Building Industry Magazine - August 2014 - (Page 26)
INSIDE THE HAWAII ISLAND CONTRACTORS' ASSOCIATION
HICA'S first female president
will focus on unity, legislation
Carolyn Loeffler wants to strengthen
bonds with lawmakers and stress
issues affecting Big Island builders
BY DAVID PUTNAM
T
wenty-four years ago Carolyn Loeffler and her husband took
out a loan against their home that they had built "payday to
payday" to purchase a backhoe from Bacon Universal in Hilo and
began Loeffler Construction Inc.
Loeffler broke new ground once again when she was installed
as the first woman president of the Hawaii Island Contractors'
Association (HICA) on June 21 at a banquet held at Naniloa
Volcanoes Resort in Hilo.
In pre-World War II days the organization was comprised
of Hilo's building industry leaders and known as the Japanese
Contractors' Association. Mostly they held social parties at tea
houses. After the war the group went through name changes,
attracted more members and expanded its political activities. Over
the decades 34 men have served as HICA's president; many of them
held the office more than one term.
Now it's the 51-year-old Loeffler's turn to head the 186-member
organization. Does she feel added pressure as HICA's first woman
president to prove she can handle the demands of the office?
HICA President Carolyn Loeffler
26 | BUILDING INDUSTRY HAWAII | AUGUST 2014
Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building Industry Magazine - August 2014