My name is Anna Kim, and I’ve been a professional photographer on Maui for the past 15 years. I've built a small business that has captured thousands of meaningful moments — weddings, anniversaries, maternity shoots, and family gatherings — all set against the stunning backdrop of this island we call home.
I’m writing today because the Maui wedding industry, which has long been a cornerstone of our local economy, is in crisis. And we need your help.
The wedding industry here is not just about pretty pictures and floral arrangements — it’s about people. It’s about locally owned businesses like mine, and the thousands of residents we employ directly and indirectly: photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, musicians, makeup artists, drivers, bakers, rental companies, and officiants — just to name a few. It’s about sustainable, quality jobs that allow locals to put food on the table, raise their families, and remain on this island through rising costs and increasing economic pressures.
Every wedding brings with it a ripple effect. A typical couple hosts their guests, many of whom stay for a week or more. They fill our hotels and Airbnbs, shop at our local stores, dine at our restaurants, book activities, rent cars, and support local businesses up and down the supply chain. It’s not uncommon for a single wedding to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic activity, most of which stays right here on Maui.
As a photographer, I’ve worked with hundreds of couples over the years — people who choose Maui not just for its beauty, but for the spirit of aloha. They return again and again, often bringing their children back years later. They volunteer their time, donate to local causes, and treat this place with care and love. These are the kind of visitors we want and need — people who invest in our community.
But right now, our industry is on the brink. Between the pandemic, the wildfires, and increasing regulatory and logistical challenges, many of us are struggling just to hang on. Shoots are being canceled. Bookings are down. Vendors are going out of business. And the longer this goes on, the harder it will be to rebuild what we've lost.
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for recognition and support — for thoughtful policies that protect our environment and our livelihoods. We’re asking you to see the wedding industry not as a luxury, but as a vital part of Maui’s economic and cultural fabric.
Please help us protect the small businesses and local families who’ve built their lives around making other people’s dreams come true on this island. We’re proud of what we do, and we want to keep doing it — with integrity, respect, and aloha.
Subject: Testimony in Strong Opposition on Bill 54
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee,
My name is Alfred Cheng, and I am a general contractor on the Island of Oahu and have worked on other islands. I submit this testimony with a strong opposition of Bill 54, which proposes mandatory Community Workforce Agreements (Project Labor Agreement) on all Maui County capital improvement projects over $500,000.
I am a concerned contractor who believes unions should not dictate how the government should run their competitive bidding procedures by granting exclusive control over who gets to work on taxpayer-funded projects. Bill 54 will prevent non-union local contractors from freely bidding competitively on government projects without first signing union-style agreements. The construction cost will increase due to the reduction of open competition.
Non-union companies are required to follow union rules and regulations on contributions, training and workforce hiring. Companies are not allowed to seek equal opportunities to hire skilled workers within the community. They are forced to recruit workers from the unions. The non-union companies are also forced to collect dues from their employees who are not in the union. Employees have no say to this rule and are compelled to abide by this rule.
By allowing Bill 54 to pass, the legislature eliminates the non-union contractors, many of whom are small, family-run businesses or DBE (Disadvantage Business Enterprise) contractors. These businesses support local jobs, pay wages under the State prevailing wages for public construction work, and provide different pathways for workforce development without requiring union affiliation.
All non-union contractors, including Maui contractors, should not be monopolized by a single labor structure. I strongly urge you to vote NO on this Bill 54 and support policies that are fair, inclusive, and respect local contractors statewide.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Honorable Councilmembers,
My name is Jenny Sullivan and I am a proud employee of P.B. Sullivan Construction. I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54 (2025), which would require contractors on County capital improvement projects over $500,000 to become signatories to a “Community Workforce Agreement” — essentially a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).
I have the privilege of working at P.B. Sullivan Construction, a locally owned company that values its workers. Pete and Dave lead with integrity, treat their employees like family, and provide excellent wages, benefits, and training. We have no need to unionize because we are already well-supported.
This bill would unfairly shut out trusted, non-union companies like ours from public projects — despite our long-standing commitment to hiring local, paying prevailing wages, and building Maui’s schools, infrastructure, and homes. It would limit opportunities for small, family-run businesses and reduce competition, ultimately driving up project costs. That means taxpayers like me will end up paying more for the same work.
Bill 54 doesn't just hurt contractors — it hurts workers and communities by reducing options and creating unnecessary barriers. I respectfully urge you to vote NO on Bill 54 and ensure that Maui’s public projects remain open, competitive, and fair for all qualified contractors.
