Across the country — and now in Hawaii — a new wave of construction is taking root. Mass timber, an engineered wood product known for its strength, fire resistance, and environmental benefits, is transforming how buildings are designed and constructed. At the Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund (HCATF), we’re proud to help lead that transformation through hands-on training and industry partnerships.
In August, we launched our first Oahu-based Mass Timber course at the Kapolei Training Center, building on the success of earlier sessions on Maui. With another session scheduled for September, we’re expanding access to this critical training at a time when Hawaii’s construction industry is embracing innovative methods to address housing needs, labor efficiency, and climate resilience.
“We’re seeing growing interest from contractors,” said Errol Kusunoki, HCATF Training Coordinator. “Mass timber offers both safety and sustainability benefits, and we want to make sure our members are prepared as more of these projects come online.”
That shift is already underway. Both Allied Builders and Armstrong Builders are currently working with mass timber on major builds. “Mass timber is a relatively new building material and method used here in Hawaii,” said Byron Almazan, Superintendent at Allied Builders. “The material’s precision and ease of assembly have allowed us to deliver projects more efficiently while maintaining the highest standards of craftsmanship you would expect from a skilled carpenter”.
From a training perspective, the benefits are clear. Mass timber offers a faster, safer, and more sustainable alternative to traditional construction materials. Prefabricated panels mean fewer on-site errors, reduced labor time, and improved safety conditions. The material itself is lighter than concrete yet incredibly strong — offering high seismic performance and a low burn rate that improves fire resistance .
On Lanai, Allied Builders and Armstrong Builders are already putting this knowledge to work on the jobsite. Both teams enrolled workers in HCATF’s first Mass Timber training on Maui to prepare for their current projects — a new community center and a workforce housing development for Pulama Lanai.
“The training that HCATF offered gave us confidence in handling and installing this type of material,” said Almazan.
“As we build out this project using mass timber, things move a lot faster,” added Carl Gardner, Assistant Superintendent at Armstrong Builders. “The training was a great introduction to using the materials and building efficiently.”
While the cost of materials can be higher upfront, contractors say the time saved during construction may offset labor costs—especially for larger-scale builds. When combined with sustainability advantages and durability under Hawaii’s climate conditions, mass timber is becoming a compelling option for developers seeking long-term performance.
“We hope more developers and contractors will adopt the use of mass timber as an option to save time and labor while also using environmentally friendly material,” said HCATF Executive Director Edmund Aczon.
Whether on construction sites or in classrooms, one thing is clear: mass timber isn’t just a trend — it’s a step toward a safer, smarter, and more sustainable future for Hawaii’s built environment.
