UH Mānoa and Hawaiʻi Contractors Team Up to Build Future Engineers

Partnership between university and construction industry association supports construction engineering education.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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The University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering is continuing a long-standing partnership with the General Contractors Association of Hawaii (GCA) to strengthen construction engineering education. Through funding from the GCA Education Foundation, the college supports a dedicated faculty position that brings construction industry professionals into the classroom.

Why it matters

This partnership helps align academic programs with workforce needs in Hawaiʻi's construction industry, preparing students with both engineering fundamentals and real-world experience to tackle challenges with confidence and innovation.

The details

Joshua Ka Tung Au was recently appointed to the GCA-funded position in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, replacing longtime instructor Randy Akiona. Au brings more than 20 years of experience in construction engineering, project management and education, including work on major projects in Hawaiʻi and internationally.

  • The partnership between UH Mānoa and GCA has existed since the 1970s.
  • Joshua Ka Tung Au was recently appointed to the GCA-funded faculty position.

The players

University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa College of Engineering

The college that is continuing the long-standing partnership with the General Contractors Association of Hawaii.

General Contractors Association of Hawaii (GCA)

A construction industry association that has supported the College of Engineering since the 1970s, funding instructors from the industry to align academic programs with workforce needs and support student projects and experiential learning.

Joshua Ka Tung Au

The recently appointed GCA-funded faculty member in the Department of Civil, Environmental and Construction Engineering, who brings over 20 years of construction engineering, project management, and education experience.

Randy Akiona

The longtime instructor who previously taught construction engineering courses at UH Mānoa as part of the industry-supported effort.

Brennon Morioka

The Dean of the College of Engineering at the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Cheryl Walthall

The Executive Director of the General Contractors Association of Hawaii.

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What they’re saying

“This partnership not only enriches our students' learning with practical, real-world experience but also strengthens connections with employers, helping launch their careers and support Hawaiʻi's construction engineering industry.”

— Brennon Morioka, Dean, College of Engineering, University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (hawaii.edu)

“I am honored to join the University of Hawaiʻi and contribute to shaping future construction leaders. This position allows me to bridge my industry experience with academic teaching, preparing students to tackle real-world challenges with confidence and innovation.”

— Joshua Ka Tung Au (hawaii.edu)

“Hawaiʻi's construction industry needs professionals who understand both engineering fundamentals and the realities of working in the field. With Joshua joining the faculty, GCA is investing in a stronger, more prepared local workforce for the long term.”

— Cheryl Walthall, Executive Director, General Contractors Association of Hawaii (hawaii.edu)

The takeaway

This partnership between the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and the General Contractors Association of Hawaii demonstrates the value of industry-academia collaboration in preparing the next generation of construction engineering professionals, ensuring they have the practical skills and real-world experience to support Hawaiʻi's construction industry.