Inouye Recognized as ʻOutstanding Builder of the Yearʻ

Lance Inouye (middle) accepting the Outstanding Builder of the Year Award. Photo courtesy: Pacific Resource Partnership.

The Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters has named Lance Inouye its 2020 Outstanding Union Builder of the Year.

Inouye, president and CEO of Ralph S. Inouye Company Limited, Inc., was selected from among 300 signatory contractors of the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters for his outstanding contributions to Hawaiʻi’s construction industry and the community, collaborative approach to labor-management relations, and demonstrated strong support for unionized construction.

Inouye’s recognition marks the 16th year of the Outstanding Union Builder of the Year Award. He received the award on Tuesday night at a reception hosted by Pacific Resource Partnership at the Oʻahu Country Club.

Inouye’s father, Ralph S. Inouye, founded the company 58 years ago. Lance joined the family business nearly 40 years ago and took the reins as CEO in 2002.

During his tenure, Inouye took part in the completion of many public and private projects including work at the Daniel K. Inouye International Airport, Shriner’s Hospital for Children, and numerous homeless, low-income and senior housing projects.

In addition to his successful career in Hawaii’s construction industry, Inouye was a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Navy, a deputy attorney general for the state of Hawaiʻi, and practiced law in the areas of construction, real property and public utilities. He is still licensed to practice law in the state of Hawaiʻi.

Inouye has served on the state Land Use Commission and various union trust funds for both the Hawaiʻi Regional Council of Carpenters and Hawaii Operating Engineers, was president and director of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii, and has supported various organizations including Shriners Hospitals for Children, the Hawaiʻi Community Foundation and Easter Seals Hawaiʻi.

Previous Outstanding Union Builder of the Year awardees are Alan Shintani of Alan Shintani, Inc. Jim Ramirez of Hunt Building Companies; Henry T. Iida of T. Iida Contracting, Ltd. and Thomas Toma of Tommy S. Toma Contractor, Inc.; Gerry Majkut of Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc.; Leslie Isemoto of Isemoto Contracting Company; George S. Ehara of Swinerton Builders; Gerard Sakamoto of S & M Sakamoto, Inc.; Vincent Nihipali, Sr. of V & C Drywall Contractors, Inc.; Glen Kaneshige of Nordic PCL Construction, Inc.; Lance Wilhelm of Kiewit Infrastructure West Co.; Russell Young of Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc.; Conrad Murashige of Shioi Construction, Inc.; Bill Wilson of Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Inc.; Lito Alcantra of Group Builders, Inc.; and Kenneth Sakurai of Coastal Construction Company, Inc.