During the William Quinn administration, the Hawaiʻi government conducted a study of industries that could be established. One suggestion was a steel company. The Western Canada Steel Company concluded that there was enough scrap metal to supply the raw materials, and a market was available. Western Canada Steel established a company that was half Hawaiʻi-owned and half Canadian-owned. Lowell Dillingham, George Freitas, Hung Wo Ching, and Alexander & Baldwin Hawaiian Life were among the owners, as well as members of the board. A plant to build rebars was set up at Campbell Industrial Park.