January - Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.

y Glenn NoharaAA MessageFrom OurPresidents we start the New Year, we are faced withsome tough economic challenges on manyfronts — worldwide, national, state, and local.Though these lean times may be different fromwhat we have been enjoying during recent years,it is not something that we have not experiencedin our company’s thirty-five year history.One thing that we have learned from our pastexperiences is that in tough times we cannot proceedwith business as usual. Reductions in ouroverhead expenses have already been implementedand we will continue to look for ways tobe more efficient. Projects that we were comfortabledoing will not be flowing to us as in the past.We will need to seek out and work harder forprojects that may be a little different for us. OurDeming methods will be all the more importantas we move forward and conquer the challengesahead. Team meetings, brainstorming, flowcharts, and run charts will need to be stepped up.We need to adopt a new sense of urgency that isbalanced with optimization, systems, and constancyof purpose.For the past several years we have been educatingand training ourselves. These sessionsincluded the Deming Big Why’s, NegotiatingSkills, Understanding Personality Profiles,Handling Difficult Situations, Chaos Over, the jobspecific and ongoing safety and health trainingseries. So moving forward, we know that we areequipped with the tools necessary to overcomethe challenges ahead and together we can do it.Yes We Can!IThe Newsletter of Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.Volume 20, Number 1, January 2009Project HighlightHonua Kai Phase I – South Enclaveby Russell Inouyeronically, the last articleI had to write wasdone on Kaua‘i for PoipuBeach. Currently, myoffice overlooksKaanapali Beach with thewhales distracting me allday long. It gets tough tosit in field offices all daylong with these breathtakingviews…Located betweenKaanapali Beach andKapalua on Maui’s westside sits Maui Beach Completed Hokulani buildingResort LimitedPartnership’s newest creation Honua Kai. The39.8 acres of beachfront property designed byWCIT Architecture of Honolulu consists oftwo condominium towers totaling 628 unitsand an intimate collection of 72 town homes.The towers feature studios as well as one, twoand three bedroom units and are seven storiesnear the beach and ten stories further back.As Intrawest and Ledcor Group prepare tounveil Hokulani (South Enclave) later thismonth, I will try to provide you with a briefthree year history.We brought our Deming principles to the“Valley Isle” and broke ground in lateDecember of 2005. Initially, our work consistedof importing large amounts of dirt for the surchargeof the building slab and then theremoval and excavation of the raft slab.Continuous dewatering was required to keepthe entire building footprint dry due to thesubgrade being below the existing groundwater table. With the water table stabilized,Nordic Construction was able to pour thousandsof cubic yards of concrete over severalmonths. As the vertical construction continued,we were kept busy with the installation of utilities(sewer, water, and drain), concrete walkways,heavy duty pavements, concrete curbs, asewer pump station, mass excavation andgrading, swimming pool excavation, installationof roadways and widening of adjacent countyand state roads.It was a total team effort from start to finish.We would like to thank LedcorConstruction, Inc., Wilson OkamotoCorporation, WCIT, Department of WaterSupply – County of Maui, Department ofTransportation – Maui District, Departmentof Public Works – County of Maui,Wastewater Division – County of Maui andPlumbing Department – County of Mauialong with Nordic Construction for their helpand expeditious response to questions andproblems that arose. In addition, we would liketo thank our subcontractors on this projectHawaiian Dredging, Reef Development ofHawaii Inc., Sun Star Surveying, LLC, MauiPaving, Harry Asato Painting Inc. and ourmajor vendors Hawaiian Cement, IrrigationSystems Inc. and Walker Industries for theeffort put into meeting the overall schedule.…continues on page 2Think Sitework…Say Koga!

