Glen Kaneshige of Nordic PCL Construction Honored as 2024 Outstanding Union Builder of the Year

HONOLULU, Hawaii (Feb. 2, 2024) – Succeeding in the construction business runs in the family for Glen Kaneshige, who was honored Thursday evening by the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters and Pacific Resource Partnership as the 2024 Outstanding Union Builder of the Year.

Kaneshige, president of Nordic PCL Construction, grew up in the industry under the tutelage of his late father, Mitsuru “Mits” Kaneshige, who served as president of Nordic Construction until the company’s merger with PCL Construction Ltd. in 1995 as part of the joint venture to build the Hawai‘i Convention Center. This is the second time Glen has been honored by the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters and Pacific Resource Partnership, having been named Outstanding Union Builder of the Year in 2011. Since the honor was first established in 2005, Kaneshige is the only builder to have received the award twice. Glen accepted the 2024 honor during a reception at the Royal Hawaiian Resort Waikīkī.

“My father, who ran Nordic from the 70s into the 90s, showed me that you’re only as good as your last project, and it takes perseverance and an ability to work with other people to succeed,” said Glen Kaneshige. “Construction is a ‘people business’ because no one can build a project by themselves. Being recognized twice as the Outstanding Union Builder of the Year means I’ve been a factor in helping to align management’s business goals with those of labor, which includes the 6,000 hardworking members of the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters. Without the expertise and skill of these dedicated union professionals, the construction industry would not be a driver of the local economy as it is today.”

As President of Nordic PCL Construction, Glen has left an indelible mark on Hawai‘i’s skyline over his remarkable 30-year journey, which includes such notable projects as the Kaiser Honolulu Clinic, Ali‘i Place, and the James Campbell Building in Kapolei.

“Glen represents all of the values that our union strives for, and he has proven to be a true partner in addressing the challenges to our industry,” said Ron Taketa, executive secretary-treasurer of the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters. “In addition to being an extremely successful contractor, Glen has dedicated himself to improving labor-management relations and the collective bargaining process within the construction trades.”

Glen's exceptional contributions to union construction and labor-management relations stand as a testament to his unwavering dedication and strategic vision. This well-deserved recognition as the 2024 Outstanding Union Builder of the Year not only highlights the lasting impact he has made on the construction industry but also acknowledges his profound influence on communities throughout Hawai‘i.

The Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters and Pacific Resource Partnership takes great pleasure in honoring Glen Kaneshige of Nordic PCL Construction, and we express our heartfelt gratitude for his contributions in shaping Hawai‘i's construction industry.

Quick Facts:

This is the second time Glen Kaneshige has been named Outstanding Union Builder of the Year, having also received the honor in 2011; no other builder has been honored twice.
Glen grew up in the construction industry under the tutelage of his late father, Mitsuru “Mits” Kaneshige, who served as president of Nordic Construction until the company’s merger with PCL Construction Ltd. In 1995
Glen’s notable projects include the Kaiser Honolulu Clinic, Ali‘i Place and the James Campbell Building in Kapolei.

About Pacific Resource Partnership

Founded in 1987, Pacific Resource Partnership is a nonprofit organization that represents the Hawai‘i Regional Council of Carpenters, the largest construction union in the state with approximately 6,000 members, in addition to more than 250 diverse contractors ranging from mom and-pop owned businesses to national companies. Pacific Resource Partnership is the backbone of Hawai‘i’s construction industry and you’ll find us on every island, building homes and businesses, creating neighborhoods and revitalizing communities, strengthening infrastructure, and shaping the face of things to come. In executing its vision for a better Hawai‘i, Pacific Resource Partnership focuses on “People, Relationships and Promise” – we are PRP.

About PCL Construction

PCL is a group of independent construction companies that operates throughout the United States, Canada, the Caribbean, and Australia. As one of the largest contracting organizations in North America, PCL completes more than $6 billion USD in work annually, building projects that shape communities. The company’s 100% employee ownership model fuels a culture of commitment for clients in the buildings, civil infrastructure, heavy industrial and solar markets. With a strategic presence in more than 30 major centers, PCL’s leadership teams consistently drive innovation and set new benchmarks for excellence, bringing unparalleled skill to every project. Watch us build at PCL.com.