HomeMy WebLinkAboutPBR HAWAII - OH.1 Community Planning (Community Engagement, Strategic Planning)Community Planning(Community Engagement, Strategic Planning)
June 2024
Submitted to:Housing and Community DevelopmentCounty of Hawai‘i
Submitted by:
Response to Notice to Providers of Professional ServicesFiscal Year 2025
Community Planning(Community Engagement, Strategic Planning)
June 2024
Submitted to:Housing and Community DevelopmentCounty of Hawai‘i
Submitted by:
Response to Notice to Providers of Professional ServicesFiscal Year 2025
June 26, 2024 Via Email: ohcdprofserv@hawaiicounty.gov Ms. Susan Kunz Administrator Housing and Community Development County of Hawai‘i 1990 Kinoʻole Street, Suite 102 Hilo, Hawai‘i 96720 SUBJECT: LETTER OF INTEREST FOR COMMUNITY PLANNING (COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, STRATEGIC PLANNING) SERVICES FOR FISCAL YEAR 2025 Dear Ms. Kunz: In response to the “Notice to Providers of Professional Services for FY2025,” PBR HAWAII is pleased to present the attached Statement of Qualifications for the following services: CH.1) Community Planning (Community Engagement, Strategic Planning) Based on the description provided and PBR HAWAII’s extensive experience in community planning, master planning, physical planning, and conceptual subdivision design, we believe that we are well qualified to undertake community engagement and strategic planning projects on behalf of the County and be able to perform these activities in a timely and cost-efficient manner. We appreciate the opportunity to submit our qualifications to you and look forward to working with the County of Hawaiʻi, Housing and Community Development. We are confident that PBR HAWAII can successfully implement and complete a wide range of community engagement and strategic planning projects for the County of Hawaiʻi. Sincerely, Vincent Shigekuni Senior Vice President Attachment P250605-1 ltr
Firm Background
Name of Firm or Individual, Principal Place of Business
and Location of All of Its Offices
PBR HAWAII & Associates, Inc. is a multi-disciplinary consulting firm founded and based in Hawaiʻi for 54 years. We have a staff of 40 dedicated individuals, most of whom are accredited by professional organizations in their respective fields. PBR HAWAII has five licensed landscape architects, three certified planners (AICP), and five LEED Accredited Professionals (two LEED AP BD+C, one LEED AP ID+C, one SITES AP), and one Ph.D. Over the years, we have worked with nearly all county and state agencies that impact land use, and most of Hawai‘i’s prominent landowners. PBR HAWAII has the capabilities to provide consulting services in the following disciplines:
• Land planning and urban design, including master planning, GIS modeling and data development and management for geographic analysis in both rural and urban contexts for: transit-oriented mixed-use developments, educational and campus facilities, resort and residential communities, commercial and industrial facilities, parks and recreational facilities, and natural and cultural resources;
• Regional and community planning, including long-range regional analysis and planning, GIS modeling and graphic development, community outreach and engagement (including in-person and virtual meeting facilitation and interactive input), and sustainable design and resiliency concepts;
• Environmental planning and entitlements, including Hawai‘i State Chapter 343, HRS and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) environmental assessments/environmental impact statements, and State and County permits and land use entitlements;
• Landscape architecture, including hardscape, irrigation, and landscape design, 3-D modeling, consultation on the use of Native Hawaiian plants, cultural landscapes, sustainable landscape design, and LEED Certification;
• Graphic design, including project branding, web design, interpretive displays and signage, educational material, and infographics;
• Market, fiscal, and economic analyses, for critical insights to market context and costs and benefits of a project in terms of local expenditures, employment and earnings for residents, and impacts to State and county government revenues and expenditures; and
• Hawaiian cultural sustainable design concepts, including place-based sustainable design and cultural advising, providing guidance on how to honor and incorporate Hawaiian culture into projects, and orienting clients new to Hawai‘i with an introduction to Hawaiian culture. PBR HAWAII 1001 Bishop Street, Suite 650 Tel: (808) 521-5631 Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96813 Fax: (808) 523-1402 E-Mail: sysadmin@pbrhawaii.com
Community Planning
(Community Engagement, Strategic Planning) PBR HAWAII has worked with various State and County agencies, private developers and landowners on projects that involve extensive community engagement to develop community-based solutions that move beyond planning into sustainable actions. We employ various public engagement tools, including social media, infographics, stakeholder meetings and one-on-one interviews, interactive displays, online and paper-based surveys, live polling (using smartphones or dedicated polling devices), community charrettes and pop-up events, online document commenting, and ArcGIS StoryMap. Since the start of the Covid pandemic, PBR HAWAII modified many of its outreach efforts to include web-based meetings. Zoom meetings including breakout rooms and polling are now standard practice. We can also stream meetings online live for remote participation and digital recordings of the meetings can be posted for post-event viewing. For each project, these tools are designed and catered specifically to the audiences our clients serve or seek to reach. Place-based cultural sustainability is also woven throughout our practice. Cultural sustainability and respect for individual communities ground our work and are the foundation of our plans. We seek to find synergies and multi-layered solutions that support a community’s vision for its future and move plans from vision to implementation. PBR HAWAII strives to follow these guiding principles when engaging with the community. • Relationships. Acknowledgement that successful agencies and their agents must establish and maintain meaningful working relationships with communities to achieve their respective goals and objectives. • Respect. Respect should be shown and given to the relationship between a community and the resources and people that they care for by valuing local knowledge. • Reciprocity. All parties participating in a planning process should consider the benefits of “giving” as much as they “receive” from their interactions, with the intent of leaving people and places whole and not wanting. • Relevance. Acknowledgement that not all communication styles fit all conditions, locales or practices, especially those governed by natural time and cultural and environmental conditions. • Reflexivity, Reflectivity & Responsive(ness). Tailor conversations with the recognition that changing ecological, social, and economic conditions do not adhere to accounting or administrative practices that are either fixed or inflexible. • Reverence rather than Reference. Reverence should be shown for community and ecological resources and those whose kuleana, responsibility, it is to care for them, rather than treating either as reference data in the interest of satisfying programmatic mandates.
