Legacy: Pacific Marine & Supply Co.
Founded in 1944 by Fred and Alyce Loui, Pacific Marine and Supply Co. is a locally-owned family of companies that has been innovating in Hawaiʻi for decades.
From becoming Hawaiʻi’s first fiberglass boat builder in 1958, using computer technology to pioneer clients’ energy efficiency improvements as early as the 1970s, to amassing over 30 foreign and domestic patents (and counting) through an insatiable appetite for innovation, the company has always been driven by a passion for creativity and excellence. Over its years, Pacific Marine has spun off more than 20 unique companies, contributing to a vibrant and diverse economy for the State of Hawaiʻi.
Significant Milestones
1945
Pacific Refrigeration Service receives commendation from the US Navy for its marine refrigeration services during WWII.
1950
Pacific Refrigeration is renamed Pacific Marine & Supply Co., Ltd. to reflect an expansion into full-service marine repair.
1969
Alyce Loui takes the helm as President of Pacific Marine after the sudden death of husband Fred.
1972
Steven Loui returns to Pacific Marine upon the completion of his engineering degree at Stanford. Determined to survive the boom-and-bust cycles of ship repair, he initiates an ambitious strategy of trade specialization and market diversification.
1974
HSI Mechanical, Inc. is established as the first of Pacific Marine’s specialty contracting subsidiaries and becomes an early leader in HVAC energy efficiency retrofits.
1975
Unitek Environmental Services becomes the first EPA certified environmental remediation and recycling contractor in the state.
1978
PacMar Technologies, LLC (formerly Navatek, Ltd) is established to pursue advanced ship research and development. To date, PMT has received over 30 national and international patents and has offices nationwide.
1986
Pacific Marine designs and begins construction of the world’s first SWATH passenger cruise vessel. Renowned for its exceptional stability, the 430 passenger Navatek I is launched in 1989 and becomes the flagship vessel of Pacific Marine’s Royal Hawaiian Cruises subsidiary.
1989
CAP Insurance Co., Inc. is formed to underwrite worker’s compensation insurance for the growing Pacific Marine enterprise. CAP is the second such captive insurance organization in the State of Hawaii.
2007
PacMar Technologies invents the tracked Ultra Heavy Lift Amphibious Connector (UHAC). Demonstrated at RIMPAC 2014, UHAC expands PMT’s domain of innovation from sea to land and is the first of many subsequent tracked amphibious vehicle R&D programs for the company.
2012
Sea Blade Boats is established to market and commercialize Pacific Marine’s patented rough water planing boats. Designed to tame Hawaii’s rough waters, Sea Blades are built and marketed internationally for their exceptional offshore performance.
2017
Pacific Shipyards International acquires a 7,500-ton floating drydock and relocates to its new waterfront facility at Pier 24 in Honolulu Harbor. The drydock is christened as Ho’ōla i nā Moku, which translates to “Healing the Ships.”
2017
Pacific Marine acquires FLS Composites (formerly Foo Lim and Sons), a Hawai’i-based manufacturer of custom fiberglass products for architectural, marine, and industrial applications.
2020
Pacific Shipyards completes a major maintenance and modernization package on the USS Michael Murphy – the first fixed price contract of its size for the Navy in years. Delivering the project successfully and ahead of schedule, PSI firmly establishes itself as a preferred prime contractor for Pearl Harbor surface ship repair.
2022
The Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) awards PacMar Technologies a $54.8 million contract under the Manta Ray program to develop and demonstrate innovative unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs) – adding undersea to PMT’s expanding domain of R&D expertise.
2024
Pacific Marine Continues 80th Anniversary Celebrations with Hawaii on the Hill. Pacific Marine & Supply Company continues its yearlong commemoration of its 80th anniversary as this year’s presenting sponsor of Hawaii on the Hill. The Chamber of Commerce Hawaii, in partnership with U.S. Senator Mazie K. Hirono hosted the 8th Annual Hawaii on the Hill in Washington D.C. from June 15-18, 2024.