January 2009Keeping Up With MalHappy New Year! Here we go…it’s time for myChinese Zodiac story. 2009 is the Year of the Ox orBuffalo if you wish. From my research, this is what Ifound on www.springsgreetingcards.com…“According to the Chinese Zodiac, the Year of2009 is the Year of the Ox. The Ox, or the Buffalosign symbolizes prosperity through fortitude andhard work. Those bornunder the influence of the Ox or Buffalo arefortunate to be stable and persevering. Thetypical Ox is a tolerant person with strongcharacter. Not many people could equal theresolution and fearlessness that the Oxexhibits when deciding to accomplish a task.Ox people work hard without complaints atwork or at home. They know that they will succeed through hard workand sustained efforts, and do not believe in get-rich-quick schemes.”Interesting Ox people: Barack Obama, Margaret Thatcher, KimberlyKubo (my youngest daughter) and Trevor Holt (my grandson).Koga JobsOahu Current Projects . . . . . . . . . General Contractor / ClientKaiser Moanalua Medical Center . . . . McCarthy / Kiewit JVHilton Hawaiian VillageWaikikian Tower. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dick Pacific Construction Co., Ltd.Trump International Hotel & Tower . . Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc / Kiewit JVHRSOC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dick Pacific Construction Co., Ltd.HRT Medical Building . . . . . . . . . . . . . Kiewit Building GroupHECO Pole Foundations . . . . . . . . . . . Hawaiian Dredging ConstructionCompany, Inc.Kaua‘i Current Projects . . . . . . . . General Contractor / ClientKukui‘ula Plantation Core . . . . . . . . . . Linthicum Custom Builders, LLCSt. Regis Princeville Hotel . . . . . . . . . . Unlimited Construction Services, Inc.Kaua‘i Lagoons Affordable Housing. . Armstrong Builders, LLCKapa‘a Homesteads0.5 MG Storage Tank. . . . . . . . . . . . . Kaua‘i Builders, Ltd.Big Island Current Projects . . . . . General Contractor / ClientLarge Cesspool Conversion . . . . . . . . . Department of Human ServicesTarget Kona . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Dick Pacific Construction Co., Ltd.Maui Current Projects . . . . . . . . . General Contractor / ClientHonua Kai Lot 4 Kaanapali . . . . . . . . . Ledcor Construction, Inc.Honua Kai Ph II . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Ledcor Construction, Inc.Project HighlightThink Sitework…Say Koga!…continued from page 1Congratulations to Ledcor Construction, Inc. and all its subcontractorsfor working together to complete this undertaking. We would alsolike to congratulate Intrawest Placemaking and Ledcor Group on thecompletion of Phase I.It would take up too much space to list every person that had a handin this project…you all know who you are. However, I would like toacknowledge andthank them for thetremendous dedicationthey putforth daily. A special“mahalo” tothe Koga employeeswho volunteeredfrom Oahu,Kaua‘i and the BigIsland. I would alsolike to thank theAerial view, Hokulani foreground, Phase II in the backgroundfamilies of these offisland men for theirunderstanding of having their loved ones away during the week. I thinkyou would have to agree that it is great to work for a company who hasemployees and families that are so dedicated.I would especially like to recognize and acknowledge the overallProject Foreman Robert “Bob” Connolly, for volunteering to travel tothe outer island “again” to take on this new challenge, commuting dailyfrom Oahu, use of the Deming principles and for a job WELL DONE! Inaddition, I would also like to mention and thank late additions to the“Maui No Ka Oi” team which included Foremen Lee Iboshi and EfrenMateo along with Project Engineer Keun “Not Kwan” Pak for volunteeringtheir services.Last but not least, I would like to thank my wife Gwen for beingunderstanding of my continuous work on the outer islands and handlingthe day to day responsibilities and necessities that go along with havingtwo little girls. No words can express my sincere gratitude.As the near future looks unclear for construction, it is important toremember to use the Deming Principles and Tools. Most importantly, donot forget the values that have brought us this far: Personal Responsibility,Safety, Integrity, Quality, Commitment, and Ohana (Family).Until next time…”Maui No Ka Oi”!Maui No Ka Oi!Page 2We Dig…Hawaii!