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my perspective.
Sincerely,
Jenny Sullivan
Employee, P.B. Sullivan Construction
Aloha Councilmembers,
I strongly oppose Bill 54 because it amounts to the legalized theft of fringe benefits from hardworking local tradespeople.
Under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), non-union contractors are forced to send workers’ fringe benefits—worth over $30 per hour—into union trust funds. These are private funds that the worker will never benefit from unless they join the union and stay in it for five years or more.
Let’s be clear:
If a cement finisher works 6 months on a county project, they earn over $35,000 in fringe benefits according to the state’s own wage schedule (WRS 508).
Under a PLA, that money doesn’t go to the worker—it’s taken and held by the union.
If the worker doesn’t vest, they lose every penny.
That’s not fair. That’s not “labor peace.”
That’s wage theft disguised as public policy.
On a non-PLA job, those same fringe dollars go directly to the worker:
• Paid in their weekly paycheck, or
• Deposited into a 401(k) or health account under their name.
Bill 54 would take away that choice. It would strip local workers of their compensation, and send it to a union fund that refuses to give it back unless you become a long-term member.
This is wrong. This is theft. And the Maui County Council should not be complicit in it.
Vote NO on Bill 54. Stand with the tradespeople who earn these wages. Don’t give away their money.
My name is Tam Kim, Director of Operations at West Maui Construction. We have been a locally owned and operated construction company here on Maui since 2009. We employee about 100 local residents who call Maui home.
I strongly oppose the Bill 54, which would mandate Project Labor Agreement (PLA) or Community Workforce Agreement on Mau public capital improvement projects over $500,000.
This bill will restrict many non-union local contractors and smaller companies from bidding on these projects and only promote select large contractors to win public projects. It will reduce options for the client, the county, resulting in higher construction costs and more delays. Most smaller contractors will not be able to afford the demands put forth by this agreement, including lower-tier subcontractors.
This type of bill may be suitable for large contracts $25M or more, but it does not add benefits on smaller county projects, as most of our projects fall within $1.5M +/- $500K range. Due to the added restrictions and demands, this bill will certainly add more costs and delays to projects, ultimately costing taxpayers more money. This bill promotes unions but fails to promote competitive free market which drives quality and lowers costs. I point to the Rail project on Oahu, a PLA project plagued with cost overruns and delays.
Please vote NO on Bill 54.
Sincerely,
Tam Kim
C: 808-280-7888
tkim@wmcinc.com
35 Lunalilo St. ste 400
Wailuku, HI 96793
TESTIMONY OF PETE SULLIVAN
OWNER & PRESIDENT, P.B. Sullivan Construction
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO BILL 54 (2025)
Maui County Council – Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
Friday, April 25, 2025
Good afternoon, Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Honorable Councilmembers,
My name is Pete Sullivan, and I am the Owner and President of P.B. Sullivan Construction. On behalf of my business partner, Dave Sullivan, and our entire team, I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54 (2025), which would require contractors on County capital improvement projects over $500,000 to become signatories to a “Community Workforce Agreement”—in essence, a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).
P.B. Sullivan Construction has proudly served Maui for over 30 years as a locally owned merit shop contractor. We’ve built schools, homes, infrastructure, and community facilities—employing local residents, offering a state-approved apprenticeship program, and paying prevailing wages. Bill 54 would unfairly exclude qualified, merit-based contractors like ours from bidding on public projects, despite our proven commitment to quality, safety, and workforce development.
Mandating union agreements would force our employees—many of whom have been with us for decades—to give up their existing benefits and retirement plans. These are workers who have already invested years into their futures. Under a PLA, they would face delayed access to health coverage and be required to start over with unfamiliar retirement plans—at a time in life when stability is most important.
Furthermore, we know from both national data and local experience that PLAs increase construction costs by 12% to 18%. This added cost will not be absorbed by contractors—it will be passed on to Maui’s taxpayers. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair.
We fully support a competitive, qualified, and local workforce. But this bill does the opposite. It restricts competition, limits opportunity for local businesses, and prioritizes union affiliation over performance, integrity, and community investment.
Unions play an important role in our industry, but they should not have exclusive control over public work. Public projects should remain open, competitive, and fair—ensuring that the best-qualified contractors, regardless of union status, have the opportunity to serve our community.
