This semester, first- and second-year carpentry students at Kauaʻi Community College were able to help improve the campus apiary as part of their semester project learning to pour cement. Kauaʻi CC’s hives are one of the few disease-free honeybee sites left in the state.
The carpentry class poured a new cement foundation for the apiary which will allow bee production and queen bee breeding to double in size. Kauaʻi CC will also be able to begin exporting queen bees.
“This project allowed us to give back to our campus,” said Duke Lang, an assistant professor of carpentry. “Pouring the cement is a very small part of the learning process. Much of this project required planning in the classroom. This semester we are learning that proper planning is required for success in this field.”
Student Landon Bukoski has been in the carpenters union for a year and a half. He said he came to Kauaʻi CC to understand the industry holistically, in order to excel.
“Carpentry is like a puzzle,” Bukoski said. “This program has really helped me understand the full process—the math, the formulas, the building, and there’s a lot of hands-on instruction. I really like that Mr. Lang helps turn our weaknesses into strengths.”
Student Crystal Santos has been in construction her whole life, as her family owns a civil engineering company in Honolulu.
“I only knew the old school way, not the new school way,” Santos said. “I want to get my contractor’s license and need to know the math and the formulas. My brother is doing the same thing by apprenticeship, but I wanted to get an education.”
Lang, who was awarded a Board of Regents’ Medal for Excellence in Teaching in 2022, added that he is always looking for ways for his students to give back to the community with service projects, such as working with the Habitat for Humanity.