The Age of Firm and its Average Number of
Employees over the Past Five Years Based in Hawai‘i for 54 years, PBR HAWAII’s average number of employees over the past year has been approximately 38 which breaks down into the following categories: Principals 6 - 8 Planning Associates 4 - 5 Landscape Architect/Associate 6 - 7 Land Planners 7 - 8 Landscape Designers/Draftsmen 5 - 6 Graphic Designers 1 - 2 Business/Administration 5 – 6 Total Employees: 34 – 42
Capacity to Complete the Work in the Required Time PBR HAWAII’s staff is capable of immediate start and timely completion of projects. Our current workload projections conclude that we have well-trained and experienced staff to accomplish assignments. With our 40 employees, PBR HAWAII is one of the largest planning and landscape architectural firms in the state. PBR HAWAII has the capability and experience of responding to client demands on moment’s notice. As a service business, it is our goal to maintain satisfied clients from project start to finish. Repeat clientele represents approximately 80% of our work and is evidence of PBR HAWAII’s ability to provide timely service and quality products year after year. It is our goal to respond to each assignment effectively and rapidly, while ensuring the successful implementation of project requirements. PBR HAWAII is also committed to immediate start-up on projects for Client emergencies or unexpected needs. A principal will be assigned to every project to see that project schedules are met. The process we propose consists of following administrative procedures: 1. Meet with Client and determine/identify critical project components and other logistical or coordination project needs. 2. Visit project site. 3. Evaluate the project scope, budgets, scheduling constraints/requirements and logistical considerations such as travel, work sequencing, equipment acquisition, etc. 4. Make key project assignments based on Client needs and schedule. 5. Initiate appropriate project controls, methodology to monitor progress reports, and final delivery schedules. Tools such as Microsoft Teams, SharePoint, and Project are often helpful to develop a workflow that integrates project planning, design, and construction tasks. A PBR HAWAII project manager for a specific project would use such a tool to determine opportunities for concurrent work tasks, as well as monitor critical path tasks that affect overall project delivery. The project schedule would evolve in detail and approach and will be updated regularly. Regular team meetings provide a means to ensure assignments get accomplished in a timely manner and to anticipate and come up with solutions for new issues. Concise meeting notes will be timely disseminated to document decisions and next steps, as well as to guide accountability. A controlled-access Internet site for team members (e.g., Basecamp) is useful to share files, exchange messages, assign tasks, and manage a calendar. PBR HAWAII has established a system for internal communication in which the project manager constantly coordinates, and reviews staff work products and relays this information to the principal-in-charge of the project. A system for critiques has been established to allow staff input and to take advantage of individual talents and experiences. Points of contact within the firm are established for coordination with consultants and with project team members. Project managers are required to keep consultants and other project team members abreast of project status through weekly or bi-weekly (depending on project requirements) coordination meetings and memorandums. Communication with other consultants is not a problem as PBR HAWAII utilizes state of the art technology and software to keep these consultants abreast on the project status. A coordination check list along with standard process charts, schedules, and timelines are established to complete projects on schedule and within budget. The related projects listed are examples of projects completed on time and on budget.
Resumes
Education, Training and Qualifications
of Key Members of the Firm Following are the resumes of the education, training, qualifications and licensure of the following key members of the PBR HAWAII. Vincent Shigekuni Senior Vice President Grant Murakami, AICP, LEED AP® BD+C Senior Vice President Kimi Yuen, LEED AP® BD+C Vice President Catie Cullison, AICP Vice President Tom Schnell, AICP Vice President Dacheng Dong, LEED AP® Associate Principal Nathalie Razo Associate Principal Ann Bouslog, PhD Director of Land Economics & Real Estate Ramsay Taum Cultural Sustainability Planner Etsuyo Kila Senior Associate Greg Nakai Senior Associate Bradley Furuya, AICP Associate Theresa Dean Project Manager / Planner Natalie Hanson, LEED AP® ID+C Project Manager / Planner David Simpson Planner Mahshid Bagheri Physical Planner Emerson Goo Planner Matthew Nakamoto Planner Laurel Pikcunas Planner Sharlene Pennington Graphic Designer
VINCENT SHIGEKUNI
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT / PRINCIPAL
With 42 years of professional planning experience, Mr. Shigekuni has
been involved with many master planning projects requiring extensive
community outreach across the State. He has worked on policy plans and land use projects ranging in scale and complexity from statewide and island-wide to towns, campuses and parks. He has broad experience in community outreach and engagement, utilizing participatory techniques
(such as visioning workshops, charrettes, open houses, and
presentations) and tools (such as keypad polling and 3D models) to secure input and build consensus in the preparation of master plans.
Mr. Shigekuni has been involved with many site selection and land planning processes in communities across the State. He is experienced in
analyzing current landholdings, analyzing and identifying physical opportunities and constraints, and providing a summary analysis for landowner decisions on the disposition and future use of properties, yielding greater values for the landowner.
Mr. Shigekuni also has extensive experience in the preparation of
entitlements and environmental assessments for public and private sector clients in Hawai‘i. He is involved in many of PBR HAWAII’s environmental assessments (EAs) and environmental impact statements (EISs), including the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center
Replacement FEIS, the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority
Administrative Offices Redevelopment FEIS.
Recent EAs include: the Wai‘anae High School – Girls Athletic Locker Room Final EA/Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) (May 2022) (and Special Management Area Permit, November 2022); the Wey
Private Residence (126 South Kalāheo Avenue) Final EA/ FONSI (June
2022) and the 10 Kamani Kai Place Final EA/FONSI (October 2022).
EDUCATION Graduate Studies, 1982 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, Department of Urban and Regional Planning
BA in Environmental Studies, 1980 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association Hawai‘i Chapter Member, Past President
Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Board Member
Land Use Research Foundation Subscriber
GRANT MURAKAMI │ AICP, LEED AP® BD+C
SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT │ PLANNER
Mr. Murakami has 34 years of planning experience, specializing in master planning, urban design, sustainability, and community outreach
and engagement.
He has extensive experience in leading complex policy-related and land use studies for State and county agencies, including the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Planning and Permitting, the Hawai‘i Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD, formerly Office of
Planning), the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority, the Hawai‘i Housing
Finance and Development Corporation, the Department of Accounting and General Services, the University of Hawai‘i (UH), and the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.
Mr. Murakami has also led several transit-oriented development (TOD)
projects for both public and private sector clients along the Honolulu
Rail Transit Project’s corridor. Current and recently completed projects include an O‘ahu TOD Planning and Implementation study for OPSD; TOD Planning studies for Kapolei, Waipahu, Iwilei/Kapālama, Downtown and Chinatown for the City and County of Honolulu’s
Department of Planning and Permitting; a property assessment for
Transit Oriented Development on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’(DHHL) properties; and planning for the University of Hawai‘i-West O‘ahu (UHWO) Campus and University District Lands near the Keoneaʻe Rail Station. Specific projects that address sustainability and
climate change, include both State OPSD and City projects for
Iwilei/Kapālama area, the UHWO Long Range Development Plan, DHHL property assessments, and a Sustainability Plan for the State Department of Land and Natural Resources properties in East Kapolei lands.
Mr. Murakami is a LEED Accredited Professional and member of the
American Institute of Certified Planners. He has served as President for the Hawai‘i Chapter of the American Planning Association, a Director for the Hawai‘i Chapter of the US Green Building Council, as the Chair of the Urban Land Institute Hawai‘i’s Land Use and Sustainability
Committee. He has also served as a lecturer at the University of Hawai‘i,
Department of Urban and Regional Planning, and juror at the University of Hawai‘i, School of Architecture.
EDUCATION Master in Urban Planning, 1990
University of Washington
Certificate in Urban Design, 1990
University of Washington
Bachelor of Arts in Geography, 1986
University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa
Marine Option Program Certificate, 1986
University of Hawai‘i, Mānoa
Special Program - Techniques of Traditional
Town Planning, Urban Housing and Mixed-Use Development, Campus Planning
Graduate School of Design, Harvard University
ACCREDITATIONS American Institute of Certified Planners
LEED AP® Building Design + Construction; U.S. Green Building Council
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS AND RECOGNITIONS
American Planning Association, Hawaiʻi Chapter
Member and Past President, Vice President, Director-at-Large
Urban Land Institute Member, Past Sustainable Land Use
Committee Chair and Land Use and Transportation Committee Co-Chair
US Green Building Council, Hawaiʻi Chapter Board of Directors - Past Director, Past
Education Committee Member and Past Green Schools Committee Member
KIMI MIKAMI YUEN | LEED AP® BD+C
VICE PRESIDENT | PLANNER
With 24 years of experience at PBR HAWAII, Ms. Yuen manages a
variety of planning and design projects as well as the successful preparation of land use permits, environmental assessments, and environmental impact statements. Her work includes a diverse range of
regional and long-range land plans, master planned communities, public and private sector projects, community engagement and meeting facilitation, urban design, educational facilities, and park master plans.
