All About Us

Akinaka & Associates, Ltd. is a locally owned company that has been providing professional engineering services to the Hawaii community since its inception in 1941 as a sole proprietorship by Arthur Y. Akinaka.  In 1966, the firm was incorporated and since 1984 led by Robert Y. Akinaka.  Today, the company is a locally owned firm headed by Ken C. Kawahara.

​A little more about our founder .....
Born in 1909 in Honolulu, Arthur was the son of Japanese immigrants.  He attended McKinley High School (in 3 years with honors) and graduated from the University of Hawaii at Manoa in 1930.

In 1931, he began an 8-year stint as a Federal employee, surveying outer-island harbors and working at Hickam Air Field.  From 1938 to 1941, Arthur worked for the Territorial Planning Board and in June 1941 he started his own company as a general contractor, Arthur Y. Akinaka, Ltd.  In 1967 he started Arthur Y. Akinaka Consulting Engineers and later in 1973 the firm's name was changed to Akinaka & Associates, Ltd.

In his long engineering career, Arthur was recognized for not only his professional endeavors, but his contributions to the community. He dedicated his time and energy to various organizations including the University of Hawaii Alumni Association, Kamehameha Lions Club, Kalihi-Palama Community Council, Kalihi Y.M.C.A., Advisory Group for the Prison Correctional Industries, and Board of Trustees for Kuakini Medical Center, to name a few.

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