Building industry Magazine - September 2014 - (Page 51)

INTERVIEW BERT KOBAYASHI SR. Keeping True to His Roots BY DAVID PUTNAM W ho would portray iconic Hawaii real estate developer Bert Kobayashi Sr. in a film about his life? For the answer, he turns to Susan, his wife. "I am unable to think of one specific actor," he says, "however, he would have to be a person with a good family life helping his children and grandchildren and, most important, being faithful to his wife. Susan's suggestion is Robert Duvall, because he is funny, a very good dancer and sexy when doing the Tango." Kobayashi, who will turn 70 in November, has developed more than $3 billion worth of Hawaii real estate. His projects read like a who's who of construction gems: Hilton Hawaiian Village, Ko olina Golf Clubhouse, Sheraton Moana Surfrider, Kapolei High School, Turtle Bay Hilton, West Loch Estates, the HMSA Center, Kukio Beach Resort on the Big Island and Country Club Villages in Salt Lake. A third-generation Japanese American, he was attending Kapiolani Community College when his father became ill. Only 19 years old, he was tasked with running his father's company, which later became Albert C. Kobayashi Inc. It was sold to its employees in 1997. In July, his current company, Kobayashi Development Group, and its partners broke ground on Park Lane, a $300 million ultraluxury condominium project on Ala Moana Boulevard, for landowner General Growth Properties. Scheduled for completion in 2016, Park Lane will be comprised of seven condo towers with 215 residences and more than four floors of residential and commercial parking. Although "retired" now as Kobayashi Group's chairman, he still reports to work each day as an adviser to his son, B.J. Kobayashi. www.buildingindustryhawaii.com | 51 http://www.buildingindustryhawaii.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Building industry Magazine - September 2014

KAUAI CONSTRUCTION: SLOW RISE BUILDING
HAWAII STEEL ALLIANCE RESOURCE DIRECTORY
MEDICAL CONSTRUCTION ON GUAM
ENVIRONMENT VS. CONSTRUCTION
INTERVIEW WITH BERT KOBAYASHI SR.
News Beat
Datebook
Contracts Awarded
Low Bids
Concept To Completion: Kaunakakai Harbor
Spotlight On Success: Hilton Hokulani
News Makers
New Products
Faces: 2014 Plumbing Expo
Best Practices

Building industry Magazine - September 2014