She has coordinated and led extensive community engagement efforts, testified in front of various boards, commissions, and councils, and spoken at various seminars and educational programs for The Seminar Group, Hawai‘i State Bar Association, National Association of Industrial and Office Properties (NAIOP) Hawai‘i Chapter Developing Leaders Group, the Institute of Transportation Engineers Hawai‘i Section, and the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Shidler College of Business.
Ms. Yuen has served on the Board of Directors for the Hawaiʻi Tourism Authority (HTA) as Second Vice Chair of the Board and Chair of the Hoʻokahua Hawaiʻi Standing Committee. She also chaired the HTA’s Strategic Plan Investigative Committee that oversaw the 2020 update and worked closely with the HTA leadership team on the development of the Destination Management Action Plans for each island. She is also
actively involved in several professional organizations including the Urban Land Institute for which she is on the Management Committee and cochairs the Women’s Leadership Initiative Committee, the
American Planning Association Hawaiʻi Chapter, for which she has served as President, Vice President, and the APA/UH DURP Liaison. She is currently the President of the Lambda Alpha International Aloha
Chapter, a land economics honor society, and serves on the Hawaiʻi Architectural Foundation Board of Directors.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, 1999 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BA in Architecture, with Highest Honors, 1995 University of California, Berkeley
Minor in Asian American Studies, 1995 University of California, Berkeley
ACCREDITATIONS LEED AP® Building Design + Construction; U.S. Green Building Council®
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association, Hawai‘i Chapter President, 2015-2017, Vice President, 2011–2015; APA/DURP Liaison
Hawaiʻi Architectural Foundation Board of Directors
Lambda Alpha International-Aloha Chapter President 2023-2024, Vice President 2021-2022; Membership Chair 2020-2021
UH DURP Professional Council
Urban Land Institute Hawaiʻi District Council Management Committee; Women’s Leadership Initiative
USGBC® Hawai‘i Chapter - Member, LEED Regionalization Task Force
BOARDS & COMMISSIONS Hawai‘i Tourism Authority Board of Directors, 2019-2022; Ho‘okahua Hawai`i Standing Committee Chair
City & County of Honolulu Salary Commission, 2016–2020
AWARDS & RECOGNITIONS UH DURP Dinell Outstanding Alumni Award, 2020
Pacific Century Fellows, Class of 2016
Pacific Business News Forty under 40, Class of 2011
SMEI & Hawai‘i Business Magazine Distinguished Sales & Marketing Awards Green Services, Finalist 2012
CATIE CULLISON | AICP
VICE PRESIDENT / PLANNER
At PBR HAWAII, Ms. Cullison supports public-sector clients with
project management, community engagement, and environmental entitlements. Her responsibilities include preparing resource management plans, seeking ways to meaningfully consult with
community, and assisting clients with documenting compliance with state and federal environmental requirements.
Her current projects include community engagement and environmental
compliance documentation for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands use of HUD-Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) funds, HRS 343 and NEPA compliance for a new roundabout Bayfront Highway in Hilo, a master plan for the Ka‘iwa Ridge Trail (Lanikai Pillbox Trail), and community engagement and environmental documentation for Honolulu’s Complete Streets program and projects in Mānoa, Kalihi, and Waikīkī as well as a supporting role on Honolulu’s Vision Zero Action Plan.
Ms. Cullison has strong experience leading HRS 343 and NEPA environmental documentation projects and managing community
engagement teams. Her approach to managing community engagement
is to encourage team members’ creativity and thoughtfulness in reaching out to a wide variety of people so as to connect them in a meaningful way to the planning process.
EDUCATION BA in Local and Urban Affairs, 1994 St. Cloud State University, Minnesota
ACCREDITATIONS American Institute of Certified Planners, 2011
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association Member
Society of Outdoor Recreational Professionals Member
YWCA O‘ahu Board Secretary
TOM SCHNELL │ AICP
VICE-PRESIDENT │ PLANNER
Mr. Schnell has experience in both the public and private sectors with expertise in the areas of land planning and analysis, environmental planning, and governmental permit processing and entitlements.
As Principal at PBR HAWAII, his responsibilities include the processing
of land use related governmental permit documents such as Environmental Impact Statements (EIS), Environmental Assessments (EA), HRS Section 201H-38 applications, State Special Permit applications, State Land Use District Boundary Amendment petitions,
Zone Changes, Community Plan Amendments, Special Management
Area (SMA) permit applications, and Conservation District Use Applications (CDUA).
His projects include: 1) facilitating community participation, participating in master planning, and preparing and processing an EIS
for the Hawai‘i Community Development Authority’s (HCDA)
Kaka‘ako Makai parks in Honolulu; 2) preparing and processing an EIS and Change of Zoning for the high-profile, “Live, Work, Play ‘Aiea” project, which will be a new mixed-use community on the former Kamehameha Drive In Theater in ‘Aiea; 3) preparing a master plan and
preparing an application pursuant to HRS Section 201H-38 for Makila
Farms, a workforce housing community in West Maui; and 4) HRS Section 201H-38 applications for Ho‘omalu in Waikoloa, Halewilikō Highlands in ‘Aiea, Keahumoa Place in East Kapolei, and Kahoapili in Salt Lake. Some of his past major EIS projects include: Kapalua Mauka,
and Pulelehua, both of which involved State Land Use District Boundary
Amendments.
EDUCATION Master of Urban and Regional Planning, 1994 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Bachelor of Arts with High Honors, 1991 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
ACCREDITATIONS American Institute of Certified Planners, 1998
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association, Hawai‘i Chapter Member
Urban Land Institute Member
Lambda Alpha International, Aloha Chapter Member
DACHENG DONG | LEED® AP
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL / PLANNER/GIS ANALYST
As an Associate Principal at PBR HAWAII, Mr. Dong participates on a diverse range of land use planning and urban design projects. His
architectural design background gives him various physical planning and
site design skills that contribute to all levels of planning projects. In addition, his sketch and rendering skills are a unique addition to the planning and design team. His experience with ESRI GIS, including ArcMap, ArcGIS 3D analysis, ArcGIS Spatial Analyst, aids the multi-
disciplinary team in preparation of maps, land use analysis, and planning
document. Mr. Dong’s experience of working on a wide range of projects and his ability to integrate a variety of components into cohesive, forward-thinking planning projects makes him a valuable member of any project team.
His experiences include preparing University of Hawaiʻi West Oʻahu
university village urban design plan, developing the Lānaʻi City expansion and the 201H housing project master plan; conducting GIS analysis and mapping for the Oʻahu Flood Vulnerability Study and exploring the site development capacity for several urban parcels via the
zoning code study and site planning exercise.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, 2004 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Bachelor of Architecture, 1999 Beijing Polytechnic University
ACCREDITATION LEED® Accredited Professional; U.S. Green Building Council
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association, Hawai‘i Chapter Member
NATHALIE RAZO
ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL | PLANNER
At PBR HAWAII, Ms. Razo has managed and coordinated numerous projects ranging from regional infrastructure planning, site selection
and land capacity assessments, to detailed site assessments and land
use master plans. She specializes in complex data management, community engagement and facilitation, master planning, and site planning.