I respectfully urge you to vote NO on Bill 54.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Pete Sullivan
President & Owner
P.B. Sullivan Construction
TESTIMONY OF SHANNON ROBINSON
Controller, Arita Poulson General Contracting
Director, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Hawaii Chapter 114
Director, Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA)
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO BILL 54 (2025)
Maui County Council – Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
Friday, April 25, 2025
Aloha Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Councilmembers,
My name is Shannon Robinson, Controller at Arita Poulson General Contracting here on Maui. I also serve as a Director with NAWIC Hawaii Chapter 114 as well as a Director for the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. I’m writing today in strong opposition to Bill 54.
Arita Poulson General Contracting has been doing business on Maui since 1986. We are a locally owned, open-shop contractor, and we’ve built strong ties in this community for nearly 40 years. We hire local talent, pay prevailing wages, and invest in state-approved apprenticeship and training programs. Bill 54 would force companies like ours to sign union agreements, undermining how we operate and limiting opportunities for the very people we employ.
This bill threatens to shut out many small, family-run businesses that are the backbone of our local industry. Every project involves multiple subcontractors — many of them Maui-based, minority-owned, or highly specialized — who would face new barriers just to continue doing the work they’ve been doing for years.
Bill 54 also limits options for our young people entering the trades by favoring union-only training. Right now, Hawaii is already facing a skilled labor shortage in construction, and Maui is no exception. We need more trained workers to meet the demand for housing, infrastructure, and community projects — not fewer.
Restricting training to union-only programs closes the door on many who might otherwise pursue a career in the trades through open-shop apprenticeship programs like the one we run at Arita Poulson General Contracting. These programs are locally based, state-approved, and play a critical role in developing homegrown talent.
True workforce development should offer multiple pathways to success, giving individuals the freedom to choose the training that works best for them. When we limit those options, we not
only reduce opportunities for our youth but also weaken our ability to grow a strong, reliable labor force here on Maui. We need to focus on expanding access to training and building up our local workforce, not putting up roadblocks.
PLAs have been shown to raise project costs by 12% to 18% and reduce competition. At a time when we need every dollar to count for housing, schools, and infrastructure, we can’t afford policies that increase costs and exclude local builders.
Please keep Maui’s projects open and competitive. I respectfully urge you to reject Bill 54 and support a fair, inclusive construction industry for our community.
Mahalo for your time and service.
Sincerely,
Shannon Robinson
Controller, Arita Poulson General Contracting
Director, NAWIC Hawaii Chapter 114
Director, Building Industry Association of Hawaii
Email: srobinson@aritapoulson.com
Phone: 808-856-3219
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
My name is Ralph Cushnie , and I am a contractor based on the island of Kauai. I submit this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54, which proposes mandatory Community Workforce Agreements (Project Labor Agreements) on all Maui County capital improvement projects exceeding $500,000.
As a concerned contractor, I believe unions are private enterprises — not arms of government — and they should not be granted exclusive control over who gets to work on taxpayer-funded projects. Bill 54 would compel non-union, local contractors to sign union-style agreements, regardless of their long-standing contributions, training programs, or workforce investments.
This legislation risks excluding open-shop contractors, many of whom are small, family-run businesses or DBEs. These firms support local jobs, pay fair wages, and provide alternative pathways for workforce development — without requiring union affiliation.
PLAs also reduce competition and increase construction costs — studies show by up to 18%. At a time when Hawaii residents are struggling with affordability, we should be encouraging open competition, not limiting it.
Maui’s public projects should reflect the diverse makeup of its community, not be monopolized by a single labor structure. I urge you to vote NO on Bill 54 and support policies that are fair, inclusive, and respectful of local contractors statewide.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Ralph Cushnie
Vice President
Please tell the corrupt council member in the baseball hat to donate more money to the Lahaina Community Land Trust.
To Whom It May Concern:
My name is Anna Kim, and I’ve been a professional photographer on Maui for the past 15 years. I've built a small business that has captured thousands of meaningful moments — weddings, anniversaries, maternity shoots, and family gatherings — all set against the stunning backdrop of this island we call home.
I’m writing today because the Maui wedding industry, which has long been a cornerstone of our local economy, is in crisis. And we need your help.
The wedding industry here is not just about pretty pictures and floral arrangements — it’s about people. It’s about locally owned businesses like mine, and the thousands of residents we employ directly and indirectly: photographers, videographers, florists, caterers, musicians, makeup artists, drivers, bakers, rental companies, and officiants — just to name a few. It’s about sustainable, quality jobs that allow locals to put food on the table, raise their families, and remain on this island through rising costs and increasing economic pressures.
