Hawai‘i’s construction industry has seen tremendous growth over the past few years. As contractors wrap up work on the first wave of mixed-use residential and commercial towers in Honolulu, the cranes are already moving on to other sites to begin again. ADUs are popping up in suburban neighborhoods and more master-planned communities are on the way in central O‘ahu. In this issue, the state’s construction industry leaders weigh in on good design and 2017 industry outlooks.
In an industry ripe for innovation and visionary leadership, Ray Vara is poised to guide Hawai‘i through a time of great change as the forward-thinking leader of the largest healthcare system in the state. His responsibilities now include executive oversight of Straub Medical Center, Kapi‘olani Medical Center for Women & Children, Pali Momi Medical Center and Wilcox Health on Kaua‘i.
When Chef Terence Fong first arrived in Las Vegas in 1979, it wasn’t to build a culture of local Hawai‘i food in the ninth island. A Kaiser High School grad born and raised in Hawai‘i, he set out to study hotel administration at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and found part-time work at Hibachi Hut—a mom-and-pop Japanese restaurant in the old Maryland Square shopping center across from The Boulevard mall.
Unlike many young people surprised to find themselves back in Hawai‘i after setting their sights on the mainland, Brett MacNaughton always had a feeling he would come back to perpetuate the legacy his father, Duncan MacNaughton, established at his real estate development firm, The MacNaughton Group.