Ms. Razo has managed several studies related to land use and
infrastructure master planning for State of Hawai‘i, including the
TOD Planning and Implementation study for the State of Hawai‘i Office of Planning and Sustainable Development (OPSD, formerly Office of Planning); property analysis and assessments for various Queen Emma Land Company properties and for Transit Oriented
Development on Department of Hawaiian Home Lands’ properties.
These studies have incorporated assessment of the impacts of sea level rise on public facilities, infrastructure and development plans. She also has extensive experience in facilitating public agency stakeholder meetings and community outreach and engagement
efforts such as for OPSD, for the Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority
Mayor Wright Homes redevelopment project, and for the City and County of Honolulu Transit Oriented Development action plans.
Prior to joining PBR HAWAII, Ms. Razo’s graduate work at the University of Hawai‘i focused on community planning with an
emphasis in community and building resilience addressing social
vulnerabilities, hazard response and recovery policies, and the value of incorporating community capacity building. Ms. Razo also worked at the National Disaster Preparedness Training Center, where she assisted in the development of the FEMA certified PER-306
HURRIPLAN Resilient Building Design for Coastal Communities
training course for hurricane preparedness, mitigation strategies, and disaster recovery.
EDUCATION
Master in Urban and Regional Planning, Resiliency Planning, 2013
University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Certificate in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, 2013 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Public Policy and Administration Graduate Program, 2011
Northwestern University
Bachelor of Arts in Architecture, 2009 Yale University
FEMA Certified Natural Disaster Awareness
for Community Leaders Training (AWR-310)
National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC)
FEMA Certified Community Resilience Training (AWR-228)
National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association, Hawai‘i
Chapter Member and Past Director-at-Large
Urban Land Institute Member and Past Young Leader Co-Chair
ANN MIKIKO BOUSLOG | PHD
DIRECTOR OF LAND ECONOMICS & REAL ESTATE
Dr. Bouslog has over 30 years of experience in market assessment, economic and fiscal impact analysis, entitlement, and strategic planning for large or complex initiatives throughout Hawai‘i and around the Pacific.
At PBR HAWAII since 2015, Dr. Bouslog has led multiple
engagements related to infrastructure finance, market and economic aspects of TOD and other initiatives on O‘ahu; strategic and business planning for community and conservation-oriented plans; and resort
and visitor industry consultations. She has also directed numerous studies in support of affordable housing initiatives throughout the state, encompassing market studies, economic and fiscal impact assessments, 201H applications, infrastructure impediment analyses, and processing of rezoning or Interim Planned Development-Transit (IPD-T) permits. She enjoys balancing efforts between public and private sector interests, and has extensive work experience with State and county agencies in Hawai‘i.
Prior to joining PBR HAWAII, Dr. Bouslog served as Forest City Hawaii’s development manager for the $770 million Kamakana Villages, a 2,200-home master planned community in partnership with the State of Hawai‘i, Housing Finance and Development Corporation. At Forest City, she also supported entitlement initiatives for a 19-
megawatt solar farm in Kunia, O‘ahu.
Prior professional ventures include founding and operating Mikiko Corporation, a real estate and economic advisory firm, and serving as
Director of KPMG’s Hawai‘i Real Estate and Hospitality Consulting practice. In these capacities, Dr. Bouslog directed services for prominent government, resort, and community developments such as
the U.S. Navy (Ford Island and bulk dispositions), U.S. Army (Residential Communities Initiative), Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Mauna Lani Resort, Waikoloa Beach Resort, Hualālai,
Kukui‘ula, Kō‘ele and Mānele, Hilton Hawaiian Village and Ho‘opili, as well as projects in Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, Saipan, Guam, and Palau. In 2013-14, she helped organize a 10+ party mediation to
address a proposed critical habitat designation in West Hawai‘i, resulting in beneficial agreements between area landowners and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Dr. Bouslog has acted as expert witness numerous times before State
and County agencies as well as in Circuit Court. In April 2016, her testimony before the Hawai‘i State Land Use Commission regarding Koa Ridge was cited in the Hawai‘i Supreme Court decision that
upheld the project’s LUC redistricting.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. in Demography/Sociology, 1985
Cornell University
MA in Sociology with minor in City &
Regional Planning, 1981
Cornell University
BA in Urban Studies, 1977
Stanford University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Lambda Alpha International, Western U.S.
Assistant Vice President; Former President,
Aloha Chapter
Rate Commission, City and County of
Honolulu
Former Commissioner
East-West Center Foundation
Former Board Member
Community Housing Fund at Hawaiʻi
Community Foundation
Former Director
Urban Land Institute, Hawai‘i Chapter
Former UrbanPlan Chair & Mgt. Committee
Kamehameha Schools’ for-profit
subsidiaries including Bishop Holdings
Corporation, Kamehameha Investment
Corporation, KUKUI, Inc. and Pauahi
Management Corporation
Former Director on each entity
RAMSAY R. M. TAUM
CULTURAL SUSTAINABILITY PLANNER
Ramsay R. M. Taum is a Cultural Sustainability Planner at PBR HAWAII. His eclectic background and experience in business, government and community service make him a valuable asset in both
public and private sectors as well as in for-profit and non-profit
business.
Mentored and trained by respected kūpuna (elders), he is a practitioner and instructor of several Native Hawaiian practices including ho‘oponopono (stress release and mediation), lomi haha (body
alignment) and Kaihewalu Lua (Hawaiian combat/battle art). His work
in promoting sustainable place based, and Hawaiian cultural stewardship principles and practices is acknowledged locally, nationally, and internationally. Mr. Taum is a recognized cultural resource and sought after as a keynote speaker, lecturer, trainer and
facilitator. Trained by respected Hawaiian elders, he effectively
integrates place based, cultural based, indigenous and Native Hawaiian cultural values and principles into contemporary business.
Ramsay was awarded the 2013 Peace Day Hawaiʻi, Peace Maker of the Year in recognition of his lifetime career advocating the spirit of Aloha
around the world, in fields of ecology, business, communications,
economic development and Hawaiian culture. His work in promoting sustainable place based, and Hawaiian cultural stewardship principles and practices is acknowledged locally, nationally and internationally. Ramsay was awarded the 2008 East West Center’s Leadership
Certificate Program’s Transformational Leadership in Sustainability,
and in that same year was Hawai‘i Home + Remodeling, HONOLULU & Hawai‘i Business magazines’ “Who’s Keeping Hawai‘i Green” 2008 Individual Educator Honoree.
EDUCATION Undergraduate Studies, 1980 United States Air Force Academy
Bachelor of Science in Public Administration, 1981 University of Southern California
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS Pacific Risk Management ‘Ohana - IKE (Indigenous Knowledge & the Environment) Hui - Steersperson
Indigenous Peoples Climate Change Working Group - Member/Facilitator
Global Breadfruit Heritage Council - Advisor
Olohana Foundation, focused on building community capacity and cohesiveness around systems of food, energy, and knowledge - Advisor (Present)
Sustain Hawai‘i - Vice President
Royal Order of Kamehameha, Hawai‘i Chapter - Member
National Disaster Preparedness Training Center - Subject Matter Expert
NCAR/UCAR Rising Voices Climate Resilience through Indigenous and Earth Sciences - Member/Facilitator
E Ola Pono, LLC - Managing Member
ETSUYO KILA
SENIOR ASSOCIATE / GIS ANALYST
As a Senior Associate at PBR HAWAII, Ms. Kila participates on a
diverse range of regional and land planning studies and analyses. Her planning and cartographic skills provide a valuable contribution to all levels of planning projects.
