BreakingGround 808 Builds Educator Expertise Through Hands-On Learning and Industry Partnerships

BreakingGround 808 (BG808), the General Contractors Association of Hawaii’s (GCA) educator-focused workforce development program, successfully concluded its 2025 session with educators from five (5) State of Hawaii Department of Education high schools.

BG808 is designed to immerse educators in the real-world workings of Hawaii’s construction industry so they can bring that knowledge directly back to their classrooms. By strengthening teacher understanding of construction careers, project processes, and industry expectations, the program equips educators to better prepare students for future opportunities in both skilled trades and professional construction roles.

A Comprehensive Learning Experience

The 2025 BG808 program brought together educators from Farrington High School, Kalaheo High School, Leilehua High School, Moanalua High School, and Radford High School for six days of structured learning that combined classroom instruction, hands-on building, and project site tours.

Morning classroom sessions introduced participants to the full life cycle of a construction project. Topics included an overview of the construction industry, construction roles and careers, and industry skill-sets. These sessions were led by experienced construction professionals who provided real-world context and practical insight educators could translate directly into their teaching.

Each participating high school was paired with a GCA member contractor, Albert C. Kobayashi, Inc., Group Builders, Hawaiian Dredging Construction Company, Ralph S. Inouye, Co., and Unlimited Construction Services, who attended sessions alongside their assigned school throughout the program. These partnerships were intentionally built to give educators direct access to industry mentors who understand both classroom needs and jobsite realities, and who will continue to serve as a resource and partner post-BG808.

Jobsite Tours and Industry Panels

The program also included a day dedicated to jobsite tours at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa, including the McCarthy Mall area and the former Sinclair Library, along with a presentation by the UH College of Engineering. These tours allowed educators to see live construction environments and connect classroom learning to active projects.

The program concluded with panel discussions featuring both field and office professionals further highlighted the wide range of career pathways available within the construction industry and a certificate of completion ceremony with the educators.

Continuing the Success Year After Year

Building on the success of 2025 (year 2), GCA plans to continue the BG808 program by adding five new Hawaii DOE high schools in 2026, with the goal of eventually reaching all DOE high schools statewide. This long-term rollout reflects GCA’s continued commitment to developing Hawaii’s future workforce by empowering educators and strengthening connections between schools and industry.

2025 PARTICIPATING SCHOOLS: