Staff

John Katahira has 23 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 26 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 22 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 23 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 engineering feasibility studies, BMP design for stormwater pollution prevention, and residential and commercial site development.

Charles Jury has 13 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 16 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 10 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 10 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 8 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 7 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 stormwater pollution prevention.

Kapiolani Street has 4 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. Her projects include stormwater erosion control design, wastewater system design, site development, and utility design.

Sean Cagadas has 4 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. His projects include collection system rehabilitation and roadway improvements.

Cedric Joaquin has 2 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. He will assist on civil and sanitary engineering and construction management projects.

Korey Tsubota has 2 years of experience on civil and sanitary engineering projects. 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.

Paul Shupak has 2 years of experience on construction projects involving wastewater infrastructure and utility improvements. He earned a BS in Civil Engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology and received his Engineer-In-Training certification. He will assist on civil and sanitary engineering and construction management projects.

Tuan Giang earned a BS in Computer Science with a Minor in Mathematics from the University of Hawaii at Hilo. His duties include programming SCADA systems and PLC for the City and County of Honolulu.

Henry Higashi has over 20 years of AutoCAD experience designing concrete forming and shoring systems. He earned an AS in Math/Science from Ventura Junior College.

Jamie Tanimoto has 12 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.

Jason Nakata has 10 years of experience in environmental and land use compliance planning in support of civil infrastructure and development 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 duties include preparation of Environmental Assessments; planning reports; NPDES, Special Management Area, Zoning and other discretionary permits; and consultation with Federal, State and County regulating agencies.

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.

Jenny Bernier earned a BS in Global Environmental Science from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. She has 2 years of experience in environmental compliance and will assist with environmental permitting for civil infrastructure and development projects.

Mike Perry has 2 years 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.

Scott Lai has 3 years of experience serving as Project Manager on asphalt concrete paving projects. His projects include removal and installation of new asphalt pavement and restriping of parking lots and roadways. He received a BA in Sociology from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

Corey Arakaki has 18 years of experience performing accounting and HR duties. She earned a BS in Business Administration with an emphasis in Accounting from the University of Northern Colorado and a Master of Accountancy from the University of Hawaii at Manoa. Her responsibilities include general ledger accounting through financial report preparation, tax reporting, HR management, and office management.

Rhiannon Adina has 5 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.

Dana Lei has 5 years of experience as an administrative assistant. She earned an AS in Pastry Arts from Kapiolani Community College. Her responsibilities include clerical duties and project assistance.