This reliable, high-quality contractor in the Aloha state has earned its reputation from outstanding collaboration with its workers and their unions.

In Partnership With: BAC, IUOE, LIUNA, UBC

Building on a successful relationship with its employees and customers

By bringing the Hawaiian concept of Ohana, a principle of mutual respect and cooperation, into the workplace, Delta Construction Corporation provides a model for how to treat workers like part of the family. The company champions fairness and respect for workers' rights while delivering high-quality projects to its customers.

Since its formation, Delta has valued the skilled labor that union members bring to the job, hiring only workers protected by union collective bargaining agreements. Upon acquiring a job, Delta works with four separate unions to pull together a team to complete the project. It has grown from a two-person shareholder business in 1978 to an employee-owned company in 2006.

Delta’s strong reputation as a reliable, high-quality contractor in the Aloha state is largely the result of its outstanding collaboration with its workers’ unions, including the Laborers' International Union of North America (LIUNA) Local 368. According to its president, Kenneth Kobatake, "Delta’s success requires the joint effort of all participants. Company owners and unions must work like a hand and glove to safely deliver to our customers a quality product at a reasonable price."

Together, both have created initiatives aimed at improving the union construction industry, workplace conditions, and overall wellness of workers in the construction trades. As part of a joint Laborers-Employers Cooperation and Education Trust, Delta and its unions have waged an aggressive public relations campaign highlighting the benefits of construction careers and the economic incentives tied to choosing a union contractor. Working in concert, LIUNA and Delta have developed a health and welfare program, including smoking cessation and mental and physical fitness programs. The company is also educating workers on the availability of health and safety workshops, vital to reducing workplace injuries, increasing productivity, and ultimately providing on-time completion of construction projects. Moreover, its dispute resolution process has reduced workers’ compensation expenses and helped prevent lengthy and costly arbitration processes.

This cooperative effort has helped Delta deliver on some of the most prominent real estate developments in Hawaii. Recent projects include the Forest City Military Communities, the Ocean Pointe housing development, and an awardwinning renovation of the man-made lagoon at the Hilton Hawaiian Village resort in Honolulu.

Delta Construction has demonstrated that when companies respect workers’ rights, promote a safe workplace, and provide a needed service to their community, there is great potential for growth and success.