Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 2, Number 12, 1 Kekemapa 1985 — Native Hawaiian Solves Own Job Situation by Taking a Chance [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

Native Hawaiian Solves Own Job Situation by Taking a Chance

A full-blooded native Hawaiian, frustrated by too many periodic layoffs, decided to start his own company and today NN Electric Company Ine. employs 17 people with 1984 revenues of more than $1.5 million. Noble K. Noah, 61, who grew up in a family of 10 in Kakaako, said it was quite a struggle during the first five years of business since he started in early 1978. lt was such a tough start-up period, he explained, that he enlisted the assistance of his three sons to work side by side with him. Like his own father before him, his sons had been trained by him as electricians. Now that NN Electric is well on its way, his sons have since gone on to other pursuits. Dennis, oldest of the trio, is a Honolulu bar manager; second son Noble K. Noah Jr. is an electrician in Lahaina, Maui; and youngest son Norman is a chef at the Volcano House on the Big Island. Noah got into the business at the urging of a eouple of his fellow workers from the defunct Fischbach and Moore International whieh closed out its Hawaii operations in late 1977. In January, 1978, Noah took the plunge. Armed with a contractors license and a little money he had managed to put away for just such a day, he bought the

equipment, tools and vehicles from the company. He was 54 at the time and was thinking of retiring. By then he had also been an electrician for 31 years, having served as superintendent for F&M since 1%8. Noah, a high school dropout, credits the steadying influenee and support of his wife, June Miehiko Arakaki Noah, for the success of his business today whieh culminated last Oct. 10 when the U.S. Small Business Administration honored him as Hawaii's Minority Small Business Person of the Year at a Pagoda Hotel breakfast where he was presented with a plaque. His wife is his office manager.

His fci4her had been an electrician his entire work life with Hawaiian Electric Company whieh is today known as Hawaiian Electric Industries. Noah's mother, 84, is still living. He and a brother, retired carpenter Norman Noah, are the only survivors from the brood of 10. Noah explained that being an electrical contractor is a highly competitive business. "We moved along and as we picked up more jobs we expanded our work force to where we're at today," Noah said. His company is primarily involved in electrical contracting work for government agencies. He has done some business with the counties and state but rates them as being "very small and limited." He handles all the specifications and bidding. Noah said it was his intention to make NN Electric a predominantly Hawaiian company. Sadly, he recalls, it didn't work out. He preferred not to elaborate. He did, however, note that "I have a strong feeling for my fellow Hawaiian. I like to help them any way I ean but they must also help themselves." He said there are five Hawaiians on the staff. Six former F&M workers joined his company during the switchover and they are still with him. NN Electric is located in Room 213 at 80 Sand Island Access Road, up the ramp of the McKesson Wine and Spirits Company building. A letter from T rustee Louis K. Hao, chairman of the Office of Hawaiian Affairs' Resource Committee, and Rockne Freitas, chairman of the Planning and Development Committee, congratulated Noah on his recognition. "Your success is certainly no small achievement in an era of shifting economics and fierce competition. Recognition of your contribution to the community is well deserved," the two trustees wrote.

Noble and June Noah proudly display plaque given to them by the U.S. Small Business Administrat ion honoring him as Hawaii's Minority Small Business Person of the Year. Noah is founder and owner of NN Electric Company ine. on Sand lsland Road.