The Story of Ted Kaneda: Built by Grit, Guided by Family, and Wired for Purpose
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- 24 hours ago
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Ted Kaneda never set out to become an electrician. In 2002, he left home for Oregon State University, following his cousin Charles Tanabe and planning to become a teacher. His father owned a restaurant, and teaching felt like a stable, meaningful path, one that would let him build a good life while serving others. But when Ted returned home in 2005, reality hit hard. Many of his friends who had become teachers were exhausted, underpaid, and deeply unhappy. The future he imagined no longer looked like the future he wanted. That’s when Aunty Joan stepped in. She reached out to Uncle Shige—who founded WASA Electric—and asked if Ted could get a shot in the electrical trade. The trades paid well, and Ted’s background in sports had already taught him discipline, teamwork, and how to push through discomfort. With her encouragement, Ted spoke to Uncle Shige, who suggested he return home and start at WASA as an expeditor.
In 2005, Ted began his journey. He spent two years as an expeditor, working alongside Charlie and learning the jobsite from the ground up while waiting for the apprenticeship program to open. In 2007, he finally entered the program and officially became an apprentice. His first project was the Waikikian, where he quickly learned just how high the expectations were.
The early years were overwhelming. At twenty‑one, Ted couldn’t believe how much electricians needed to know. The codes, the math, the technology, the pace—it all felt like too much. The yelling on the jobsite was intense, and he didn’t yet understand that it came from urgency, precision, and the pressure to get things right the first time. But Ted refused to quit. He kept learning, kept asking questions, and kept showing up. Slowly, the chaos began to make sense. He started to understand how jobs were run, why the pressure existed, and how to manage people. Once he reached that point, he began to enjoy the work.
Ted became a journeyman in 2012, and from there his career accelerated. He worked on the Honolulu Rail Project with Mass Electric, handling coupling units on the guideway and terminal controls at every station. He contributed to the UH softball field, renovated locker rooms, responded to an emergency at the Banyan Hotel after a storm knocked out power, and worked on Disney Aulani.
One of the most meaningful experiences of his life was the Kilohana project on Maui, built with Mass Electric/Kiewit, a job that was both the hardest and most rewarding of his career. His favorite project, however, was the rail crew. The smaller team at Mass Electric created a tight bond and a shared sense of purpose that he still remembers with pride. Ted’s path took him through several companies—WASA, KH, back to WASA, then Mass Electric, Tripoly, back to Mass, and eventually Cache Valley. Working for a national company like Mass showed him how different corporate cultures could be. He learned to navigate both worlds and to advocate for himself and his crew. He also watched the union evolve. When he started, electricians and plumbers were among the most respected trades on the jobsite. They were well paid and held the authority that came with controlling power. Over time, that dynamic shifted. Other trades pushed back more, and the culture changed—sometimes in ways that frustrated him. But Ted never lost pride in the work or in the craft.
Outside of construction, Ted built a life defined by service and passion. He served as assistant wrestling coach from 2005 to 2012, then as head coach from 2012 to 2025 at Roosevelt High School. He practiced jiu jitsu, surfed, and poured himself into mentoring young athletes. His wife works for Hawaiian Airlines as an accountant, and four months ago they welcomed their daughter, Ava—lovingly nicknamed “Chunk.” Ted hopes she never has to work in construction. Not because he regrets his path, but because he wants her to have more choices and fewer hardships than he faced.
The toughest lesson Ted ever learned was learning to calm down. He had to accept that getting flustered didn’t help the project, and that not everyone would care as deeply as he did. Leadership meant staying steady, even when others weren’t. Once he embraced that mindset, everything changed. He became a better worker, a better leader, and a better mentor.
Ted Kaneda’s story isn’t about luck. It’s about resilience, humility, and the courage to start over. It’s about a young man who walked away from one dream, found another, and built a life with his own hands. He didn’t become the teacher he once imagined, but he became something just as meaningful: a builder, a mentor, a leader, and a man who earned every step of his journey through grit and heart.
