The Painter’s Apprentice

A demanding industry offers big-time perks

BY PRISCILLA PÉREZ BILLIG

A worker paints a shower stall. PHOTO COURTESY THE ZELINSKY CO.

Becoming a professional painter means more than picking up a brush and a can of paint. The painting industry requires its professionals to learn their craft through the rigors of an apprenticeship, with the payoffs coming back as a good salary and steady work.

“Even during these times of uncertainty, most of our members have been very fortunate to be able to continue working,” says Sean Cordero, director of training for the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 50 Painters Local Union 1791. “Throughout this COVID-19 pandemic the Painters Union has been, and is currently, attracting new appli- Sean Cordero cants into the apprenticeship program. As an apprentice in the Painters Union, individuals are required to complete 576 hours of related training instruction usually held on Saturdays and 8,000 hours of on-the-job training.”

Cordero adds that related training instruction is delivered several ways to the apprentices: Face-to-face in a classroom and workshop setting, online lessons using the union’s learning management system and virtual classrooms via Zoom. On-the-job training allows the apprentice to learn while working under the supervision of a journey worker while earning fair wages.

“Once an apprentice successfully completes the requirements of the apprenticeship program, the apprentice becomes a certified journey worker painter,” Cordero says. “Even as a journey worker, members are still required to attend classes,

whether it is recurring safety compliance training or upgrade training.”

Victor Wyman, president of Jade Painting Inc., says that one of the keys to the success of his business over the years has been the company’s apprentices.

“Many of them have been with us throughout their tenures as painters,” he says. “This has given us the opportunity to Victor Wyman get to know them as people first since most arrive in their early twenties. Their time dedicated to helping us build a strong nucleus provides one of the strengths to our success in the industry as they go from apprenticeship to journeyman status.

“There is a sense of satisfaction for our management to participate in their development both in character, professionalism and skill. Whether they remain long-term or move on. It is a privilege as an owner to have provided a place of employment along the way and an opportunity to develop a skill set that will be theirs for a lifetime.” For painting apprentice Sean Ho, who is on the cusp of becoming a journeyman, his career began with Harry Asato Painting in 2016, where he still works today. “Getting to where I am today took Sean Ho lots of learning, listening and also learning from mistakes,” Ho says. “Mistakes are expected. Learning from them is where you, as an apprentice, gain the knowledge. Like any job, it takes time to learn what to do.

Lic.# BC 22156

Your One-Stop Solution for Building Improvement

Dillingham Transportation Building Eaves Detail

Painting Kea‘au Elderly Housing• Spall Repairs • Waterproofing

Roof Coatings • – Painting & Roof Coating Carpentry • Glazing

Maui Oahu Kona 242-1327 848-0003 329-2007 www.kawikaspainting.com

It’s also important to ask questions if you don’t understand things. Not everyone learns the same way.”

Ho adds that being at a jobsite, working and making the hours to get to that journeyman status should be any apprentice’s goal.

“Having an employer see that you’re making the effort to learn, work hard and go the extra mile to be successful is what separates you from the ones that get sent home.”

Ho’s advice for all apprentices comes down to this: “Learn all that you can from whoever is willing to teach you, whether it be an instructor from the apprenticeship program or your journeyman. Just learn what they have to offer. There’s more than one way to do the job. Even though you learned it one way, be open-minded and learn it other ways. You never know, the second way might be faster or feel more comfortable to you. Be a sponge.”

Compliance Courses Online

District Council 50 offers its members from all islands online virtual courses using a desktop computer, laptop, tablet or smartphone, according to Dean Dean Nagatoshi M. Nagatoshi, executive director of the Painting and Decorating Contractors Association (PDCA) of Hawaii.

Courses available online via Zoom, an online virtual meeting room, include: • Fall Protection • Hazard Communication (HazCom) • American Red Cross First Aid/CPR

Participants must have an email address. The device used must have a camera so that visual confirmation can be noted for attendance and interactive participation.

Face-to-Face Training

District Council 50 has recently reopened rooms for face-to-face compliance training. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, class sizes were decreased, tables and chairs are arranged for social distancing and new policies ensure the wellbeing of everyone attending.

A copy of the “COVID-19 Education Plan” policy is provided to all members at registration. On the Neighbor Islands, face-to-face sessions begin again as soon as community colleges reopen.

“Addressing all safety concerns for COVID-19 will keep our workers and their jobsites safe,” says Nagatoshi. “The PDCA of Hawaii’s website, pdcahawaii.org, contains a directory of Hawaii painting contractors that are licensed and insured, and have completed extensive training and education on up-to-date safety and craftsmanship standards.”

A Jade Painting worker adjusts his sprayer. PHOTO COURTESY JADE PAINTING INC.

At The Zelinsky Company, CEO Lari Zelinsky-Bloom says her company likes to hire workers with a good attitude and work ethic.

“Typically, they are referred to us by other field workers,” Zelinsky-Bloom says. “We try them out as helpers to determine if they are the right fit for our company. If they pass muster, we will sponsor them into the Painters Union Apprenticeship program to further their training.”