In particular, Ms. Kila’s extensive experience with GIS, including ArcGIS Pro and ArcGIS Online, is invaluable to the firm’s multi-disciplinary team in preparation of maps, planning documents, and
quantitative analyses.
Ms. Kila’s current projects address environmental and sustainability considerations as well as general planning goals. These include a land suitability analysis for the Hawai‘i Island Plan update and on-going need-based GIS services for State Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL), an urban design plan update and a long range development plan update for the University of Hawai‘i West O‘ahu, and online interactive map and StoryMap design support for various projects as a part of community outreach and engagement efforts. Past projects of note include: GIS data development and land and license inventories for the DHHL, the Flood Vulnerability Assessment for the State Department of Land and Natural Resources, and the Internal GIS Database Support for Kamehameha Schools.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, 2005 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BA in International Relations, 1995 Kobe City University of Foreign Studies
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association, Hawai‘i Chapter Member
GREG NAKAI
SENIOR ASSOCIATE | PLANNER
Greg Nakai is involved in many types of planning projects with an
emphasis on environmental planning and land use entitlements. He has managed or assisted with a wide range of projects, including a Chapter 343, HRS Environmental Impact Statement (EIS), Chapter 201H, HRS
exemptions, and a Conditional Use Permit for Joint Development (CUP-JDA) for the proposed Hawai‘i Public Housing Authority (HPHA) School Street Senior Affordable Housing Development, a mixed-use
development featuring up to 800 affordable rental apartments for seniors; Chapter 201H, HRS exemptions and a National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) Environmental Assessment (EA) for the Kūhiō Park Terrace Low-Rises and Kūhiō Homes Redevelopment, a development featuring 650 affordable rental and public housing apartments; Chapter 201H, HRS exemptions for Keahumoa Place, an affordable housing development in East Kapolei; a Chapter 343, HRS EA and Special Management Area Use Permit (SMP) for the Wai‘anae High School Girls’ Athletic Locker Room; a Chapter 343, HRS EA and SMP for the Ted Makalena Golf Course National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) Improvements; Chapter 343, HRS EAs for the Board of Water Supply Hālau Wai Mānoa, the Sand Island Business Association, and new classroom facilities at Waipahu High School and
Kealakehe Elementary School. As project manager, he helped to obtain a SMP, Zoning Waiver Permit, and CUP-JDA for the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant Secondary Treatment Improvements. He
has also assisted with obtaining a Minor Modification to a Plan Review Use (PRU) Permit for the Mixed-Use Housing Project at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa Campus, as well as various land use entitlements
for parks, church facilities and university campuses on Oʻahu, Maui, and Kauaʻi, including a recent Zoning Amendment for Kauaʻi Community College.
Mr. Nakai transitioned from a career in language education, and received his master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, with a focus on issues of equitable and sustainable food systems policy and planning.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, 2018 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
MA in Second Language Studies, 2007 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BA in International Studies, 1998 University of Washington
BS in Psychology, 1998 University of Washington
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association Hawai‘i Chapter Vice-President (2024-present); Programs Committee Co-Chair (2017-2023); and Executive Committee Member (2017-present)
BRADLEY FURUYA | AICP
ASSOCIATE / PLANNER
Mr. Furuya grew up on O‘ahu before moving to Los Angeles to attend
school at the University of Southern California. During his studies, Bradley discovered urban planning while taking an environmental studies elective course. He graduated with a Bachelor of Science in
Public Policy, Management, and Planning and subsequently received a Master of Planning degree, also from the University of Southern California.
Prior to joining PBR HAWAII, Mr. Furuya worked as a Planner for the City of Los Angeles Department of City Planning where he processed land use entitlements and Environmental Impact Reports as required under the California Environmental Quality Act. Most recently, Bradley supervised the Department of City Planning’s Historic Preservation Overlay Zone (HPOZ) unit, which included the City’s 35 historic districts and 22 HPOZ boards.
For Bradley, one of the great joys of being a planner is the ability to work with people of a community to shape the built environment in a way that brings positive change to their everyday lives. When presented with the opportunity to work with the people of Hawai‘i, Bradley moved home to pursue his passion of creating healthy places that are designed for everyone.
At PBR HAWAII, Mr. Furuya has prepared Environmental Assessments (EAs) for private residences in Kailua and the Pearl City Public Library; performed public outreach and engagement for
wastewater Master Plans in Puna and South Kohala; and prepared Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (HCDA) Development Permit applications for mixed-use projects in the Ward Village Master
Plan, including Kalae, The Launiu, Mahana Ward Village, Block D, and Block E.
Bradley has also assisted on Chapter 201H, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes (HRS) exemption applications, State Special District Permit applications, Special Management Area (SMA) permit applications, and Conservation District Use Applications (CDUA).
EDUCATION Master of Planning, Economic Development, 2014 University of Southern California
BS in Public Policy, Management, and Planning, Urban Planning, 2013 University of Southern California
ACCREDITATIONS American Institute of Certified Planners,
2019
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association Member
Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation Member
THERESA DEAN
PROJECT MANAGER / PLANNER
Ms. Dean has several years of consulting and agency experience with environmental, housing, and infrastructure planning projects. Her
background includes the development of outdoor resource management
plans, environmental assessments, and other permit and entitlement documents. She has experience in agency contracting processes and affordable housing developments. To date, her work focuses on community engagement methods that inform planning efforts across
the State. Currently, she is working on a variety of projects including
an environmental assessment and accompanying management plan for the Department of Land and Natural Resources Ka‘iwa Ridge Trail, the City and County of Honolulu’s update to the Wai‘anae Sustainable Communities Plan, and as an engagement advisor on the O‘ahu Vision
Zero Action Plan.
Recently, Ms. Dean has accepted a volunteer leadership position as the Co-Chair of the Transportation Equity Hui, a grassroots organization dedicated to elevating the lived experiences of marginalized communities in transportation decision-making processes.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, Environmental Planning, 2017 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
BS in Business Administration and Management, 2010 Syracuse University – Martin J. Whitman School of Management
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION Transportation Equity Hui
Co-Chair
NATALIE HANSON | LEED® AP ID+C
PROJECT MANAGER / PLANNER
At PBR HAWAII, Ms. Hanson’s responsibilities include preparation of environmental assessments and special district permits for government projects, GIS mapping and analysis, community engagement through website content management and web-based outreach tools (such as
MailChimp, StoryMaps and SurveyMonkey), and preparation of federal
and state environmental documents including documentation of compliance with the National Environmental Protection Act (NEPA).
