The main office and yard were located at 820 Piikoi Street.  The management was under the direction of president and general manager Max W. Moody; vice president Mrs. Sophie K. Walker;  treasurer Morris B. Value; secretary U.J. Rainalter; and directors Robert McCorriston and Fred O. Jamieson.

The company’s capital was increased from $30,000 to $65,500.  Of this amount, $30,300 was in common stock and $35,200 in preferred stock.  Mrs. Walker held the controlling interest in the common and voting stock, Mr. Moody the controlling interest in the preferred stock.

Under Mr. Moody’s guidance, the firm was awarded an impressive number of contracts in 1941.  These included an engine repair shop and an equipment repair building for the Navy, two buildings for Honolulu Rapid Transit, the Palolo sewers, an ice plant at Schofield, an Alladin Homes project, and the Canada Dry building.  The total amount of these contracts was $763,000.00.  With this volume of work in progress, the company’s future began looking much brighter and more secure.

The serenity was disrupted on December 7, 1941, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor.  Max Moody, a lieutenant in the Civil Engineer Corps of the Naval Reserve, was called up for active duty.  He initially was put in charge of naval shipyard construction, and then later directed all naval construction on Oahu, and from 1945-46 was superintendent of all construction.  In April 1946, he was released from active duty with the rank of Commander, Civil Engineers, USNR.

Hawaii Timeline - 1941 - Pan Am's California Clipper and five other Boeing B-314s accommodating 74 passengers were making daily runs from San Francisco to Honolulu.  However, all flights were suspended when World War II was launched with the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor.

Throughout the war years, Mr. Moody continued to direct the affairs of Walker-Moody, though obviously he was unable to take an active part in the company’s construction projects.  Nor could Walker-Moody bid on any sizable naval or other government contracts due to conflict of interest.  Since the Navy needed all the skilled construction men and equipment it could find, Walker-Moody rented much of its equipment and released many employees to the military for several years.

Margaret Date, who has been the company secretary since 1936, recalls delivery checks and other business papers needing Mr. Moody’s signature for him to sign.  Their meeting place was in front of Oahu Prison - - that being the approximate halfway point between Pearl Harbor and the company’s office on Piikoi.

Miss Date was born and raised in Kailua, where her father had a small store and tavern.  As a child, Margaret frequently saw John Walker drive past on his way to the Walker beach home at Lanikai.  She recalls being intimidated by Mr. Walker’s size, his moustache, and his elegant motorcar, even though he seemed very kind and jolly sort of man on the occasions when he stopped at her father’s store.  After finishing school in 1935 she began her career with Walker & Olund.

In 1943, Walker-Moody’s new contracts numbered exactly three, as compared to the long list in 1941.  The financial statement for 1943 showed a loss of more than $15,000.00.  The contracts awarded for 1944 were a mixed lot, including the Coyne Street storm drain, a building for the Boys’ Detention Home, an addition to Farrington High School, and a building at Weighman Home.  The company registered a profit for the year of $17,600.00.  However, in 1945, another loss was shown, this time around $8,000.00.

Hawaii Timeline - 1945 - Commercial flights to Honolulu resume, but by early 1946, land-based aircraft (Douglas DC-4s) would further revolutionize travel to the islands.

In 1946, Mr. Moody returned to full-time management of the company, and this fact soon was reflected in the volume of contracts and in the firm’s gradual increase in earnings.  As a veteran, Max Moody had preference in buying military surplus.  Soon a inventory of all types of equipment was in the shop being prepared to assist, reequip, and revitalize Walker-Moody to reenter the "thirsty" local construction market.  During the war, new equipment and methods were introduced to Hawaii.  It was a "new ball game" when private construction resumed.

Walker-Moody’s major contracts for 1946-47 were the Lanakila Housing Project built for the Public Works Department at $194,000, and one unit of Leahi Hospital, a contract of nearly a half million dollars.  Other projects completed during this time were a school in Manoa Valley, the bridge on Kahala Avenue, the Halawa Veterans’ Homes project built for the Hawaii Housing Authority, and The Kaimuki Radio Company.

