Drones are already flying over jobsites in Hawaii more often than most people realize, one of many signals behind why ABC Hawaii is hosting the Construction Technology Leadership Forum. Nationally, 36.1 percent of ABC contractor members now report flying drones on their projects, using them most often for site progress monitoring, marketing, and inspections. That number is only going up, and it is one small signal of a much bigger shift already underway across the construction industry.
For merit shop contractors in Hawaii, the question is no longer whether technology will change the jobsite. It is how quickly a company positions itself to benefit. That is exactly why ABC Hawaii is bringing the industry together on September 10, 2026.
The construction industry in Hawaii is under real pressure. Labor shortages are not easing. Material and permitting costs keep climbing. Recovery efforts from the Lahaina rebuild and the Kona Low are demanding skilled hands right now, not eventually. Every contractor in the state is feeling some version of the same squeeze.
Technology alone will not solve a labor shortage. But it is becoming one of the clearest ways contractors are stretching the crews they already have. National data backs this up. ABC’s most recent Drone Usage report found that contractors investing in drone technology are seeing real returns, with 62 percent of adopters investing between $1,000 and $10,000, a modest entry point for tools that are already changing how jobsites are monitored and marketed. The same report found that regulatory hurdles and training gaps, not cost, are the biggest barriers holding contractors back. That is precisely the kind of gap an event like this is built to close.
This is not a trade show. It is a half day built around the real questions Hawaii contractors are asking right now.
Data and AI Readiness Kevin Soohoo, Head of Global AEC Practice at Egnyte, will walk attendees through what most companies get wrong before they ever adopt AI tools: their project data is scattered across email threads, shared drives, and job site paperwork. His session covers secure collaboration, organized project data, and what AI readiness actually looks like for a contractor, not a tech company.
Drones, Robotics, and Field Technology With drone adoption already at 36.1 percent among ABC contractor members nationally and climbing, this session gives contractors in Hawaii a practical look at where field technology is headed, from site monitoring to inspections to the robotics already appearing on mainland jobsites.
A Room Built for the Whole Industry Unlike most industry events, this forum is intentionally open to everyone with a stake in construction across Hawaii: general contractors, subcontractors, developers, educators, and public officials. That is the entire idea behind ABC Hawaii’s Building Hawaii Together initiative. The problems facing this industry, labor, cost, technology adoption, do not stay in one lane, so the solutions cannot either.
| Challenge | How the Forum Helps |
|---|---|
| Labor shortage | Connects contractors with the technology and people helping close the workforce gap |
| Scattered project data | Kevin Soohoo’s session gives a practical starting point for organizing data before adopting AI tools |
| Slow tech adoption | National data shows peers already moving on drones and field tech, this is a chance to catch up |
| Working in isolation | Puts contractors in the same room as developers, educators, and policymakers shaping the industry’s future |
Construction Technology Leadership Forum September 10, 2026 11:45 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Pearl at Kalauao, Aiea
Open to contractors, subcontractors, developers, educators, public officials, and workforce partners across Hawaii’s construction industry.
Who should attend the Construction Technology Leadership Forum? Anyone with a stake in the construction industry in Hawaii. That includes general contractors and subcontractors, developers, educators, policymakers, and workforce development partners. This event was built to be inclusive of the entire pipeline, not just one segment of it.
Do I need to already be using construction technology to benefit from this event? No. The sessions are designed for contractors at every stage, from companies just starting to explore tools like drones or AI, to those already deep into adoption and looking to go further.
Is this event only about technology, or does it also cover workforce and industry challenges? Both. Technology is the lens, but the real focus is helping contractors in Hawaii compete and grow despite labor shortages and rising costs. Every session ties back to a practical business outcome.
How do I register? Registration is open now at abchawaii.org.
How can ABC Hawaii help my company prepare for what’s covered at the forum? ABC Hawaii offers ongoing apprenticeship programs, safety training, and workforce development resources that complement the technology topics covered at the forum. Members can also connect directly with ABC Hawaii staff for guidance on where to start.