Her recent projects include community engagement and environmental compliance documentation for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands
use of HUD-Native Hawaiian Housing Block Grant (NHHBG) funds,
and community engagement for the City and County of Honolulu’s Complete Streets, Pedestrian Plan, and Ala Pono an Ala Wai Crossing. Current projects include updating the Ocean Resource Management Plan with the Office of Planning, preparing flood map reports for the
Department of Land and Natural Resources, updating the City and
County of Honolulu’s TOD website, and land use, community planning, and preparation of NEPA environmental reports for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands. While earning her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawaiʻi, Ms. Hanson re-designed
the department’s website and social media platforms, assisted in the
launch of the department’s first alumni association, and received funding from the J. Watumull Scholarship for conducting field research on sea level rise adaptation in Kolkata, India.
Ms. Hanson also brings to her role as planner a bachelor’s degree in
sociology, anthropology, and Asian studies; both quantitative and
qualitative data collection and analytical skills; and seven years of experience work-study throughout Asia. This background has fostered a firm grounding in the importance of inclusion when conducting community outreach as part of planning processes and decision making.
EDUCATION Master in Urban and Regional Planning, 2016 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Graduate Certificate in Disaster Management and Humanitarian Assistance, 2016 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
BA in Sociology/Anthropology, Asian Studies, 2007 St. Olaf College, Northfield MN
Native Hawaiian Organizations in the Section 106 Process Seminar co-hosted by Historic Hawaiʻi Foundation, The Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, and the U.S. Department of the Interior Office of Native Hawaiian Relations
Foundations in Environmental Review: NEPA and 24 CFR Part 58 Environmental Review Procedures – Technical Assistance Workshop hosted by Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development
ACCREDITATIONS LEED® AP Interior Design + Construction
U.S. Green Building Council
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association Hawai‘i Chapter
Member
Lambda Alpha National Collegiate Honors
Society for Anthropology
DURP Ohana
University Students of Urban and Regional Planning
DAVE SIMPSON
PLANNER
At PBR HAWAII, Mr. Simpson works in a supportive role on various projects to assist principals and associates in the firm. In his previous role, Mr. Simpson served as the coordinator for the Smart Sustainable Communities initiative for Hawaiʻi Green Growth. His responsibilities included primary coordination, research, logistics, and technical
support for the Smart Sustainable Communities (SSC) Roundtable and corresponding working groups.
Dave’s experience in this role involved engagement with a diverse
array of key leaders, partner organizations, and technical experts to achieve SSC objectives that promote joint action, accountability, collaboration, information exchange, resource leverage and consensus building. The project deliverables included managing a multi-sector process to develop recommendations on targets, indicators and metrics for the Aloha+ Challenge Smart Sustainable Communities 2030 statewide goal. Membership among the working groups managed in this process included state and county representatives, locally-based private sector companies, academic and technical experts, and community-based organizations. Additional project deliverables involved development of the Smart Sustainable Communities Business Roundtable as a private sector platform for collaboration on joint actions to support sustainability initiatives. Dave’s experience also
includes a background in hospitality management on the Island of Lāna‘i and grass-roots political advocacy.
EDUCATION Master of Urban and Regional Planning, 2016 University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa
Bachelor of Arts – Political Science & History, 2004 Emory University
Emory British Studies Program, 2002 Oxford University, University College
MAHSHID BAGHERI
PHYSICAL PLANNER
Mahshid holds a master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning. Her
motivation is to be part of creating a sustainable planet through
effective participatory processes and cross-sector collaboration. She brings experience in urban designing, physical planning, and mapping.
During her studies, Ms. Bagheri worked as a graduate research assistant in National Disaster Preparedness Training Center (NDPTC) and
focused on disaster management and humanitarian assistance planning.
Through this period, she was part of a wide variety of projects; She assisted in a GIS analysis project to investigate the impact of flight restriction relaxation on the number of COVID cases on the Island of Oahu in Spring 2020. She also helped with the preparation of COVID-
19 contact tracing and social distancing surveys, and GIS analysis of the obtained data.
During her studies, Mahshid also contributed to conducting a research project for the State of Hawaiʻi Department of Land and Natural
Resources – Division of Boating and Ocean Recreation (DOBOR) with
the purpose of creating a conceptual development plan to guide the potential future development of the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor. In this project she helped with conducting a site inventory and site analysis, conducting community and stakeholders’ engagement surveys and
interviews, and assessing prior stakeholder engagement results. She
also developed resilient design guidelines including several strategies for addressing sea level rise and flooding in the Ala Wai Small Boat Harbor.
Some other projects that Mahshid assisted with are: 1) developing an
infrastructure plan for Waipahu TOD area by analyzing various
infrastructure considerations including multi-modal transportation, parking, stormwater and green infrastructure, 2) finding links between demography and resource dependency on Merizo residents’ attitudes and perceptions towards coastal and marine resources in the Achang
Reef Flat Marin Preserve, Guam by analyzing a survey data employing
IBM SPSS Software, and 3) a SPSS analysis of a survey conducted one year after 2017 earthquake in middle east to investigate the relationship between people’s awareness about their significant role in response and recovery activities after one year of a disaster, and the improvement of
their quality of life in the post-disaster process.
EDUCATION Master of Urban and Regional Planning, 2021 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Bachelor of Architecture Engineering, 2018 Iran University of Science and Technology
Bachelor of Physics, Atomic and Molecular Physics, 2009 Shahid Beheshiti University
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS American Planning Association
Member
Email: egoo@pbrhawaii.com Phone: (808) 521-5631
EMERSON GOO
PLANNER
Mr. Goo was born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaiʻi and joined PBR HAWAII in 2023. He assists with physical planning, writing
entitlements and permits, and projects which leverage his skills as an
experienced writer with a design and planning background.
Mr. Goo holds a BLA in Landscape Architecture from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Courses in environmental law and policy encouraged him to deepen his knowledge of planning, and he received minors in City
and Regional Planning as well as Land Rehabilitation and Restoration
Ecology. In 2021, he received the Hawaiʻi Chapter ASLA/David T. Woolsey Scholarship and was a runner-up for the Daniel Zwier/Permaloc Innovation Scholarship. Being deaf, Mr. Goo is a strong advocate for disabled inclusion in built environment professions
and the importance of universal design.
Outside of PBR HAWAII, Emerson is a freelance writer covering art, film, and design for a range of nationally and internationally recognized publications, including Film Comment, Cinema Scope, Design Museum Everywhere, and the New York Review of Architecture. He
has worked in an independent capacity with the Honolulu Museum of
Art and the Hawaiʻi International Film Festival. He is a member of the Hawaiʻi Film Critics Society.
EDUCATION Bachelor of Landscape Architecture with minors in City and Regional Planning and Land Rehabilitation and Restoration
Ecology, 2023 California Polytechnic State University, San
Luis Obispo
MATTHEW NAKAMOTO
PLANNER
Mr. Nakamoto grew up on Oʻahu before moving to the East Coast to attend school at Bowdoin College and Cornell University. Upon
moving home, Matt joined PBR HAWAII, where he is experienced in
land planning and economic analysis. He is assisting in multiple efforts to support affordable housing initiatives throughout the state, preparing market studies and infrastructure assessments, supporting entitlement and permitting processes, environmental review documents, and
developing long-range planning and policy documents. Recent and
ongoing projects include Act 305 YIMBY Housing Study, Kāneaka Keauhou Market Assessment, the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital Transit Oriented Development (TOD) EIS and land use permits, Waimea 400 Affordable Housing Master Plan, Market Study,
and land use entitlements, Ledcor South Maui Properties and
Improvements EIS, and Waikoloa Workforce Rental Housing Market Overview.
