Opray Winfrey once shared, “A mentor is someone who allows you to see the hope inside yourself.” It is a careful balancing act between teaching others not to duplicate your image but giving them the opportunity to create who they are destined to be. Kirk Bailey — a construction veteran with over four decades of experience — strongly believes in mentorship. His philosophy stems from hands-on experience with involving others in the building process. Telling people often means they forget, teaching people allows them to remember, but involving them means everyone learns. 

As the general superintendent on Kūlanihākoʻi High School and now Ka Haku, Kirk began his construction career in a very different environment. There was no DE&I, the local unions ran the jobs like a scene from Goodfellas, and mentoring was a sink-or-swim approach. For him, there was not a lot of purposeful coaching to guide him. However, with perseverance and a tenacity for problem-solving, he rose above. Today, he is a recognized leader with a legacy of work successfully built throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

Over the years, he has seen a change from the "sink or swim" mentality to treating people with more respect and a focus on the softer skills. His best mentor and inspiration came from a man he worked under overseas. Kirk observed how he showed up every day and interacted with people at all levels. A light bulb went on his head, and he realized this is the person he wanted to be. His energy and positive approach captured you, and you wanted to follow. You knew when he was serious, but he did it with respect.  This man helped Kirk define who he is today.

With a true love for building, he has found his passion and openly shares his expertise. One of the greatest values of mentors is the ability to see ahead what others cannot see and to help them navigate a course to their destination. As a leader, builder and mentor Kirk believes success is not just about delivering a good project but about growing the next generation of construction leaders. His legacy is not what he leaves for others, but what he has left in others.