Meet the Akinaka & Associates Team

Ken C. Kawahara, P.E.
President

​Ken has over 29 years of civil engineering experience.  Prior to joining Akinaka & Associates, Ken served as Deputy Director for the State of Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management.  He implemented the State Water code statue, rules and directives of the Commission to protect and manage the groundwater and surface water resources for all the Hawaiian islands.

His professional experience in both the private and public sectors includes planning, design, contracting, construction, construction management, regulatory compliance and environmental quality monitoring.  

In his spare time, Ken enjoys being outdoors and helping others. Ken coaches and plays sports, and loves the ocean.

Interesting facts about Ken:
What made you become an engineer?
I wanted to be a problem solver. My late Uncle Alfred Yee was my major inspiration. Although he was a well accomplished structural engineer and a pioneer in precast concrete, he never forgot where he came from. He was always humble, thoughtful and took time to talk with others.

Favorite movie? 
The Magnificent Seven

What would your super power be? 
​The ability to heal others.

Favorite comfort food? 
Anything from the ocean. I love seafood!

Favorite subject in school? 
​Physics. For every action there is an equal and opposite reaction. Sounds a lot like life.

​Robert Y. Akinaka, P.E.
​Chairman

Robert (Bob) started his engineering career over 50 years ago.  He started working at Akinaka & Associates as a civil engineer and eventually served as the firm's president from 1984 to 2003.  Currently he is the chairman of the company and is involved with the marketing and strategic planning for the firm.

Bob is involved in many community organizations such as the Kalihi YMCA, Stanford University Alumni Association, Stanford Club of Hawaii, Punahou Alumni Association, U.H. No Koa Football Booster Club, and Mayor's Cup Committee Hawaii Island United Way.

Over the years Bob has received many awards & honors including:

• George Warren Fuller Award, AWWA Hawaii Section

 

• Honorary Member, AWWA National Section

 

• Chapter Honorary Member, Chi Epsilon Fraternity

 

• Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Engineer of the Year

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• Punahou School Alumni Association, "O" in Life Award

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• University of Hawaii College of Engineering, Outstanding Service

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• Hawaii Council of Engineering Societies, Lifetime Achievement Award

Benjamin M. Ganal, L.P.L.S.
​Senior Designer

Ben has been working in the engineering field for 50 years.  He is a licensed surveyor and as a Senior Designer he leads the production of reports, exhibits and permits.  He is experienced in subdivision design and land mapping.

Interesting facts about Ben:
What made you become an engineer? 
Math and Mechanical drawing were my favorite subjects in high school

Favorite movie? 
Sneakers (1992) staring Robert Redford, Dan Aykroyd, and Sidney Poitier

What would your super power be?
​Being able to retain and process information at super speeds to solve problems

Favorite comfort food? 
​Depends on what I crave at that time .... Korean, Japanese, Filipino or Vietnamese, Hawaiian.  In other words, I'm not particular.

Favorite subject in school?
Hydraulics and Surveying

​Scott A. Kunioka, P.E.
Project Manager

Scott has over 35 years of experience in civil engineering.  He is experienced in water developments, drainage, parks, and roadways.  He has provided infrastructure support for many projects throughout the State including the Hawaii Convention Center.

​In his spare time he likes to play softball & golf, go fishing and drink good wine and beer.

Interesting facts about Scott:
What made you become an engineer? 
My dad suggested it

Favorite movie? 
The Natural

What would your super power be?
Predicting the future

Favorite comfort food? 
​Pho

Favorite subject in school?
​Lunch, then Math

W. Roy Hardy, P.E.
Senior ​Project Engineer

Roy has 33 years of experience in civil engineering specializing in water resource engineering and management. He helped establish sustainable yields, developing the Hawaii Well Construction and Pump Installation Standards, implementing regulatory well construction, pump installation, and ground water use permitting, and organizing data reporting for the production and long-term monitoring wells in the State.

In his spare time he likes to spend time with family and friends, exercise, coach, play and listen to music

Interesting facts about Roy:
What made you become an engineer?
Working with my father (contractor) and grandfather (engineer) and I enjoy knowing how to make things work

Favorite movie?
Alien

What would your super power be?
Healing people

Favorite comfort food?
Mexican

Favorite subject in school?
Science

​Gavin M. Ganal, P.E.
​Senior Project Engineer

Gavin has been working with Akinaka & Associates for the past 19 years, starting his career as an intern.  Gavin is experienced in subdivision design and drainage design.  In his spare time, he likes to spend time with family and friends.

