Hawaii Opp

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dibloafer

dibloafer

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Flagler Beach, FL
I have been blessed with the opportunity to bid a decent control/electrical project out in Hawaii. Problem is that I am here in FL. My company is nationwide, but I usually handle the SE region. I cannot send one of my crews out there- I crunched the numbers and can't reconcile the cost. So that means I sub it. I've never subcontracted at such a far distance. The job is high margin and the relationship has the potential for major growth and activity, that's the only reason I'm strongly considering it (plus......It's Hawaii, don't know when something like this will come along again.)

Two cents on any of this would be awesome. Any other time I've had to sub, it was a contractor I knew, or have worked with before. I would have to cold-call contractors on the island, and something tells me that's not the best way to go about this.

Thanks, All
 
Paging Dr. Macmikeman...................Paging Dr. Macmike



Try sending a PM to macmikeman if he doesn't see this.
 
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Even if you could send a crew, did you check out licensing requirements and find out if you can work there? Journeyman sometimes can get a reciprocal license in other states without much trouble where it takes a little more effort to get a contractor license in the other state.
 
Hawaii doesn't reciprocate with anybody . The OP can private message me at this site if he wants, I may be able to provide an answer if he is willing to discuss the type of job he needs help with.

One more thing, There are 5 major islands, which one is he inquiring about?
 
I did some design work for a large project on Oahu and the Electrical Contractor did a great job, but his biggest problem was getting unique equipment / supplly deliveries. Everything took time by boat or was super expensive by air.
 
ron said:
I did some design work for a large project on Oahu and the Electrical Contractor did a great job, but his biggest problem was getting unique equipment / supplly deliveries. Everything took time by boat or was super expensive by air.
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Aren't they used to that in Hawaii?
 
My son traveled for the I.B.E.W. out to Hawaii and at a high rise hotel build found that pipe bending wasn't a strong suit for the island men; more mc unlike the N.E. where we run pipe. He also told me off peak the pricing was high compared to mainland and when his rent was going to move up greatly due to peak vacation time approaching had to drag up (quit) to get off the island. The contractor told him and his road (buddy) they needed them so no layoff. The contractor tried to make them run crews for piping which they did, but they made the contractor pay the extra money offered to two of his own men and "helped" from behind fellow JWs. A guest doesn't infringe on the host.
With that said, I would look long and hard before taking a job so far from your control.
 
kwired said:
Even if you could send a crew, did you check out licensing requirements and find out if you can work there? Journeyman sometimes can get a reciprocal license in other states without much trouble where it takes a little more effort to get a contractor license in the other state.
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Good point. I'm not sure if HI requires me to be the qualifier if I'm subbing it out. I would think as long as the sub has his contractors license it should be good to go. I currently hold CL's for 7 different states, with two more tests upcoming. I was going to start going after HI next year but I may have to accelerate that.
 
sameguy said:
I would look long and hard before taking a job so far from your control.
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No doubt. This is my big concern. They are dangling a big carrot, but is it big enough to ease some of the major frustrations I will most likely endure through the course of the project? I feel like there's no way to get a good, or even decent grip on what the costs are going to be for any type of procurement.
 
There are many excellent conduit bending capable workers around. Somebody maybe didn't get hooked up with the right crowd. Suppliers will do their best
to get product onsite , but one has to factor shipping into every project here regardless of how things work elsewhere. And everybody knows it takes longer, you don't have to spend all day reminding every one you see how much faster it is back on the east coast for crying out loud. Plan accordingly.

One more time, there is zero reciprocation, you need a Hawaii Contractor's license to operate. Hiring a local contractor to do the project is the answer. Prior experience is accepted for purpose of getting tested for various licenses. Notarized Documentation is required. P.S. the permit system works really really really really slow right now. It usually always is like that. Plan accordingly.
 
I have sent the OP a link to a company that is in my opinion a superb choice for this , and no it is not me since my booked workload is firm and I am a one man gang operation, while the scope maybe needs a bit larger crew than one... When I say superb I mean it, they are just that .
 
ron said:
I did some design work for a large project on Oahu and the Electrical Contractor did a great job, but his biggest problem was getting unique equipment / supplly deliveries. Everything took time by boat or was super expensive by air.
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It was for the benefit of the dibloafer, because it was a surprise to me it was so much.
 
dibloafer said:
Trying to figure out why so condescending here. :?
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Because of these.....




sameguy said:
My son traveled for the I.B.E.W. out to Hawaii and at a high rise hotel build found that pipe bending wasn't a strong suit for the island men; more mc unlike the N.E. where we run pipe. He also told me off peak the pricing was high compared to mainland and when his rent was going to move up greatly due to peak vacation time approaching had to drag up (quit) to get off the island. The contractor told him and his road (buddy) they needed them so no layoff. The contractor tried to make them run crews for piping which they did, but they made the contractor pay the extra money offered to two of his own men and "helped" from behind fellow JWs. A guest doesn't infringe on the host.
With that said, I would look long and hard before taking a job so far from your control.
Click to expand...

ron said:
I did some design work for a large project on Oahu and the Electrical Contractor did a great job, but his biggest problem was getting unique equipment / supplly deliveries. Everything took time by boat or was super expensive by air.
Click to expand...
 
Little Bill said:
Because of these.....
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Haha, I thought this was for helping each other; as of today a hurricane is heading to the islands, I won't bring it up in case it might hurt someone's feelings.
Please come up to the north east where your skin needs to be thick, some of us still have fun making nonPC jokes at each other.

I don't see anything I posted that would be offensive or cause a psychotic reaction, as we say "get over yourself "! My response to anyone who felt offended.
 
sameguy said:
Haha, I thought this was for helping each other; as of today a hurricane is heading to the islands, I won't bring it up in case it might hurt someone's feelings.
Please come up to the north east where your skin needs to be thick, some of us still have fun making nonPC jokes at each other.

I don't see anything I posted that would be offensive or cause a psychotic reaction, as we say "get over yourself "! My response to anyone who felt offended.
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Hey, calm down!
I never said I was offended. I was just saying that the Macmikeman probably saw your post and that's what HE was responding to. The OP had ask why Macmikeman was being condescending (I didn't think he was) and I ventured a guess that he was speaking of your post and another.
 
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