PAUL BANKS / BUSINESSMAN

Construction leader
helped build Hawaii

OBITUARIES

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Star-Bulletin staff

Paul Irving Banks, a former president and chief executive officer of Hawaiian Dredging Co., died Thursday in Kailua.

Banks, 78, of Kaneohe, was born and raised in Hawaii. He worked for Hawaiian Dredging, one of the state's largest construction companies, for 25 years until 1990, during Hawaii's building boom.

During his tenure, the company built Aloha Stadium, the H-3 Freeway, The Hyatt Regency Waikoloa (now the Hilton Waikoloa), the Westin Maui, the Hyatt Regency Kauai and other major projects.

"I think he's instrumental in building the Hawaii as it is today," said daughter Sara, who is vice-president and co-owner of Wahine Builders.

Paul Banks was also a senior vice president of Alexander & Baldwin from 1990 until his retirement in 1993.

He served as president of the General Contractors Association and was on the board of the Aloha United Way and the La Pietra school.

"He had such an easy and gentle way of managing and building people up and really valuing every single worker that he came across," Sara Banks said.

"Everyone felt really proud to work for my father."

Banks is also survived by his wife, Julie Anne, children Jana Czech, Paul Jr. and Kelly Banks Hoen and 11 grandchildren.

Funeral services will begin 4:30 p.m. Wednesday at Hawaiian Memorial Park Chapel. Call after 4 p.m. Aloha attire is requested.

In lieu of flowers, donations are suggested to Hospice Hawaii, 860 Iwilei Road, Honolulu 96817, or to Maui Preparatory Academy, 1 Bay Drive, Kapalua 96761.