Walker-Moody had weathered a situation that would have wiped out many businesses.  That it survived was due to its long established reputation, to the loyalty and competence of its employees, and to the business acumen of its management.

The Million-Dollar Mark

Walker-Moody reached a milestone in 1948, with the award of its first million-dollar contract.  This was for the construction of a new building at Kaneohe Hospital.  Other major projects for 1948 were additions to Maunalani Nursing Home, Naval Hospital at Aiea, and the Rattan Art Gallery’s Waikiki building.

During this time, the company continued to manufacture and sell concrete burial vaults, a sideline activity in which it engaged for many years.

The General Contractors Association of Hawaii elected Max Moody president at their annual meeting in 1948.  Another activity of Mr. Moody during this period involved the Honolulu Savings and Loan Association.  He served as the secretary and as a director of that institution until 1966.  His son Ross served as a director of the organization called Honolulu Federal Savings and Loan, which is known today as Bank of America.

Walker-Moody expanded on its milestone mark in 1949.  A newspaper article of June 18 stated, “James Morrison, assistant engineer of the Department of Public Works, announced Friday that the Walker-Moody Construction Co., Ltd. will be awarded the contract for the construction of the new Leahi Hospital.  Walker-Moody won the contract with the lowest of five bids presented”.  The contract for the 6-story hospital in Kaimuki amounted to more than $1.5 million.

A week after the Leahi Hospital award was announced, Walker-Moody received a $304,000 contract to build the Board of Water Supply’s St. Louis Heights Project.

The company also began construction in 1949 of the Waikiki Beach Shops.  There were located on property fronting Kalakaua Avenue leased by Charles Peitsch and G.J. Watumull from Matson Navigation Company.  According to Mr. David Watumull, the owners had considerable difficulty enticing prospective tenants of the Beach Shops.  Waikiki at that time was not considered the most advantageous business location.

In 1950-51, Walker-Moody was engaged in two major hospital projects at well over a million dollars each.  The largest for the two, a contract for $1,652,000, was awarded by the Public Works Department for the construction of the main nursing and clinical building at Leahi Hospital.  The other contract, $1,358,000 was for Maui Memorial Hospital.  Elaborate dedication ceremonies were held at the opening of Maui Memorial Hospital on August 17, 1952.  Thousands of Mauians attended the ceremonies, which included the laying of the cornerstone by Max Moody and Robert M. Belt, Territorial superintendent of Public Works.

Other projects completed during this period include a million dollar contract to build housing in Palolo Valley for the Hawaii Housing Authority, the Aina Hina Elementary School, Baldwin High School, Pearl Harbor Elementary School, the Iao Stream Floor Contract project on Maui, and the Liberty Bank of Honolulu on North King Street.

Walker-Moody moved from the Piikoi Street location to new offices and yard in Mapunapuna near the Airport during 1952.  As Honolulu grew, the Piikoi Street yard and office property increased in value.  The Walker family decided to sell so it became necessary to find a new location for the company.  The Damon Estate at that time was opening up a new industrial tract in Mapunapuna, and a lease on five of the lots were taken.  Mr. Moody built the company’s new facilities on part of the property.  At that time, Mapunapuna was not the industrial area it is today.  Over the years, many local and mainland companies have moved into the area, including Theo H. Davies, Ltd., John Walker’s original employer.

A half million-dollar road-building project was awarded the company in 1953 for a 2-½ mile section of the Kauai Belt Road.  A more impressive project began the same year was the Waialae Shopping Center.  Considered ultramodern and progressive at that time, the construction of the center was given extensive newspaper coverage.  A few excerpts are quoted here:

“Construction began this week on the Bishop Estate’s new Waialae Shopping Center, located in the heart of the estate’s current Waialae-Kahala home development project, which will ultimately comprise of 1,000 single family dwelling units.  First stage of the shopping center construction, which will occupy a land area of 368,000 square feet, or almost nine acres, will include two buildings of concrete, hollow tile, steel columns, and steel roof trusses.”

