WAIANAE, Hawaii — Danielle “Duckie” Irwin is representing Hawaii in the Mrs. International Pageant on a platform of aloha. She described "aloha" as unconditional love and unconditional giving.  

“Aloha is a gift that was given to me. It's something that I live by every day, and I think that the world needs to hear and feel aloha,” said Irwin.

On Friday, Irwin will be in Tennessee for the first night of the Mrs. International Pageant. This pageant isn't all about evening gowns and beauty (although there is an evening gown category); what sets it apart from other pageants is that the women must be married, and they must make a difference in their community.

Irwin talked with Spectrum News Hawaii at the Makaha Learning Center, which provides free classes in construction and solar trades. She is the president of the nonprofit.   

Irwin grew up on Lahaina Street, just around the corner from Makaha Marketplace, where the learning center is located. She described it as “one of your rougher streets out here.” Her dad, who is Filipino and Hawaiian, and her mom, who is a white woman from Canada, sacrificed to invest in Irwin’s education. She graduated from St. Joseph Parish School in Waipahu and the University Laboratory School in Manoa.

“I was fortunate enough to go to private school. But what that meant is that we had to make really hard decisions about whether we're going to pay the mortgage, about whether we're going to pay the electricity, about whether we're going to fill the fridge with food. And so I definitely know what that struggle is like,” said Irwin. 

Her upbringing inspired her to want to bring more opportunities to the West Side. Along with her husband, she owns a construction company called Hawaii Unified, which employs about 100 people, and is also located at the Makaha Marketplace. She and her husband considered moving the company’s headquarters to Kapolei, but ultimately decided it was important to stay in Waianae in order to hire people in the community and help them make a living. 

Through her work at Hawaii Unified, Irwin noticed developers often contract mainland-based construction companies who bring in out-of-state workers. She realized there was a need to train workers in Hawaii, and she wanted to do it on the West Side in order to uplift her community.

“They're always saying that … the local companies aren't qualified, that we don't have the local workforce, and I don't want that to be an excuse anymore,” said Irwin. 

The Makaha Learning Center started teaching Solar 101 and Aloha Construction Foundations (which is based on the National Center for Construction Education & Research's core construction curriculum) in 2019. Since then, more than 200 students have completed at least one course.  

Tyler Acosta-Neves, an 18-year-old student currently in the Aloha Construction Foundations course, grew up on the West Side and has always followed his own path. After dropping out of Kamaile Academy, he enrolled at the Hawaii National Guard’s Youth Challenge Academy, where he graduated in 2022. 

“I wasn't a dumb person in school or anything. I felt like school wasn’t for me, so I just decided to drop out and take another way,” said Acosta-Neves, who spoke to Spectrum News Hawaii at the Makaha Learning Center. 

When he learned about the Makaha Learning Center (from an Instagram Reel and his mom), he was excited to enroll in the program. In order to enroll, students submit either a $100 refundable deposit or commit to doing five hours of community service.

“I wanted to gain knowledge and change my life,” said Acosta-Neves. 

Next, he hopes to take Solar 101, as he plans to pursue a career as a solar installer. The upcoming solar class begins on Aug. 15. Along with a career in installing solar, taking the solar course may open up job opportunities in engineering, design and procurement. 

As each course comes to a conclusion, the Makaha Learning Center holds a job fair with contractors who conduct 10-minute interviews with graduating students. About 85% of graduates receive job offers. 

“We're really proud of our solar classes, just because so many of the students that come out of it actually do end up getting picked up in the industry,” said Irwin. 

Makaha Learning Center also encourages women to learn a trade. Irwin said about 65 of the learning center’s graduates have been women. 

“There’s a great living to be made, and I want to encourage women to get into it,” said Irwin. 

Irwin admitted it has been a struggle to prepare for the pageant, run her business and nonprofit, and be a mother. 

“One thing that has been fun through this is I've been able to include my kids in the journey,” said Irwin. She is the mother of a 16-year-old stepson, 11-year-old son, and 6-year-old daughter. While she doesn’t have as much time to play a game with her daughter, she has included her in the pageant preparation, getting her advice on what to wear or drawing crowns together.

“I'm not doing my job if I'm not sowing into my kids. They're my inspiration and what keeps me going,” said Irwin. 

Michelle Broder Van Dyke covers the Hawaiian Islands for Spectrum News Hawaii. Email her at michelle.brodervandyke@charter.com.