First photo: Kahului Trucking & Storage mechanic Dean Yamada changes a tire on a container chassis. Yamada said he first learned machinery repair on his family’s Kula vegetable farm and continued his education in the Hawaiian Commercial & Sugar Co.’s apprentice program. He worked for both Maui Pineapple Co. and HC&S before taking a job at KT&S when sugar plantation officials announced the farm and mill were to close. “I just enjoy doing my job,” Yamada said. “I enjoy the environment here and the guys I work with.” KT&S does repairs and maintenance on all sorts of equipment, from semitrucks and pickups to lawnmowers. This photo was taken Jan. 14.

Second photo: KT&S welder Gino Alipio repairs a the front end of a 45-foot chassis.

The Maui News / MATTHEW THAYER photos