Staff

John Katahira has 22 years of civil, sanitary, and environmental engineering experience and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. He earned a BS and MS in Civil Engineering and a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He is responsible for the company’s planning services, which includes master planning, engineering feasibility studies, alternatives analysis reports, and environmental documents. He has received several honors for his individual achievements and contributions to the engineering community. In 2002, he received Pacific Business News’ Forty Under 40 Award; and in 2005, he was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers. He received one of 2009’s Three Outstanding Young Persons Award by the Rising Phoenix Jaycees; and in 2017, he was presented with the Outstanding Service Award by the University of Hawaii, College of Engineering. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawaii from 2003-2013 and the Hawaii Water Environment Association from 2005-2009.

Jason Lau has 25 years of experience on civil and sanitary engineering projects spanning Federal, State, City, and private sector projects in Hawaii and California. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Santa Clara University and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. In 2008, he became LEED Accredited for New Construction by the Green Building Certification Institute. His projects involve various civil engineering disciplines with emphasis on site development, utilities, erosion control, and roadway infrastructure. His experience and technical skills include coordination, design, feasibility studies, preliminary engineering reports, and preparation of specifications and cost estimates. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Public Works Association from 2009-2014.

Ian Arakaki has 21 years of experience on civil, sanitary, and environmental projects. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Purdue University and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. In 2013, he became a Certified Construction Manager accredited by the Construction Management Association of America. His duties include master planning, engineering feasibility studies, alternatives analysis reports, and supervisory responsibilities for all construction management and observation projects. He served on the Board of Directors for the American Society of Civil Engineers from 2009-2015.

Yvonne Turro has 22 years of experience in the civil engineering field with an emphasis on land development and low-impact design (LID) improvements. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the U.S. Coast Guard Academy and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. Her projects include residential and commercial site development, water main improvements, roadway improvements, engineering feasibility studies, and floodplain analyses.

Charles Jury has 12 years of experience in the civil engineering field with an emphasis on potable and non-potable water system design and roadway infrastructure. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. His projects include booster pump and reservoir renovations, bridge approaches and roadways, and master planning and design for park improvements.

Eric Arakawa has 15 years of civil engineering design and construction experience. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering and a MBA in Business Administration from the University of Portland. He is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii and became LEED Accredited for New Construction by the Green Building Certification Institute in 2010. His design experience includes roadway infrastructure, utilities design, and site development. He also serves as Construction Manager/Inspector for roadway and utility improvement projects (sewer, water, electrical). In 2016, he was named Young Engineer of the Year by the Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies.

Jennifer Lim has 9 years of civil and sanitary engineering experience. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering from Tufts University and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. Her projects include planning and design of wastewater collection systems, design-build projects, utility design, site development, and irrigation systems.

Trevor Vagay has 9 years of experience on civil and sanitary engineering projects. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. His projects include stormwater erosion control design, wastewater collection systems, wastewater force mains, wastewater treatment facilities, and roadway improvements.

Lori Higashi has 7 years of experience on civil engineering and construction management projects. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. Her projects include wastewater collections systems, force mains and pump stations, utility design, and construction management of wastewater infrastructure and vertical structures.

Brandon Whitaker has 6 years of experience in civil engineering and construction management. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and is a licensed civil engineer registered in the State of Hawaii. His projects include wastewater collections systems, force mains and pump stations, and construction management of wastewater infrastructure.

Kapiolani Street has 3 years of experience on civil and sanitary engineering projects. She earned a BS in Civil Engineering and a BA in Anthropology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received her Engineer-In-Training certification. Her projects include stormwater erosion control design, wastewater system design, site development, and utility design.

Sean Cagadas has 3 years of experience on civil and sanitary engineering projects. He earned a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa and received his Engineer-In-Training certification. His duties include assistance on wastewater system design and construction management projects.

Cedric Joaquin is a recent graduate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and received his Engineer-In-Training certification. He will assist on civil and sanitary engineering and construction management projects.

Korey Tsubota recently joined our engineering team. He earned a BS in Environmental Engineering from San Diego State University and a MS in Environmental Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He received his Engineer-In-Training certification and will assist on civil and sanitary engineering and construction management projects.

Derrick Cabalang is a recent graduate from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. He earned a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering and received his Engineer-In-Training certification. He will assist on civil and sanitary engineering and construction management projects.

Codee Samala-Passos is our newest staff engineer. He earned a BS in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Seattle University and received his Engineer-In-Training certification. His duties include the development of a stormwater program that will assist the City in complying with Hawaii’s NPDES requirements and assistance on environmental engineering projects.

Jamie Tanimoto has 11 years of experience in stormwater management and compliance. She earned a BS in Global Environmental Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She will be responsible for developing a stormwater program that will assist the City in complying with Hawaii’s NPDES requirements.

Claire Oshiro has 19 years of experience as a planner on infrastructure projects for federal, state, and local agencies, as well as private entities. She received a BA in General Arts and Architecture from Pennsylvania State University. Her duties include research, editing, preparation and submittal of environmental assessments and environmental impact statements.

Audrey Haerle earned a BS in Environmental Studies from Hawaii Pacific University. She has 8 years of experience in stormwater sampling, analysis, and reporting to meet MS4 NPDES permit requirements and creating geodatabase and managing GIS shapefiles.

Paul Serikawa has 8 years of experience providing construction oversight and administration services for the State Department of Transportation’s Stormwater Management Plan. He is a graduate of Punahou School.

Mike Perry has 1 year of experience providing construction oversight and administration services for the State Department of Transportation’s Stormwater Management Plan. He is a graduate of Saint Louis School.

Kimberly Seaux has 16 years of experience as an administrative assistant. She graduated from Kalaheo High School. Her responsibilities include clerical duties and project assistance.

Diane Lau has 9 years of experience as an administrative assistant. She earned an AS in Culinary Arts from Kapiolani Community College. Her responsibilities include clerical duties and project assistance.

Rhiannon Adina has 4 years of experience as an administrative assistant. She earned a BS in Business Management from the University of Phoenix. Her responsibilities include clerical duties and project assistance.