Every wedding brings with it a ripple effect. A typical couple hosts their guests, many of whom stay for a week or more. They fill our hotels and Airbnbs, shop at our local stores, dine at our restaurants, book activities, rent cars, and support local businesses up and down the supply chain. It’s not uncommon for a single wedding to generate hundreds of thousands of dollars in economic activity, most of which stays right here on Maui.
As a photographer, I’ve worked with hundreds of couples over the years — people who choose Maui not just for its beauty, but for the spirit of aloha. They return again and again, often bringing their children back years later. They volunteer their time, donate to local causes, and treat this place with care and love. These are the kind of visitors we want and need — people who invest in our community.
But right now, our industry is on the brink. Between the pandemic, the wildfires, and increasing regulatory and logistical challenges, many of us are struggling just to hang on. Shoots are being canceled. Bookings are down. Vendors are going out of business. And the longer this goes on, the harder it will be to rebuild what we've lost.
We’re not asking for special treatment. We’re asking for recognition and support — for thoughtful policies that protect our environment and our livelihoods. We’re asking you to see the wedding industry not as a luxury, but as a vital part of Maui’s economic and cultural fabric.
Please help us protect the small businesses and local families who’ve built their lives around making other people’s dreams come true on this island. We’re proud of what we do, and we want to keep doing it — with integrity, respect, and aloha.
Mahalo for your time and consideration,
Anna Kim
Photographer, Maui Resident of 17 Years
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
Please find attached testimony in opposition to Bill 54.
Mahalo,
Ryan Sakuda on behalf of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii
Subject: Testimony in Strong Opposition on Bill 54
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance and Economic Development Committee,
My name is Alfred Cheng, and I am a general contractor on the Island of Oahu and have worked on other islands. I submit this testimony with a strong opposition of Bill 54, which proposes mandatory Community Workforce Agreements (Project Labor Agreement) on all Maui County capital improvement projects over $500,000.
I am a concerned contractor who believes unions should not dictate how the government should run their competitive bidding procedures by granting exclusive control over who gets to work on taxpayer-funded projects. Bill 54 will prevent non-union local contractors from freely bidding competitively on government projects without first signing union-style agreements. The construction cost will increase due to the reduction of open competition.
Non-union companies are required to follow union rules and regulations on contributions, training and workforce hiring. Companies are not allowed to seek equal opportunities to hire skilled workers within the community. They are forced to recruit workers from the unions. The non-union companies are also forced to collect dues from their employees who are not in the union. Employees have no say to this rule and are compelled to abide by this rule.
By allowing Bill 54 to pass, the legislature eliminates the non-union contractors, many of whom are small, family-run businesses or DBE (Disadvantage Business Enterprise) contractors. These businesses support local jobs, pay wages under the State prevailing wages for public construction work, and provide different pathways for workforce development without requiring union affiliation.
All non-union contractors, including Maui contractors, should not be monopolized by a single labor structure. I strongly urge you to vote NO on this Bill 54 and support policies that are fair, inclusive, and respect local contractors statewide.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Alfred Cheng
Drayko Construction Inc
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
Please find attached written testimony from a few of our employees who all oppose Bill 54.
Thank you for your time and all you do for the county.
Jenny Sullivan
P.B. Sullivan Construction
Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Honorable Councilmembers,
My name is Jenny Sullivan and I am a proud employee of P.B. Sullivan Construction. I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54 (2025), which would require contractors on County capital improvement projects over $500,000 to become signatories to a “Community Workforce Agreement” — essentially a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).
I have the privilege of working at P.B. Sullivan Construction, a locally owned company that values its workers. Pete and Dave lead with integrity, treat their employees like family, and provide excellent wages, benefits, and training. We have no need to unionize because we are already well-supported.
This bill would unfairly shut out trusted, non-union companies like ours from public projects — despite our long-standing commitment to hiring local, paying prevailing wages, and building Maui’s schools, infrastructure, and homes. It would limit opportunities for small, family-run businesses and reduce competition, ultimately driving up project costs. That means taxpayers like me will end up paying more for the same work.
Bill 54 doesn't just hurt contractors — it hurts workers and communities by reducing options and creating unnecessary barriers. I respectfully urge you to vote NO on Bill 54 and ensure that Maui’s public projects remain open, competitive, and fair for all qualified contractors.
Thank you for your time and the opportunity to share my perspective.
