Glen Kaneshige’s path into construction was shaped early by family influence and hands-on experience. As the son of the president of Nordic Construction, one of Hawaii’s leading builders, he spent his teenage summers working at a construction equipment rental company, occasionally delivering to Nordic job sites. That exposure sparked curiosity that led him to join the Laborers Union and work on a multi-story apartment project before his senior year of high school. By graduation, he was committed to pursuing a career in construction and enrolled in a civil engineering program.
Today, Kaneshige serves as president of Nordic PCL, the company that formed from the 2008 merger of Nordic Construction and PCL Construction. In this role, he provides strategic leadership to maintain Nordic PCL’s reputation as Hawaii’s preferred builder while fostering a workplace culture that supports employee growth and development. He emphasizes the strength of PCL’s employee-ownership model, which encourages collaboration and shared success, and is committed to delivering exceptional construction services with personal attention to client needs.
As a civil engineer, Kaneshige has taken pride in the concrete work on several signature projects. Early in his career, he contributed to the Kaiser Honolulu Clinic’s seven-story double-helix parking structure and later managed the construction of the stone-clad James Campbell Building in Kapolei, a key development in Oahu’s “second city.” Another project of personal significance is the Alii Place tower, where Nordic PCL’s Hawaii district office is located, and where the team played a central role in the concrete work for both the tower and its podium.
Beyond his professional achievements, Kaneshige is deeply involved in community service. He serves as board chair for Child & Family Service and holds board positions with Aloha United Way, Teach For America, Girl Scouts of Hawaii and the YMCA of Honolulu. He is also a Life Governor for the General Contractors Association of Hawaii and president of the General Contractors Labor Association, among other volunteer roles. His dedication to both industry and community was recognized with a 2025 Legacy Award from Engineering News-Record, North America’s leading construction publication.
Awards & Recognition:
- Two-time winner of the Outstanding Union Builder of the Year award, presented by the Hawaii Carpenters Union.
- 2025 Legacy Award, Engineering News-Record (ENR) for the Northern California sub-region.
Education:
- Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, University of California at Berkeley
- Master of Science in Civil Engineering, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor.