CAROLYN HICKS / HOUSING PIONEER

Carolyn Hicks, with
husband Harold,
pioneered prefab
homes in the isles

SEE ALSO: OBITUARIES

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By B.J. Reyes
breyes@starbulletin.com

Carolyn Hicks, who along with her husband founded what became one of the largest manufacturers of pre-designed, pre-cut homes in Hawaii, has died. She was 83.

Hicks died July 6 at Ann Pearl Nursing Facility in Kaneohe.

Now known as Hicks Construction Co., Hicks Homes became popular in the 1950s after Hicks and her husband, Harold, came up with the idea of selling prefabricated housing, daughter Sharon Hicks said.

"They wanted people to be able to walk into the office to pick out a design," Hicks said. "I remember sitting in the kitchen and listening to them talk about this concept."

Harold Hicks died in 1967. The company is now run by Sharon Hicks.

Although Carolyn Hicks never was a member of the company's management team, "she wasn't your typical housewife" either, her daughter said.

"She loved to read, and she loved to talk about philosophy and religion," Sharon Hicks said. "She only went to the 10th grade, but she was very educated as far as book learning. She would sit in classes at UH and just learn and learn and learn -- not for a degree, but just to learn."

Carolyn Hicks is survived by her daughter and a son, David, eight grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and two brothers.

A memorial service is scheduled for Sept. 28. Arrangements are being handled by Ordenstein's Hawaiian Memorial Park Mortuary.