Sincerely,
Jenny Sullivan
Employee, P.B. Sullivan Construction
Aloha Councilmembers,
I strongly oppose Bill 54 because it amounts to the legalized theft of fringe benefits from hardworking local tradespeople.
Under a Project Labor Agreement (PLA), non-union contractors are forced to send workers’ fringe benefits—worth over $30 per hour—into union trust funds. These are private funds that the worker will never benefit from unless they join the union and stay in it for five years or more.
Let’s be clear:
If a cement finisher works 6 months on a county project, they earn over $35,000 in fringe benefits according to the state’s own wage schedule (WRS 508).
Under a PLA, that money doesn’t go to the worker—it’s taken and held by the union.
If the worker doesn’t vest, they lose every penny.
That’s not fair. That’s not “labor peace.”
That’s wage theft disguised as public policy.
On a non-PLA job, those same fringe dollars go directly to the worker:
• Paid in their weekly paycheck, or
• Deposited into a 401(k) or health account under their name.
Bill 54 would take away that choice. It would strip local workers of their compensation, and send it to a union fund that refuses to give it back unless you become a long-term member.
This is wrong. This is theft. And the Maui County Council should not be complicit in it.
Vote NO on Bill 54. Stand with the tradespeople who earn these wages. Don’t give away their money.
Aloha Councilmembers,
My name is Tam Kim, Director of Operations at West Maui Construction. We have been a locally owned and operated construction company here on Maui since 2009. We employee about 100 local residents who call Maui home.
I strongly oppose the Bill 54, which would mandate Project Labor Agreement (PLA) or Community Workforce Agreement on Mau public capital improvement projects over $500,000.
This bill will restrict many non-union local contractors and smaller companies from bidding on these projects and only promote select large contractors to win public projects. It will reduce options for the client, the county, resulting in higher construction costs and more delays. Most smaller contractors will not be able to afford the demands put forth by this agreement, including lower-tier subcontractors.
This type of bill may be suitable for large contracts $25M or more, but it does not add benefits on smaller county projects, as most of our projects fall within $1.5M +/- $500K range. Due to the added restrictions and demands, this bill will certainly add more costs and delays to projects, ultimately costing taxpayers more money. This bill promotes unions but fails to promote competitive free market which drives quality and lowers costs. I point to the Rail project on Oahu, a PLA project plagued with cost overruns and delays.
Please vote NO on Bill 54.
Sincerely,
Tam Kim
C: 808-280-7888
tkim@wmcinc.com
35 Lunalilo St. ste 400
Wailuku, HI 96793
TESTIMONY OF PETE SULLIVAN
OWNER & PRESIDENT, P.B. Sullivan Construction
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO BILL 54 (2025)
Maui County Council – Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
Friday, April 25, 2025
Good afternoon, Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Honorable Councilmembers,
My name is Pete Sullivan, and I am the Owner and President of P.B. Sullivan Construction. On behalf of my business partner, Dave Sullivan, and our entire team, I am submitting this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54 (2025), which would require contractors on County capital improvement projects over $500,000 to become signatories to a “Community Workforce Agreement”—in essence, a Project Labor Agreement (PLA).
P.B. Sullivan Construction has proudly served Maui for over 30 years as a locally owned merit shop contractor. We’ve built schools, homes, infrastructure, and community facilities—employing local residents, offering a state-approved apprenticeship program, and paying prevailing wages. Bill 54 would unfairly exclude qualified, merit-based contractors like ours from bidding on public projects, despite our proven commitment to quality, safety, and workforce development.
Mandating union agreements would force our employees—many of whom have been with us for decades—to give up their existing benefits and retirement plans. These are workers who have already invested years into their futures. Under a PLA, they would face delayed access to health coverage and be required to start over with unfamiliar retirement plans—at a time in life when stability is most important.
Furthermore, we know from both national data and local experience that PLAs increase construction costs by 12% to 18%. This added cost will not be absorbed by contractors—it will be passed on to Maui’s taxpayers. That’s not sustainable, and it’s not fair.
We fully support a competitive, qualified, and local workforce. But this bill does the opposite. It restricts competition, limits opportunity for local businesses, and prioritizes union affiliation over performance, integrity, and community investment.
Unions play an important role in our industry, but they should not have exclusive control over public work. Public projects should remain open, competitive, and fair—ensuring that the best-qualified contractors, regardless of union status, have the opportunity to serve our community.
I respectfully urge you to vote NO on Bill 54.
