Vol. 5 No. 2 Apr-Jun 2013 - Plumbers and Fitters Union Local 675

APRIL/JUNE 2013 HA‘AHEO 675 PAGE 5Thomas YiFormer Immigrant Fulfilling Island Dreams of SuccessHawaii remains a haven for uplifting sagas ofonetime immigrants, particularly those withAsian roots, who had the moxie and motivationto take on initial hardships and prejudices as personalchallenges.“In a new environment and having to get used to anunfamiliar language a foreigner also has to realize it wouldbe awhile to adapt to a brand new culture,” Seoul-bornThomas Yi mused.The founder of Hako Plumbing Inc., an enterprisethat in its 12 years has secured a niche in the isle buildingindustry, claims his success so far is not unique. “I see newcompanies adjust to frequent changes, indicating their leadershave common characteristics – devoted to working hard, notafraid of adversity, and especially backing their partners andemployees,” the perceptive not quite 50 Yi noted.“Though my business has somewhat matured, thereis much to learn and master the advantages of changingtechnology,” he added. Yi recalls two incidents changed thecourse of his life. First, when a business started in his 20scollapsed after the South Korea economy soured. An eldersister urged he try his luck in Hawaii where she lived notingit has good working opportunities. Young as he was then,he didn’t see it a dicey move. Like other non-Englishspeakingimmigrants, finding a job regardless of theremuneration was top priority. He soon found work witha non-union plumbing shop, and gradually acquired theknow-how to qualify as a licensed plumber. “I shortlyrealized becoming naturalized was the next step, only laterfinding it would widen business doors for me,” he said.He also proudly adopted his current name, which he feltcompleted his assimilation of a new culture.The desire to start on his own resulted in formingHako (a name chosen combining “Hawaii” and “Korea”,he explained). “I affiliated with the Plumbers Local Union675 four years ago, convinced only quality workers wouldassure quality work and saw the Union’s Training Centerthe answer to assuring work competence,” Yi said.The other fortuitous circumstance occurred some sixyears ago when the Aloha Tofu Factory decided to sell asizeable empty lot across from its primary Akepo Lanequarters in Palama in the midst of a statewide slump. Yi sawit a long-term solution to his vision of developing a complexof licensed construction services, which now includes generalcontracting, sparingly used, and plumbing and fire sprinklerwork. The young business proceeded to build and completea two-story concrete masonry structure that houses all itsneeds, sufficient to shutter the space earlier rented inHako Plumbing plumbers Isaac Tanodra and Patrick Shimizu teamon a Hickam AFB job, one of the firm’s military site projects.Mapunapuna that was the firm’s original base of operations.“I’ve been blessed since coming here, and even found mybride, who is Korea-born” he grinned. “We have two adultsons, Adam and Eric, neither in the business,” he laughed.“In construction we enjoy ties with old and newfriends, as well as competitors, because we all speak thesame language, a way of learning from each other, themodest contractor feels. “My model is Patrick Shinn ofNan Inc., a contemporary who patiently guided me aboutproject sources and job skills. It explains why our jobs arelargely with the military. Generous help like Shinn’sincreases my appreciation of Hawaii and inspires me tojoin in making my adopted home an even better society,”Yi said, emphatically.