Shaping the Places That Shape Us
(Partner Content) Michael Young, president and CEO of Albert C. Kobayashi Inc., tackles housing and education projects for Hawai‘i’s future.
(This story is the second in a series HONOLULU Magazine is publishing about the impactful work of Hawai‘i contractors, and how they’re Building for a Better Hawai‘i. The series is a partnership with Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP).)
As a 100% employee-owned company, ACK prides itself on doing quality work and developing relationships with the community. “Representing the local guys, having a local DNA, that’s something that’s been part of our culture for many years and will continue to remain part of our culture in the future,” Young says. “Hawai‘i is a very small place and it’s important to maintain integrity, honesty and quality with everything you do.”
“It’s important to maintain integrity, honesty and quality with everything you do.”
Part of that is a commitment to completing projects on time and within budget. The recent three-story Arrillaga Student Center at ‘Iolani School is one such example—a gamechanger that brings the ‘Iolani community together. “It’s been a dream of mine and our company to have an opportunity to work at ‘Iolani,” Young says, since he and his father both graduated from there, and two of his children currently attend. “Education has been a really important part of my life personally. I think that some of my most transformative years occurred when I was in high school … and a lot of that made me who I am today.” ACK completed a variety of school projects in the 1990s and 2000s, including UH West O‘ahu and the UH Cancer Center, and served as the general contractor for the renovation of Punahou School’s Cooke Library—now the Mary Kawena Pukui Learning Commons—opening this fall.
“It’s just very rewarding work. It’s important for the community. It’s important to create spaces that inspire learning, inspire teachers, inspire students,” Young says. “And [it’s] just such a fortunate opportunity for our company to be a part of that and leave a legacy for all of Hawai‘i.”
Young credits his employees’ dedication and relationships with community partners for ACK’s success. “I feel very proud because just being in my position for the past six years, in many ways I inherited a company reputation and an opportunity that was created by those at ACK before me, many of our employees who have been at the company longer than I’ve been. And in many ways, I’m just stewarding what’s been built by others before me.”
ACK has also completed a number of housing projects, from luxury towers to multifamily, tract, student and affordable housing. The latest is Ālia, a high-rise in Kaka‘ako that will include high-efficiency fixtures, PV panels and more with a focus on sustainability. It’s one of the first residential buildings in Hawai‘i to recycle gray water for irrigation. Though it’s challenging, Young believes the project will have a lasting impact.
“I count my blessings daily,” Young says. “I am so thankful for my job, so passionate about what we do, and just so motivated to make a difference in the future, give back to the community, grow the next generation of leaders, and promote education and community.”
For more information about Building for a Better Hawai‘i, visit the PRP website and follow @prphawaii.