“The contract, which was let on bid to the Walker-Moody Construction Co., Ltd. at $435,000, also specifies connecting covered courts between buildings, covered walks projecting into the parking areas which will accommodate more than 400 cars, access driveways from three main streets, landscaping with underground sprinkler systems, and water, sanitary sewer and storm drain systems."

Ross Moody joined his father’s firm in 1953 after completing his service in the Coast Guard.  He previously had earned a degree in civil engineering at the University of Hawaii and the University of Utah, and was married to Marian Stark Woodward on August 2, 1952.  Having worked for his father during many summer vacations, he came equipped with a good general knowledge of the business.  The first job on which Ross did all the figuring for the bid and supervising of construction was the conversion of a Naval warehouse into an engine repair and testing shop for Lockheed Aircraft.  According to the elder Mr. Moody, this was one of the few jobs in his experience, which went like clockwork.

Max Moody Accepting A Gift From The Men		1954 - Ross With Son Max At Christmas Party
Kauai Belt Road		Kauai Belt Road
Kauai Belt Road

In 1954, Walker-Moody constructed the first Woolworth store in the islands.  Located at Hotel and Fort Streets, the store’s opening day ceremonies on October 13 were attended by some 3,500 people.

The following year, Walker-Moody constructed the million-dollar Kamehameha Elementary School.  A newspaper article from September 7, 1955 stated:

“The Kamehameha Schools’ 30 classroom elementary school opens for business today on the slopes of Kapalama Heights.  Official registration is 511 pupils from kindergarten through grade 7.  The low, rambling style, buff colored building, probably the finest elementary school in the Territory cost $1,042,000.00.  Contractor Walker-Moody Construction Co., Ltd…. Classrooms are bright and airy.  On the roofs are a new type of skylight which lets light in to brighten rooms…”

Concurrently, with the Kamehameha School construction, work was proceeding on the new Salvation Army Girls’ Home in Manoa Valley.

In 1955, Walker-Moody was awarded the contract for a memorial at Pearl Harbor.  According to a newspaper account, “The memorial to be dedicated December 7 will stand on Ford Island, a few feet away from the gangplank leading to the Arizona.  A natural lava rock, weighing some 25 tons, was transported to the memorial site last week by Walker-Moody Construction Co., Ltd.  It will be set on its base, and a plaque, which is being inscribed on the mainland, will be flown here and installed in the rock, according to Max W. Moody, president and manager for Walker-Moody.”

Other jobs completed during this period include and Enlisted Women’s Barracks at the Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station, the Nuuanu Reservoir for the Board of Water Supply, the Wahiawa sewer system, the East End relief sewer, and a Cold Storage Building for the Army.

In addition to the large volume of work to supervise, Max Moody served as president of the Engineering Association of Hawaii during 1954-55.

The following year, several significant projects were undertaken, perhaps the best known being the Waikiki McInerny Store on the Royal Hawaiian Hotel grounds.  McInerny’s previous location had been in the Watumull Beach Shops, also built by Walker-Moody.

Walker-Moody reached still another milestone in 1957.  In December, the Advertiser announced, “Walker-Moody Construction Co., Ltd. made a low bid of $2,750,000 yesterday for construction of a major addition to Queen’s Hospital.  The addition would be of three wings at the Waikiki side of the present main building, to house an emergency unit, a 30 bed nursery unit, an outpatient department, pharmacy, coffee shop, admitting and business offices, personnel offices, and employee locker rooms.” 

Ciro's Waikiki Beachwalk		Queen's Medical Center Addition
Coconut Grove Hotel		Wahiawa Methodist Church
United States Navy Opana Communication Facilities		Opana Hairpin Turn
		Walker-Moody's Austin-Western Gas Roller
Aliamanu Elementary School
Terrazza Apartments		Terrazza Aprtments
Church College Laie Sewer System		Church College Laie Sewer System