Zelinsky-Bloom says the Painters Apprenticeship program is the primary source of Zelinsky’s skilled labor and critical for the industry. Each year the company sponsors at least eight to 10 apprentices into the program.

“It’s a four-year program which, in addition to full-time work, includes unpaid four-hour training classes every Saturday during the semester,” she says. “The program is rigorous and takes real commitment. The program is a great opportunity for a young person to Lari Zelinsky-Bloom emerge with a well-paying job and no debt.”

Zelinsky-Bloom admits to being surprised about the number of “diamonds in the rough” that have come through the apprentice program and are still with Zelinsky today.

“While the apprentice program has a formal structure to become a journeyman based on completion of classes and the number of hours worked, we really push our apprentices,” Zelinsky-Bloom says. “If they show the initiative, desire and ability we will allow those apprentices to excel by working more hours and gaining more experience in all facets of the trade as quickly as they desire.”

Zelinsky-Bloom sits on the Unions Joint Apprenticeship Training Committee that oversees the training program to ensure cohesion in the apprentice training they need for the success of the apprentice and the employers.

“The relationship Zelinsky Company has with the Painters Union Apprenticeship program has been one of the keys to our success,” Zelinsky-Bloom says. “It’s really a win-win for both the apprentices and employers such as The Zelinsky Company.”

Your Resource for Painting and Decorating Contractors

PDCAHawaii.org

PDCA of Hawaii Contractor Members

Akira Yamamoto Painting, Inc. BEK, Inc. Hirota Painting Co., Inc. Honolulu Painting Co., Ltd. Jade Painting, Inc. J.D. Painting & Decorating, Inc. Metropolitan Painting & Environmental Systems, Inc. M. Shiroma Painting Company, Inc Society Contracting, LLC W.E. Painting, Inc. Zelinsky Company, Inc.

PDCA of Hawaii P.O. Box 22597 | Honolulu, HI 96823-2597 (808) 479-6825 | info@pdcahawaii.org

MILITARY ROUNDUP

NAVFAC Awards $99M and maintaining that capability.”

Waterfront Contract The contract provides for new

Naval Facilities Engineering construction and/or repair/renovation

Command (NAVFAC) Hawaii in of piers/wharves, bulkheads, drydocks

September awarded the Honolulu and caissons, waterfront facilities such team of Moffatt & Nichol – Burns as warehouses or waterfront opera& McDonnell Hawaii (large busi- tions buildings, and bridges. All work ness), an indefinite-delivery, indefinite- will be performed at various Navy, quantity architect-engineering services Marine Corps and other government contract with a maximum amount of facilities in Hawaii. $99 million for various waterfront and The contract was competitively other projects in Hawaii. procured via the Navy Electronic

The term of the entire contract is not Commerce Online website with three to exceed 60 months, with an expected proposals received. completion date of September 2025.

The initial task order of $9,277,279 Core Tech-Hawaiian Dredging was awarded for the design of FY22 to Build Guam Storage Units

Special Project RM17-1007 Repair Core Tech-Hawaiian Dredging LLC

Wharves B20 & B21 at Joint Base of Tamuning, Guam, landed a $43

Pearl Harbor-Hickam. Work for this million firm-fixed-price contract from task order is expected to be completed NAVFAC Pacific for the design and by February 2022. construction of Munitions Storage Igloos

“We are very excited to get this Phase 3 at Andersen Air Force Base. engineering services contract in place,” The contract, awarded on Sept. said NAVFAC Hawaii Chief Engineer 16, includes construction of 20 muni-

Aaron Darley. “Our piers, wharves and tions storage igloos required to docks must be repaired and maintained support forward-positioned munitions to ensure mission capability. This tool at Andersen AFB. The work will be will play a significant role in achieving performed in Yigo, with an expected completion date of June 2023. “The project will provide munitions Nan Awarded $75M Veterans Home Project storage capability that is vital to enabling national defense missions within the Indo-Pacific area of responsibility,” Nan Inc. in October was awarded a contract to build the state’s new said Capt. Tim Liberatore, NAVFAC Marianas commanding officer. $75.5 million Hawaii State Veterans InSynergy Lands $20M ContractHome. The award follows Nan’s bid NAVFAC Pacific in September protest of the contract in 2019. awarded a $20 million indefinite-

Construction is expected to take delivery indefinite-quantity (IDIQ) two years. contract for architectural and engineer-

The three-building, 120-bed ing services to InSynergy Engineering facility will be built on a seven- Inc. of Honolulu for utility systems acre portion of state-owned land in studies at various locations within the Kapolei along Farrington Highway, NAVFAC Pacific area of operations. Fort Barrette Road and Kealanani The term of the contract is not to Avenue. The facility will feature exceed 60 months with an expected three two-story buildings—two completion date of September 2025. residential structures and a skilled Work will be performed at various nursing/community center. Also Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and included are interior finishes, a parking lot and related sitework. The U.S. Veterans Administration is partially funding the project through a $44.7 million grant. other government facilities in Hawaii, Japan, northwest and southwest U.S. states, Guam and Diego Garcia. “We are eagerly looking forward to our contract partnership with InSynergy Engineering Inc. to enhance the resilience, reliability and integrity of the Navy’s critical utilities infrastructure that supports mission readiness and operational capability in the Indo-Pacific theater,” said NAVFAC Pacific Public Works Business Line (PWBL) Director Christopher Floro.

