Paying It Forward
As an apprentice carpenter in the late 1960s, Steve Hidano looked up to leaders in Hawaii’s construction industry. He knew some of them well: Frank Williams, Stanley Ota, Tom Tanaka, Takeshi Tokunaga, Dan Ostrow and his own father, Nobu Hidano, who worked as a supervisor for Roy Kelley at Outrigger Hotels. These men became his mentors and helped the young Hidano build confidence.
“When I was an apprentice carpenter, my bosses took good care of me and gave me things I never would have imagined,” Hidano says. “It made me feel like I had something going on. Years later, I asked them to sign my foremanship papers to qualify for my contractor’s license. They all signed for me.”
In those early days, Hidano was paid for productivity and not by the hour. He decided he had to be a contractor. His father helped him get started, and friends within the industry called with work on residential projects.
“I had a lot of painter friends and they would always call me to repair fascias, water-rot areas, work on kitchen and bathroom cabinets” Hidano says. “They said my work was perfect. They urged me to get my license, and they helped me get my contractor’s license, too.”
Since he launched it in 1974, Hidano Construction has focused its expertise on new construction, renovations for single-family homes and well-designed warehouse and office complexes. Guided by its motto, “Servicing the Need,” the general contractor’s progressive approach has even led to contracts for high-tech satellite tracking stations.
Hidano’s foresight would also lead him to create a development arm that buys vacant lots, builds upon them and resells them at a profit, helping the company and its employees weather Hawaii’s cyclical economic downturns.
Hidano’s wife, Audrey, would sign on as full-time business manager, and the company would grow to include carpenters, masons, laborers, an administrative staff and even Steve and Audrey’s daughter, Ruby, a project administrator/coordinator. All are annually trained to meet required safety standards.
Hidano sees himself in his employees, and he models his mentors, rewarding good work, paying it forward.
“My workers are so smart, more so than when I was an apprentice,” he says. “They are fast, quick, precise. Their hands and minds are just great. I really believe in them, and that sends their self-esteem through the ceiling. They do more, work faster, and keep their mind on the job.
“They go the extra mile to assure satisfaction, no matter how big or small the job,” Hidano says. “It could be a residential bathroom or kitchen remodel; it could be a big project for Castle and Cooke, Oceanic Time Warner or Nextel Communications. The staff is always interested in getting the job done right the first time.”
A progressive and creative manager, Hidano makes sure his staff is cross-trained in multiple tasks. A network linking company computers assures that estimating, accounting, job scheduling and manpower are achieved with efficiency. Of course nothing beats staying on top of jobs via daily reports and jobsite photos, and personally checking and constantly communicating with his work force.
“I am personally involved with each project contracted with Hidano Construction,” Hidano says. “Being in constant communication with our clients involves them in all decisions and delivers complete satisfaction.”
Brick by brick, steel girder by steel girder, this family-owned company has never lost sight of one fact: it is the personal interactions with clients that assures the mortar is firmly set for a job well done.
Hidano Construction takes care of you from start to end of the project