Prior to joining PBR HAWAII, Mr. Nakamoto worked on a variety of affordable housing and climate resilience projects in New York,
Washington, and Maine, focused on pre- and post-disaster resilience,
including a project funded by The Nature Conservancy to assess ecological and social outcomes of State Property Buyout Programs.
EDUCATION Master of Regional Planning, 2023 Cornell University
Bachelor of Arts, Environmental Studies and Economics, Minor in Urban Studies, 2021 Bowdoin College
LAUREL PIKCUNAS
PLANNER
Ms. Pikcunas joined PBR HAWAII in 2024 and is assisting with a variety of projects including federal and state environmental
assessments and environmental impact statements to support Hawaiʻi’s
sustainable development, transit-oriented development, and affordable housing goals.
Prior to joining PBR HAWAII, Ms. Pikcunas was involved in sustainability planning. She assisted with the strategic planning efforts
for the 2016 IUCN World Conservation Congress; supported Hawaiʻi
Green Growth’s Aloha + Challenge sustainability measures project and think tank; and compiled the inaugural submission of AASHE STARS sustainability metrics for the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.
Ms. Pikcunas graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa with
her MA in Urban and Regional Planning and BA in Psychology. During
her degrees she focused on the connection between our psychological well-being and the natural environment, and designing cities where people and nature can both flourish.
EDUCATION
MA in Urban and Regional Planning, 2019 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
Graduate Affiliate Scholar, 2014 East-West Center
BA in Psychology, 2012 University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa
SHARLENE PENNINGTON
GRAPHIC DESIGNER
With five years of graphic design and digital illustration experience, Ms. Pennington is passionate about creating visually stunning designs
that help brands grow. Her focus areas include logo and brand
identity, website design, editorial design, minimalist icon graphics, and presentation graphics.
At PBR HAWAII, Ms. Pennington produces architectural illustrations, graphic planning-based reports, and displays for physical
and online presentation materials. Recent and ongoing projects
include design work for 1 Hotel Hanalei, He‘eia National Estuarine Research Reserve System, and Samuel Mahelona Hospital.
Before joining PBR HAWAII, Ms. Pennington was a graphic designer for MoDo Hawaii where she maintained the brand identity by
managing and creating content for the brand from packaging design,
social media management, merchandise design, photography, to marketing collateral. She also worked as a freelance graphic and web designer in Los Angeles and Honolulu and has worked on website designs and brand identity projects for various clients.
Ms. Pennington’s internship experiences within the New Media Arts
Program at Kapi‘olani Community College, and her years of graphic design experience as a freelancer and in-house head graphic designer complement her background in the graphic design field. Her work as a graphic designer and freelancer entailed working closely with
companies and design studios such as Nella Media Group, 1013
Integrated, Urban Pacific Communications, Hawaii Pacific Photo and Pepperblack Studios.
EDUCATION AS in Interface Design, 2018 Kapi‘olani Community College, New Media
Arts Program
Client References
Names and Phone Numbers of up to
Five Clients Who May Be Contacted, Including Two for Whom Services
Were Rendered During the Preceding Year Kelly Hartman County of Hawai‘i Department of Environmental Management (808) 961-8512 Kelly.Hartman@hawaiicounty.gov Sery Berhanu Hawai‘i Community Development Authority (808) 594-0330 sergut.berhanu@hawaii.gov Ka‘āina Hull County of Kauaʻi Planning Department (808) 241-4050 khull@kauai.gov Alan Carpenter Department of Land and Natural Resources Division of State Parks (808) 587-0286 alan.b.carpenter@hawaii.gov Renee Espiau City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (808) 265-3985 respiau@honolulu.gov
Relevant Project Experience
Any Promotional or Descriptive Literature Which
the Individual or Firm Desires to Submit Over the years, PBR HAWAII has been fortunate to have provided our services to federal agencies, State of Hawai‘i agencies, county agencies on all islands, and most large land owners and developers throughout the state. The following projects provide an example of our diverse planning experience.
34 Rainbow Drive, Hawai‘i Operated by the County of Hawai‘i, the Old Hilo Memorial Hospital building at 34 Rainbow Drive is currently leased by HOPE Services for the Keolahou Shelter and Assessment Center, providing 48 emergency shelter beds for men, 18 units of supportive housing, case management and other resources. PBR HAWAII conducted community outreach to solicit feedback on potential uses for the Old Hilo Memorial Hospital building and surrounding vacant portions of the 24.9-acre property. Based on this feedback, PBR HAWAII created a Master Plan for the entire property. As the Project received federal funding, PBR HAWAII completed an Environmental Assessment (EA) under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). PBR HAWAII also completed an EA to satisfy the requirements of Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes as the Project site is owned by the State of Hawai‘i and operated by the County of Hawai‘i.
Puna Wastewater Facility, Hawai‘i The County of Hawai‘i, Department of Environmental Management evaluated the feasibility of the addition of wastewater services and facilities for the Puna District and Town of Pāhoa in the context of the Kīlauea Eruption Recovery planning process. For the Wastewater Facility Plan for the Puna District, the County of Hawai‘i prepared a Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement in April 2023, and accepted public comments on the Draft Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement through June 2023. A Final Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement was published in September 2023. The Wastewater Facility Plan for the Puna District and the Wastewater Feasibility Study for the Town of Pāhoa were both completed in October 2023. PBR HAWAII assisted the prime consultant, AECOM, with public outreach and engagement by developing and updating an ArcGIS StoryMap and managing the public comments received on the Programmatic Environmental Impact Statement and the Wastewater Facility Plan. PBR HAWAII also assisted AECOM in soliciting feedback on the Wastewater Facility Plan evaluation criteria at various in-person and online community events.
Puakō Wastewater Facility, Hawai‘i The County of Hawai‘i, Department of Environmental Management prepared a Regional Wastewater Master Plan for Puakō and other communities within the South Kohala District. The regional area covers the South Kohala Community Development Plan’s focused area plans for the communities of Puakō, Kawaihae, Waimea, and Waikōloa Village. A Project Definition Report was published in June 2023. Public comments on the Report were accepted through November 2023. Based on the Project Definition Report and submitted public comments, the County prepared a Draft Regional Wastewater Master Plan for Puakō and other communities within the South Kohala District in February 2024. Comments on the Draft Master Plan were accepted through April 2024. PBR HAWAII assisted the prime consultant, AECOM, with public outreach and engagement by developing and updating an ArcGIS StoryMap and managing the public comments received on the Project Definition Report and the Draft Regional Wastewater Master Plan. PBR HAWAII also assisted AECOM in soliciting feedback on the Draft Regional Wastewater Master Plan evaluation criteria by hosting an online public workshop in March 2024, and an in-person workshop in April 2024. A Final Master Plan is expected to be completed in July 2024.
Waiākea Peninsula Market & Site Plan, Hawai‘i PBR HAWAII prepared a preliminary site assessment and strategic market outlook for selected existing and potential future land uses on approximately 101.1 acres of land surrounding Banyan Drive on the Waiākea Peninsula, near downtown Hilo, on the island of Hawai‘i. With caveats that the State of Hawai‘i regain control of the 62.6-acre golf course lands in the center of the area, and that safety, security, and maintenance of common areas be improved, the study evaluated strategic outlooks for cultural and historical uses; a community center; mobility solutions; hotel, entertainment and retail uses; and appropriately located rental housing.
