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IBEW Members Help Save Maui Racing Track

August 31, 2009

Drag racing fans on the island of Maui were eagerly awaiting the next race at their local community drag strip when a reprehensible act of vandalism threatened to end the season all together.

Members of Honolulu Local 1186 who volunteered
their time to help rebuild the Maui drag strip after
it was damaged by vandals. From left to right,
Cody Watanabe, Paul Whittemore, Scotty Teruya,
Richard McDowell, Darren Carillo, Walter Dela Cruz,
Michael Kimura, and Jeb Kaneshiro.

Unknown vandals stole a tractor and used it to tear up the Valley Isle Timing Association’s racing facilities. VITA is a non-profit organization in Maui that helped turn a section of a World War II runway into a racetrack that served as a safe alternative to street racing.

With the damage coming only weeks before the next contest was scheduled, VITA didn’t have the funds needed to repair the track.

With not many options left, Maui County Councilmember Joseph Pontanilla approached members of the Carpenters union and Honolulu Local 1186 of the IBEW to see if they could help.

“I remember seeing races there as a kid back in the ‘70s,” said Local 1186 Business Representative Ray Shimabuku. “There was no question that we were ready to give something back to the community.”

As the Maui News reports:

Members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union 1186 showed up … to put their skills to work. In all, some 40 volunteers showed up to restore the track facilities.

A local electrical supply house donated materials. “It’s a great feeling to help out,” Shimabuku said.