Think Sitework…Say Koga! January 2009Koga Christmas 2008The Christmas Party Team comprised of Clay Asato,Brian Kunioka, Carol Koga, Lori Isara and myselfwere in for a “treat” this year. We are typicallytasked with planning the Christmas party for all theemployees of the company. This year we wereblessed four times over as we planned four differentparties on four different islands. Phew!! So, let megive you a quick run down on each fabulous event.We started off on December 7th at the Maui Prince Hotel. The banquetroom was beautifully decorated, the turkey and fixings were a specialtreat (especially for Keun) and the “Maui No Ka Oi” crew had a reallynice time celebrating and bonding with each other. We would like tothank Byron Obregon for “volunteering” his expert emcee skills andPatrick Ancheta for bringing some additional party activities for the gang.Mahalo also to Lee Iboshi, Bob Connolly and Keun Pak for allowing theirhandsome likenesses for the gingerbread look alike contest!On December 13th, we headed over to the very rainy Big Island for aparty at the Volcano House atop the very majestic Kilauea Volcano. Althoughfoggy and rainy, it really felt “Christmas-y” because of the cool weather up atthe National Park. The setting there was so great, we have new aspirations tohold another company event there. Kudos to Kyle for choosing such a greatvenue! Mahalo also to Ken Grote, Willie Azevedo and Kyle Sakaitani forallowing the group to re-create their fantastic physiques…gingerbread style.On that same day, another Oahu entourage headed over to the Garden Islefor the Kaua`i party. Here is a write-up by Andy Ragasa on that island event.Blaine Ah Sing working on his masterpiece at the Big Island partyThe Poetry CornerMaui Koga Foremen — Lee Iboshi,Efren Mateo and Bob Connollyby Kristi KogaAndy with Kawehi Kahananuiand the winning Kaua‘i creation“Our Kaua‘i Christmas Party was held on Saturday, December 13 at theJasmine II Ballroom of the Hilton Kaua‘i Beach Resort. The Koga ‘Ohana bravedthe elements & flash flood warnings that day to attend our annual celebration atthis beautiful venue. This year for the first time in over 10 years, managementdecided to have the respective islands hold their own Christmas party and Imust say it went better than expected and everyone had a great time. As reluctantas he was about assuming the responsibility, Troy Furugen did an outstandingjob as Master of Ceremonies. Glenn’s slideshow was awesome as alwaysand everyone had fun playing the games; Congratulations to KawehiKahananui, Kelcie Ragasa & Primo Keliihoomalu for their winning “GingerbreadMan” imitations of Andy (Gor8rs) Ragasa, Presley (Da) Wann & Kip (All-Bust)Furugen respectively. Mahalo to Mal, Carol, Dennis, Sandy, Lori, Jits, Garett &Hae Min for flying over from O‘ahu to help us celebrate the occasion.”Last but not least, the final gala was held on Oahu at the WaikikiBeach Marriott Resort & Spa on December 21st. The guests were entertainedby the “Kona Winds” band, and Oahu saw the comeback of theinfamous emcee, Jits Kunioka. His original “Yes we can!” speech kept theaudience at the edge of their seats, waiting with bated breath for eachinspirational and poetic stanza. Mahalo also to our last group of jollygingerbread men Kavin Denning, Alvin Fujioka and Flor Mendoza.We would like to thank all the island vendors who supported eachevent. Your donations allowed each one of our well-deserving employeesto go home with a generous door prize. Lastly, no matter where the partywas located, a few things were quite evident. The crews all really enjoyedeach others company and the well deserved time for fellowship and fun.And secondly, the feeling of “ohana” is evidenced by the camaraderie ofthe spouses, kids and employees at each event. Until next year…Presley and Colleen Wann with musician Mike Young on Kaua‘i…more photos on page 4We Dig…Hawaii! Page 3

KOGA REPORTThe Newsletter ofKoga Engineering & Construction, Inc.Volume 20, Number 1 • January 2009Phone (808) 845-7829 • Fax (808) 845-3742www.KogaEngineering.com • info@kogaeng.comLic.#ABC6826An Equal Opportunity EmployerP.O. Box 31289Honolulu, Hawaii 96820January 2009Koga Christmas 2008…continued from page 3Think Sitework…Say Koga!Koga Bits & PiecesCongratulations to the Koga Ohana!New ParentsT.Y. Ching (Oahu Laborer) and Chandie SilvaBaby Girl; October 23, 2008Heaven Lynn Kauakaililani ChingCondolences to the Koga Ohana on the recent passing of:Floriano Acosta, Father of Billy Acosta (Oahu Foreman)December 2008, age 81Glenn talking with the Big Island CrewKoga Christmas Party 2008Congratulations were given to the following employees for their years ofservice at Koga Engineering & Construction, Inc.10 years: Asotasi Afi 20 years: Alex Calumag and Marc JohnsonThe Hamada family showing off their Kavin gingerbread at the Oahu party Asotasi Afi Alex Calumag Marc JohnsonPage 4We Dig…Hawaii!