A construction-related scholarship at Honolulu Community College has been seeded with a $35,000 gift to the University of Hawaiʻi Foundation. In November, Ward Village, the Howard Hughes Corp.’s 60-acre master-planned community, celebrated the topping off of Kōʻula, the neighborhood’s sixth residential building, with a check presentation to Honolulu CC Interim Chancellor Karen C. Lee.
The final steel beam was lifted into place after being signed by representatives from Ward Village, the project’s construction team, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co., Honolulu CC, the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters and Studio Gang. In recognition of the construction trades and the individuals on the job site who made achieving the development milestone possible, Ward Village donated $25,000 and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. gifted $10,000 to establish the scholarship for students enrolled in Honolulu CC’s Apprenticeship and Journey Worker Training program.
“We are grateful to Ward Village and Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. for their generous gift that will support students as they pursue education, training and career opportunities,” said Lee. “Construction has remained one of the economic bright spots during the pandemic, and we appreciate the investment in developing our local workforce and job pipeline.”
The Apprenticeship and Journey Worker Training program at Honolulu CC provides related instruction and training in various construction and mechanical trades. In addition, the program offers learning opportunities to journey workers to upgrade their skills and obtain job-related certifications.
“The construction industry provides thousands of jobs for Hawaiʻi’s economy, and we’re excited to contribute to the development of our workforce,” said Gerry Majkut, president, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Co. “It’s rewarding to reach this project milestone and give back to the programs that help train the professionals who make building a project like Kōʻula possible.”
Kōʻula will feature 565 studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom condominium units and was designed by architecture and urban design practice Studio Gang with interiors by design firm Yabu Pushelberg. Kōʻula’s name, which means “red sugar cane” in Hawaiian, was bestowed by Sig Zane Designs.
“We believe in working together with partners—private and public—to drive positive impact in our community and build a resilient future for our state,” said Doug Johnstone, president, Hawaiʻi at The Howard Hughes Corp. “With the topping off of Kōʻula, we’re pleased to help further the revitalization of Honolulu’s urban core and strengthen our community in partnership with Hawaiian Dredging Co. and Honolulu Community College.”
