The Story of Gary Germano: A Life Rewired by Perseverance

Gary Germano grew up surrounded by the electrical trade long before he ever imagined joining it. He spent his childhood in the neighborhoods of Kaimuki and Waimanalo where he watched his relatives who work as electricians, operators, groundmen, linemen, communication Specialist and saw how the trade could support a family and build a future. Those early impressions stayed with him, even as he tried to carve his own path.

After graduating from University Laboratory High school, Gary enrolled at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa to study electrical engineering. He walked into his first class and saw more than one hundred and fifty students, with only a handful expected to make it through the program. The scale of it was overwhelming. He stuck it out for a while, but the coursework was grueling, and the environment didn’t feel like home. Eventually, he shifted into liberal arts while he tried to figure out what truly mattered.

During that time, his relatives encouraged him to apply for the electrical apprenticeship program. He applied to take the test without informing his uncle, not expecting much. He was only nineteen or twenty years old, and he didn’t know if he had the experience or the knowledge to pass. He did surprisingly well, but then a year went by without any response. His mother, who had been waiting and hoping alongside him, finally called the union office. The secretary, Tommy Fujikawa, told her that Gary’s name wasn’t on the eligible apprentice list. His score was high enough to be listed, but it was likely because he lacked construction experience compared to those who also had passed the test.

But his mother was very persistent and didn’t give up. She pushed for him to at least get an interview since he was eligible. Gary walked into that interview nervous but determined, and he answered the questions well enough to earn a chance. That opportunity changed the course of his life.

His first job was with American Electric in 1990, working on the Outrigger Reef Hotel. He had just begun the five‑year apprenticeship program and was learning the ropes when he got laid off but was kept on the books by American Electric. Due to the need of electrician for this project in Ko Olina, where eight high‑rise buildings were going up. When that project didn't get developed, he collected unemployment until the benefits ran out. Then he was released and signed the books again, waited, and eventually got released back into the field. That persistence paid off when he joined A‑1 Electrician where he stayed for twenty‑two  years. They treated him well, offered overtime and benefits, and trained him across every part of the trade. He learned commercial, industrial, residential, and deck work, and he gained experience in every corner of the field. That broad training became one of the most important foundations of his career.

In 2002, Gary met the woman who would soon become his wife, and they married in 2003. She wasn’t in the electrical business; she had a grandfather who was an electrician that work on the Railroad while they met through cousins and quickly formed a bond. She already had three daughters, and Gary embraced them as his own. Their names were Leiana, Alena and Alohilani. Later, at forty‑four years old, his wife welcomed their own daughter, Aulani Kauiokalani in 2008. His family became the center of his world, and he balanced fatherhood with the demands of the trade.

Throughout his career, Gary worked on many memorable projects. Trecon at Hickam Air Force Base was one of many projects, where he helped wire the federal aircraft control tower. He worked under leaders like Miles I from WASA, and later on the First Hawaiian Bank tower with Harold, Steve and Miles again. He contributed to the Safeway Kapahulu, a massive five‑acre project. But his highlighted project was the Cancer Research Center under Walter I. He loved it because it marked the beginning of his marriage and overlapped with the years he coached football. It was a stressful time, but it shaped him into the leader he eventually became. His favorite project was at the Kalia Tower where he formed a lot of friendship bonds while working under a great leadership and the experience left a lasting impact on him.

In 2014, Gary’s career took a new turn. Paul Makani, the chief electrical inspector for the City and County, approached him about becoming an electrical inspector and teacher. The pay was low, and Gary hesitated, but mentors like Art/ Lou encouraged him to consider the long‑term impact. He realized that teaching could help supplement his income and allow him to give back to the trade that had given him so much. He accepted the opportunity and began teaching in 2014.

Teaching changed him. He worked with apprentices of all ages, including some who were interim, and he saw how education could transform lives. He believed deeply in helping people become better electricians and better individuals. He often said that teaching made him a better inspector, and inspecting made him a better teacher. He had started late in his career, but he found purpose in guiding others from the same seat he once sat in as a young apprentice trying to find his way.

Today, Gary Germano stands as a man shaped by perseverance, humility, and a willingness to start over when life demanded it. He grew from a young student unsure of his path into a respected electrician, inspector, and teacher who helped countless apprentices build their futures. His journey was not easy, but every setback pushed him toward the life he was meant to build. He became a leader not because he sought the title, but because he lived the lessons he now teaches stay steady, stay humble, and never stop learning.