Thank you for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Pete Sullivan
President & Owner
P.B. Sullivan Construction
TESTIMONY OF SHANNON ROBINSON
Controller, Arita Poulson General Contracting
Director, National Association of Women in Construction (NAWIC) Hawaii Chapter 114
Director, Building Industry Association of Hawaii (BIA)
IN STRONG OPPOSITION TO BILL 54 (2025)
Maui County Council – Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee
Friday, April 25, 2025
Aloha Chair Sugimura, Vice-Chair Kama, and Councilmembers,
My name is Shannon Robinson, Controller at Arita Poulson General Contracting here on Maui. I also serve as a Director with NAWIC Hawaii Chapter 114 as well as a Director for the Building Industry Association of Hawaii. I’m writing today in strong opposition to Bill 54.
Arita Poulson General Contracting has been doing business on Maui since 1986. We are a locally owned, open-shop contractor, and we’ve built strong ties in this community for nearly 40 years. We hire local talent, pay prevailing wages, and invest in state-approved apprenticeship and training programs. Bill 54 would force companies like ours to sign union agreements, undermining how we operate and limiting opportunities for the very people we employ.
This bill threatens to shut out many small, family-run businesses that are the backbone of our local industry. Every project involves multiple subcontractors — many of them Maui-based, minority-owned, or highly specialized — who would face new barriers just to continue doing the work they’ve been doing for years.
Bill 54 also limits options for our young people entering the trades by favoring union-only training. Right now, Hawaii is already facing a skilled labor shortage in construction, and Maui is no exception. We need more trained workers to meet the demand for housing, infrastructure, and community projects — not fewer.
Restricting training to union-only programs closes the door on many who might otherwise pursue a career in the trades through open-shop apprenticeship programs like the one we run at Arita Poulson General Contracting. These programs are locally based, state-approved, and play a critical role in developing homegrown talent.
True workforce development should offer multiple pathways to success, giving individuals the freedom to choose the training that works best for them. When we limit those options, we not
only reduce opportunities for our youth but also weaken our ability to grow a strong, reliable labor force here on Maui. We need to focus on expanding access to training and building up our local workforce, not putting up roadblocks.
PLAs have been shown to raise project costs by 12% to 18% and reduce competition. At a time when we need every dollar to count for housing, schools, and infrastructure, we can’t afford policies that increase costs and exclude local builders.
Please keep Maui’s projects open and competitive. I respectfully urge you to reject Bill 54 and support a fair, inclusive construction industry for our community.
Mahalo for your time and service.
Sincerely,
Shannon Robinson
Controller, Arita Poulson General Contracting
Director, NAWIC Hawaii Chapter 114
Director, Building Industry Association of Hawaii
Email: srobinson@aritapoulson.com
Phone: 808-856-3219
Aloha Chair Sugimura and Members of the Budget, Finance, and Economic Development Committee,
My name is Ralph Cushnie , and I am a contractor based on the island of Kauai. I submit this testimony in strong opposition to Bill 54, which proposes mandatory Community Workforce Agreements (Project Labor Agreements) on all Maui County capital improvement projects exceeding $500,000.
As a concerned contractor, I believe unions are private enterprises — not arms of government — and they should not be granted exclusive control over who gets to work on taxpayer-funded projects. Bill 54 would compel non-union, local contractors to sign union-style agreements, regardless of their long-standing contributions, training programs, or workforce investments.
This legislation risks excluding open-shop contractors, many of whom are small, family-run businesses or DBEs. These firms support local jobs, pay fair wages, and provide alternative pathways for workforce development — without requiring union affiliation.
PLAs also reduce competition and increase construction costs — studies show by up to 18%. At a time when Hawaii residents are struggling with affordability, we should be encouraging open competition, not limiting it.
Maui’s public projects should reflect the diverse makeup of its community, not be monopolized by a single labor structure. I urge you to vote NO on Bill 54 and support policies that are fair, inclusive, and respectful of local contractors statewide.
Mahalo for the opportunity to testify.
Sincerely,
Ralph Cushnie
Vice President
CUSHNIE CONSTRUCTION COMPANY, INC. Lic. # ABC-28974
Certified UDBE/HUBZone
Office: 808.332.9000 Ext. 4 • Cell: 808.645.0955
Fax: 808.332.9400 • Email: ralph@cushniecci.com
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 910 • Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii 96741
Physical Address: 4702 Lae Road • Kalaheo, Kauai, Hawaii 96741