The NAVFAC Pacific PWBL Utilities Management Division will be the contract technical coordinator and point of contact for delivery order awards and execution in support of utilities infrastructure management services, technical investigations and system studies over the next five years in the NAVFAC Pacific area of operations.

Niking to Erect $16M MCBH Gate

NAVFAC Pacific in September awarded a $16 million firm-fixed price contract to Niking Corp. of Wahiawa for construction of a new entry control point (ECP) facility at Marine Corps Base Hawaii (MCBH) in Kaneohe to meet anti-terrorism and force protection requirements.

Work will be performed at the MCBH perimeter gate on Mokapu Road with an expected completion date of January 2022.

Work includes construction of a new gatehouse, covered entrance lanes, search and entry inspection areas for privately owned vehicles and large commercial trucks, raised arm sentry over watchtowers and guard stations, and mechanical security barriers. The ECP project will also include the installation of passive and active vehicle barriers, security fencing, lighting, concrete paving site improvements and striping. Site preparation will include excavation and grading of pavement and curbs gutters.

$14M Energy Project Awarded

NAVFAC Hawaii in September awarded Ameresco Inc., of Framingham, Mass., a $14,375,273 firm-fixed-price contract to install a solar photovoltaic system (PV), a solar thermal system, HVAC improvements and lighting improvements at Joint Base Pearl Harbor-Hickam.

Work is expected to be completed by October 2022.

“To fulfill our mission here

in Hawaii and provide JBPHH Department of Defense personnel at the Wahiawa Annex with facility support, we need substantial energy, hot water and air conditioning,” said Capt. Randall Harmeyer, JBPHH public works officer. “Securing these in an efficient and renewable manner is key to long-term, cost-effective mission

Sunspear Energy, a Honolulu company, recently installed a 117 kW rooftop solar array and solar carport at Hale Kewalo, a Stanford Carr affordable housing project near Ala Moana Center.

The system’s 166 SunPower highefficiency solar modules are estimated to save the project more than $1.5 million in electricity over 25 years.

“Sunspear Energy was charged The new 117kW Sunspear solar system at Hale Kewalo PHOTO COURTESY SUNSPEAR ENERGY

Unlimited Construction Services Inc. is anticipating a Spring 2021 start date for Halewai‘olu Senior Residences, a $65 million high-rise in downtown Honolulu.

The project at 1333 River Street is expected to wrap at the end of 2022.

Plans call for a 17-story reinforced concrete/post-tensioned deck building consisting of 156 units of affordable senior rental housing. An attached ground-level residents’ multipurpose community center contains conference success. The Navy is a leader in Hawaii for using technology to power our facilities sustainably.”

Work to be performed includes a solar PV system with a capacity of 1,000 kW, mounted on a canopy over a portion of an existing base parking lot. The array will supply power to the site via an existing medium voltwith developing a system that would maximize clean energy production,” says Peter Fletter, Sunspear co-founder and vice president. “We were able to achieve this with a state-of-the-art rooftop solar array with a dual-tilt racking system, and added solar on the building’s parking structure.”

The system will provide 177,746 kilowatt hours of clean energy annually, and will offset 30 percent of the energy used for common areas, including the parking garage, corridors, community room elevators and laundry facility.

“Generating our own renewable power furthered the goals of the Hale Kewalo affordable housing project by reducing ongoing electricity costs,” says developer Stanford Carr.

The system is projected to save $40,255 in electricity costs in its first year. age switchgear; a solar thermal system with ~200 gal/day capacity; HVAC retro-commissioning; and lighting controls upgrade, consisting of new occupancy sensor controls.

The contract was competitively procured via the Federal Business Opportunities website with eight

Sunspear Tops Hale Kewalo with 117kW Array

proposals received.

PRP, HHC Help Fund Queen’s Sanctuaries Project

Pacific Resource Partnership (PRP), a Hawaii construction industry advocacy group, is joining The Howard Hughes Corporation (HHC) and AlohaCare in providing $80,000 for the construction of The Queen’s Medical Center’s new Caregiver Sanctuaries.

PRP is donating $25,000 and HHC-Ward Village is donating $50,000 to fund indoor and outdoor respite spaces for the center’s more than 3,500 healthcare workers. The facility will be the first of its kind in Hawaii, and is expected to break

Unlimited to Start $65M Project in Spring

ground in December.

Unlimited will soon start construction on the new 17-story Halewai‘olu Senior Residences. RENDERING COURTESY WRNS STUDIOS and activity rooms, podium parking is provided on the first three levels, and a spacious recreation deck will feature exercise activities, gardening and a doggie park. Building security includes restricted access to parking, lobby and elevators. Units will have Energy Star kitchen appliances, low-flow fixtures, individual air conditioning and operable windows for natural ventilation.

The design-assist project aims to achieve LEED Silver certification.