Interesting facts about Gavin:
What made you become an engineer? 
​My professional sports career fell through so I had to go with my second option.
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Favorite movie? 
No specific movie, but really love Game of Thrones

What would your super power be? 
Breathing under water

Favorite comfort food? 
​Ramen or Pho. Or pie from Hawaiian Pie Company. Or any pie, so pizza too.  Any good burger. Donuts. Root beer floats.

Favorite subject in school? 
​​Physics

Austin K. Inouye
Engineer

Austin graduated from the University of Hawaii in Hilo with a bachelors degree in Geology.  In his spare time he likes to surf, fish, hike, golf, coach baseball, and spend time with family and friends.

Interesting facts about Austin:
What made you become an engineer?
I used to spend my summers working in a lo'i and learned a lot about the importance of sustainability and stewardship of our island's resources. This fueled my passion to become a Geologist/Engineer and ensure that the generations after us can grow up in the same Hawaii that we've all grown up in.

Favorite movie?
Remember the Titans

What would your super power be?
Time travel

Favorite comfort food?
Saimin and grilled cheese

Favorite subject in school?
Field Studies

Kevin J. Meagher
Engineer

Kevin graduated from UCLA with a bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering. In his spare time he likes to travel, go on hikes, and homebrew beer and cider.

Interesting facts about Kevin:
What made you become an engineer?
I have always been fascinated by the physical sciences and how we try to describe the world around us with math and equations. My dad also got a degree in engineering and I have always looked up to him and wanted to follow in his footsteps.

Favorite movie?
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy

What would your super power be?
The ability to speak every language

Favorite comfort food?
Anything Thai, the spicier the better!

Favorite subject in school?
Chemistry, especially the classes with labs

Bryson T. Tamaye
Junior Engineer

Bryson recently received his bachelors degree in Civil Engineering from the University of Portland.

Interesting facts about Bryson:
What made you become an engineer? 
Money. Having a high income and a fat wallet.
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Favorite movie? 
Gintama: The Final.

What would your super power be? 
Multiple clones of myself.

Favorite comfort food? 
Katsu curry moco from Hamada's General Store.

Favorite subject in school? 
Japanese

Ashley T. Koza
​Junior Engineer

Ashley is a graduate of the University of Hawaii at Manoa where she received her bachelors degree in Civil Engineering.

In her spare time Ashley likes to golf, hike and spend time at the beach.
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Interesting facts about Ashley:
What made you become an engineer? 
At first it all started with my love of math and science. When choosing a career, an engineer was always what I matched with on school career tests, so I went with it and stuck with it all the way through college.
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Favorite movie? 
Thor Ragnorok or Sherlock Holmes.

What would your super power be? 
Telekenisis

Favorite comfort food? 
​Ramen

Favorite subject in school? 
Math

Joseph S. Keane Jr.
​IT Specialist/Senior Drafter

Naomi S. Shibahara
Accounting

Darnelle J. Chung
Operations Analyst/HR

Joe has provided IT management to the firm for over 37 years. 

​In his spare time, he likes to surf.  Quote: "I'm no Kelly Slater but I stayed at the Holiday Inn once."

Interesting facts about Joe:
Favorite movie?
Deadpool

What would your super power be?
Flying

Favorite comfort food?
Furikake Chex Mix

Favorite subject in school?
Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays

Naomi oversees all the accounting for the company. 

​In her spare time, she likes to go hiking.

Interesting facts about Naomi:
Favorite movie?
The Notebook

What would your super power be?
The ability to heal others

Favorite comfort food?
Cheese

​Favorite subject in school?
Family and Consumer Sciences

Darnelle takes care of all the administrative duties in the office including developing marketing materials, SOQ Submittals, Human Resources and all tasks that no one else in the office wants to do and doesn't require an engineering license.

In her spare time, she likes to bake, watch movies, spending time with her family, going to her kids baseball, volleyball and basketball games, and listening to band geeks from KS play music.

Interesting facts about Darnelle:
Favorite movie? Grease

What would your super power be?
All encompassing genie powers similar to I Dream of Jeannie

Favorite comfort food? ​Bacon and movie theater popcorn with butter
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Favorite subject in school? Math