Hawaii’s construction industry is still suffering. Despite signs of economic recovery thousands of people are out of a job and say they are far from recovery.
More than half of the state’s union carpenters are out of a job, officials say the industry isn’t turning around fast enough but they are hopeful future projects will help.
Two and a half years after the recession hit Hawaii...
“Our industry is still stuck,” said Hawaii Carpenters Union financial secretary Ron Taketa.
Taketa says now more than ever their industry is hurting.
“Things are not turning around for our industry yet they are getting slightly better but we have far too many unemployed still at this time,” he said.
Unemployment rates for union members are at an all time high, especially on the neighbor islands.
Builders out of work on Maui total 65-percent, Hilo 67-percent and in Kona an unbelievable 95-percent of carpenters are out of a job.
“It's a tough time to be a carpenter right now, I have been a carpenter for 30 something years and I have never seen it like this,” said Kona carpenter Mark Lossing.
The struggling construction industry has forced workers to rely on unemployment benefits but for many the well has now run dry.
“They are taking whatever jobs they can get. In all the department stores the lumber companies, Home Depot. I see all the apprentices and different carpenters working, doing what they have to do,” said Lossing.
Future projects including Honolulu's Rail Transit System, construction of the University of Hawaii's West Oahu campus, and building a 30 meter telescope atop Mauna Kea give a glimmer of hope the industry will rebound.
“There's stuff on the horizon,” said Lossing.
“We need all of it,” said Taketa.
Earlier this week, the U-S Senate Appropriations Committee, chaired by Hawaii Senator Dan Inouye, passed a measure that would give $747-million to Hawaii to fund military construction.
“Government is the only entity large enough to sustain an industry like ours when private investors run away,” said Taketa.
The multi-million dollar proposal is far from being passed but is a reminder to lawmakers something needs to be done.
“This is a nationwide, worldwide recession,” said Taketa.
