace the fire station vehicle exhaust system at building F115 at Kegelman Auxiliary Airfield, OK.
• Kirtland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, NM
• Design-build project to renovate the Gibson Child Development Center to include finishes, muster points, HVAC, light fixtures, kitchen equipment, and paving.
Ebbing Air Force Base, Fort Smith, AR
• Design-build project to demolish and repave the main apron at Ebbing Air National Guard Base (EANGB), Fort Smith Regional Airport.
• Design-build project to renovate Building 182 to provide aerospace ground equipment and vehicle maintenance capability for F16/F-35A aircraft.
• Design-build project to construct a preengineered metal building (PEMB) external storage and paved area between existing Building 115 and Building 113 for F-35 aircraft equipment.
• Renovate Building 108 and install PEMB storage in support of F-35 mission beddown.
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Galveston District Critical Public Facilities Team
• West Maui Temporary School Project –Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) 2024 Project of the Year – Rapid emergency response project to meet the urgent needs of the Lahaina, Hawaii community following the devastating wildfires of August 8, 2023. Construct temporary replacement for the King Kamehameha III Elementary School to serve 600 students; includes grading 11 acres, utilities hardscaping, and construction of 30 classrooms, 8 administrative buildings, a basketball court, and a parking lot in 95 days. Over 85% of employees working on this project were Native Hawaiians; many had been affected by the fires.
Tulsa District
• Design-build project to convert the Kerr Hill Machine Gun Range (KHM) at Fort Sill, OK to a Counter-Unmanned Aircraft Systems (C-UAS) Range, including grading for facilities and providing electrical communications infrastructure for secure network (SIPRNet).
• $24M Performance Oriented Contract Action (POCA) for design-build projects, repairs, and maintenance.
• Design-build project to construct a simulator slab for the Will Rogers Air National Guard Base in Oklahoma City, OK, including site work, plumbing, electrical, fire protection, low voltage, and security. (POCA Task)
• Design-build project to renovate the Formal Training Unit, Building 1052, at Will Rogers Air National Guard, OK base in Oklahoma City, OK to include finishes, HVAC, light fixtures, and furniture, fixtures, and equipment. (POCA Task)
Omaha District
• 1200 sf addition and renovation to Building 220 Airman Leadership School, Minot Air Force Base, ND.
US MARSHALS SERVICES
• Asphalt paving at Will Rogers World Airport in Oklahoma City, OK to add 100 parking spaces; relocate and install electrical utilities, storm sewer, and existing fire hydrant; and install 785 linear feet of security fencing, lighting, and a 46-foot gate and opener.
REMEDIATION SERVICES
US ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS
Honolulu District
• $220M Maui Wildfire Debris Removal contract to clear debris and ash from commercial, public, and historical properties in Lahaina following the August 8, 2023 wildfires. Created and led a diverse team with 12 mission partners, including cultural, archeological, environmental, data, and quality control monitors and construction, excavation, trucking, and hazard tree removal companies. 365-day period of performance from February 2024 to February 2025. Over 75% of employees working on this project were residents of Maui; many had been affected by the fires.
Los Angeles District
• Remediation of the Los Angeles River for drainage; includes diverting water away from the grouted stone toe, conducting surface preparations by grinding away in-place concrete, and grouted stone to overlay approximately 9,000 linear feet of 17- foot-wide concrete paving.
US NAVY
• Pearl Harbor Historic Trail Cleanup Project at Pearl Harbor, HI –Surveyed the area for native waterbirds before starting work and provided a biological monitor. Removed brush, tall grass, small trees, 25 abandoned vehicles, 325 tires, 55 car engines, 25 motorcycles frames, 2 boat trailers, 2 flatbed trailers buried in mud, 1 jet ski, and disposed of green waste and rubbish left behind by trespassers.
• Remove and dispose of asphalt debris at Hickam Field, HI.
Construction
• Awarded the 2024 Construction Management Association of America (CMAA) Project of the Year
• Architecture & engineering services
• Design/build
• Construction management
• Roofing
• Remodels and interior finishes
• Concrete and masonry
