Hawaii continues to stand out as one of the most promising regions in the United States for women pursuing careers in construction, according to a new national analysis. The state now ranks second-highest in the nation for female representation in the construction industry, reflecting a meaningful shift in a field that has historically been dominated by men.
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For apprentice carpenter Leanne Tacadena, 20, the change is obvious. Even with only two years of experience, she has watched her job sites gradually include more women. “I’ve seen the amount of women in the trades increase, definitely,” said Tacadena, who credits three years of wood shop at Waipahu High School for inspiring her career path, followed by a paid union internship after graduation.
Tacadena is progressing steadily toward journey-level status, where union carpenters earn $55.50 an hour, or $86.76 an hour including benefits—a pay scale that offers young workers financial stability quickly. Living with her parents and older brother in Kunia, she already contributes to household expenses and even helps support her twin sister, who is studying nutrition at Oregon State University.
“She has a job but it’s not as good as mine,” Tacadena said. “My parents are paying for her school, so I try to help them out.” She also helped her brother financially until he graduated from the University of Hawaii last year with an engineering degree.
The new report, released by Construction Coverage, examined all 50 states to determine where women are finding the best-paying and most accessible opportunities in construction. The study found that women make up 13.2% of Hawaii’s construction workforce, trailing only Alaska, where women represent 14.7% of the industry. Hawaii’s construction workforce includes both hands-on craft workers and women in office, management, legal, and administrative roles.
Despite the high representation, pay for women in Hawaii’s construction sector ranks seventh nationally, with a median salary of $62,818. Still, according to Jonathan Jones, the author of the report, Hawaii remains one of the strongest states for women entering construction. “Even with Hawaii’s higher cost of living, it stands out as one of the best places in the country for women in construction. They typically out-earn women working in other sectors across the state, and Hawaii has the second-highest share of women in the construction workforce—which tells us that ongoing recruiting and training efforts aren’t just working, but helping more women enter the industry than ever before,” Jones said in an email.
While men still make up the majority of Hawaii’s construction labor force, industry leaders say the state fosters an unusually supportive environment for women. “But in Hawaii there’s greater acceptance of women in all industries, and construction embraces women as part of the construction industry, and that includes attorneys and mid-level management,” said Andrew Pereira, spokesperson for the Hawaii Carpenters Union.
For younger workers worried that AI might automate jobs, Pereira noted that construction continues to rely heavily on real hands-on labor—something no technology is replacing anytime soon. He said the ability to earn “living wages” right after high school makes construction a compelling choice, especially for teens who want to avoid student loan debt. “We’re talking about living wages,” Pereira said. “That gives you a real chance at home ownership.”
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The Carpenters Union operates several support programs aimed specifically at advancing women. This includes pairing apprentices with experienced journey-level workers—ideally women—and running engagement programs where younger female carpenters can share experiences with seasoned professionals.
Another apprentice, Sydney Patanapaiboon, 21, followed a similar path after taking a wood shop class during her junior year at Campbell High School. Inspired by construction shows on HGTV, she found joy in building real projects. “That built up my fascination from building something from nothing and made it real for me,” she said. “After I completed (the class) I was asked to help out as a senior. We made a folding stool and finished it with a nice oil-based coating. I still use it today.”
Now nearing her fourth year as an apprentice, Patanapaiboon said she has also noticed more women joining the trade—“more now than when I first started.” With a finance degree from UH-West Oahu, she balances carpentry with part-time work as a financial consultant while renting a room from her sister and brother-in-law. She worries about financial stability in Hawaii’s high-cost environment. “The biggest struggle that my generation faces is learning how to manage your money and get control of your finances,” she said. “I invest heavily into stocks but it’s so expensive in Hawaii. I’m trying to keep expenses low until my position in construction is more concrete. Eventually, I do want to buy a house.”
Pereira said this financial discipline is common among many female apprentices, who often enter the field with long-term planning in mind.
Tacadena’s early experiences were not without challenges. She encountered verbal harassment during her first months on the job. “I feel comfortable talking to” her female union representative about it, she said, because “she understands where I’m coming from.” Tacadena added that once she spoke up, the individuals responsible “got kicked out sometimes or moved to different sites.”
Despite the early difficulties, Tacadena encourages more young women to explore construction as a career. “It’s good financially but also good mentally and physically,” she said. “And you want to show you can keep up in a male-dominated field.”
She’s considering moving to the Pacific Northwest one day to be near her twin sister, but no matter where she goes, she sees her future in the trades. “Once you love something,” she said, “nothing can stop you. My head’s in the game and I’m happy to work.”
Originally reported by Dan Nakaso, The Honolulu Star-Advertiser in Yahoo News.
