(HONOLULU, HAWAII) —The Hawaii Carpenters Apprenticeship & Training Fund (HCATF) has announced a new training offering for its Members of the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters (HRCC), as well as its signatory contractors, which utilizes mass timber, a material that can help to reduce construction time.

Mass timber is a durable material that’s lighter than concrete with a low burn-rate, is cost efficient and is environmentally-friendly. And its pre-fabricated panels allow for faster assembly, reduced timelines and a lower carbon footprint – which are seen as key advantages for addressing Hawaii’s housing needs and post-wildfire rebuilding efforts.

HCATF Executive Director Edmund Aczon said: “We see how beneficial mass timber will be in our industry and want to ensure our Members have the skills to use this important material. We started off by offering the training in Maui in partnership with WoodWorks and University of Hawaii/Maui College to support the rebuilding efforts for families impacted by the Maui wildfires.”

The workshops, held at the University of Hawaii Maui College in November, drew strong participation and interest from member contractors, underscoring the growing demand for mass timber expertise.

“Maui, like the rest of the State, needs more affordable housing for our residents, and it was further exacerbated for our community following the wildfires last year,” Chancellor Lui Hokoana of the University of Hawaii Maui College said. “We were excited to partner with HCATF and WoodWorks to offer this training at our campus to get Maui carpenters trained using this material to build quicker and safer."

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