HHFDC Act 305 Housing Study, Statewide Act 305, Session Laws of Hawai‘i 2022, also known as the “Yes in My Backyard Act,” charged HHFDC to convene a statewide working group on affordable housing to foster increased inter-agency coordination, raise public awareness of ongoing State and county efforts to reduce barriers to affordable housing development, and propose related legislation. PBR HAWAII assisted HHFDC by conducting research, conducting outreach to stakeholders, and convening a third Working Group meeting based on priorities established in HHFDC’s prior Working Group efforts. PBR HAWAII also assisted Working Group members in identifying high priority affordable housing projects with public nexus and near-term potential, and recommending infrastructure investments to facilitate these developments.
Pāpa‘aloa Park Master Plan, Hawai‘i The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks & Recreation (DPR) is developing the Pāpa‘aloa Park Master Plan. Elements of the Master Plan include: a new covered play court facility (and its future expansion); a new community center building; a skate park; a playground; picnic pavilions; a perimeter walking path; and other park-related facilities to be determined; associated on-site and off-site infrastructure and utility improvements/modifications; replacement, improvement, and/or modification of existing park amenities and recreational features impacted by any new/required work; and related improvements necessary to connect all new and existing features of the park physically and with administrative functions in mind. PBR HAWAII is close to submitting a Final Hawai‘i Revised Statutes Chapter 343 Environmental Assessment (EA). Upon completion of the Final EA/Finding of No Significant Impact, PBR HAWAII will be preparing and submitting a Special Management Area Use Permit – Major application.
Honua‘ula Forest Reserve Visitor Use Management Plan, Kona, Hawai‘i PBR HAWAII conducted the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve Public Use Study, on the Hawai‘i Island, in support of a larger planning effort by the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources, Division of Forestry and Wildlife (DOFAW) to develop the Honua‘ula Forest Reserve Management Plan. The Honua‘ula Forest Reserve, like many reserves within the DOFAW managed Forest Reserve System, was established as a public-private partnership to protect local forested lands. Historically, the majority of the reserve was landlocked and public access was granted only to those who received permission to traverse neighboring private properties. Due to a recent land acquisition that now connects most of the reserve to a major State highway, the reserve is more accessible to the public. To support existing demand for recreational space within the reserve and plan for the long term sustainable management of uses into the future, DOFAW contracted PBR HAWAII to develop the Honua‘ula Public Use Study which investigated publicly supported recreational opportunities and provided an analysis of the associated potential impacts to natural resources. The analysis was performed by integrating public use preference data into a natural resource planning framework developed by Federal agencies within the Interagency Visitor Use Management Council (IVUMC). PBR HAWAII was responsible for engaging community members and key stakeholders in a manner that allowed for the integration of public use preference data into a federal planning framework that systematically addresses public uses within a sensitive ecological system. PBR HAWAII prepared this study as a component of the overall Honua‘ula Forest Reserve Management Plan.
Wailuku Civic Complex Master Plan and Environmental Assessment, Maui PBR HAWAII was part of the Ferraro Choi team working with the Maui County Planning Department on the Wailuku Civic Complex Master Plan and Environmental Assessment (EA). Building on the County’s earlier reWailuku efforts, PBR HAWAII spearheaded the public outreach and also created the reWailuku website that was updated with information related to the Civic Complex and other County projects in Wailuku. PBR HAWAII also designed the outdoor spaces at the Civic Complex including improved pedestrian connections, streetscape improvements on Vineyard and Church Streets, and a new plaza that will be the pu‘uwai, or heart, of Wailuku Town. PBR HAWAII also completed the EA/FONSI to support the project.
Wai‘anae Sustainable Community Plan Update, O‘ahu The City and County of Honolulu selected PBR HAWAII to lead a comprehensive review of the Wai‘anae Sustainable Communities Plan. As part of the review PBR HAWAII is conducting an evaluation of the appropriateness of the Plan's regional vision, policies, and guidelines, and implementing actions, with the Wai‘anae community’s goals. PBR HAWAII also is assessing the Plan’s consistency with the Oʻahu General Plan.
West Kauaʻi Community Plan, Kauaʻi The County of Kauaʻi Planning Department completed the long-range community plan for the West Kauaʻi region to: 1) implement zoning and land use designations from the Kauaʻi General Plan; 2) define design criteria to guide and regulate future development while protecting valued physical and social characteristics; and 3) anticipate the potential impacts to the area due to sea level rise and climate change. The County Planning Department was the primary writer of the plan and contracted PBR HAWAII to: 1) develop materials for the public review process including flyers, newspaper ads and display boards; 2) review and recommend revisions to the text and organization of the plan document; 3) design and prepare a high-quality community plan document; and 4) incorporate the amendments approved by the Planning Commission and County Council.
Maui County Code Title 19 Zoning Rewrite, Maui PBR HAWAII is supporting Orion Planning + Design (Orion) with rewriting the County of Maui’s zoning ordinance, Title 19. Initial stakeholder meetings have been held and the project team is currently working on drafting the updates. PBR HAWAII is responsible for GIS mapping and updates to the environmental and cultural/historic sections of the code rewrite. PBR HAWAII will also be creating a project website to support community outreach and public review of drafts of the Title 19 revisions. Once the adopted, PBR HAWAII will support the Orion team with Maui County Staff and public trainings to introduce elements of the newly adopted zoning code.
Waimea 400 Conceptual Master Plan, Kaua‘i In 2019, the County of Kaua‘i purchased a 417-acre property in West Kaua‘i between Waimea and Kekaha referred to as “Waimea 400”. With extensive input from the community, PBR HAWAII developed an adaptive conceptual master plan for the property that can be adjusted over time based on the potential impacts of sea level rise, groundwater intrusion, and climate change. Permanent structures are located at higher elevations and areas not anticipated to be impacted by anticipated sea level rise exposure areas. The project included an initial survey that received over 700 responses identifying the community’s desired uses for the site including affordable housing, a long-awaited sports complex, community gardens, agriculture, and walking paths. The project also included a student design challenge where area high school students learned about land use planning, taking into consideration the site constraints and opportunities and community wishes for the site. Many of the students’ ideas were incorporated into the final conceptual master plan, which underwent iterative refinements with the community via virtual meetings, online surveys, talk story sessions at the local public library, stakeholder meetings, and one-on-one meetings and calls. The plan also envisions continuing the relationship with the schools and community in applying traditional ecological knowledge in the adaptive management of the site and becoming the learning grounds for incubator and innovative agriculture, wetland restoration, affordable and transitional housing, and community-based recreational spaces.
Whitmore Community Food Hub, O‘ahu With the decline of the sugar and pineapple industries on O‘ahu, large agricultural farmsteads struggled to remain sustainable. The Galbraith Estate, which encompassed 1,723 acres north of Wahiawā, was one such impacted property. In 2004, their lessee Del Monte harvested their last crop on the property and subsequently the estate dissolved in 2007. As a result, local residents lost jobs, active farmlands became fallow, and the local economy suffered. To prevent potential residential development of agricultural lands, the State of Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture, Agribusiness Development Corporation (ADC) acquired approximately 1,207 acres of the estate in 2008. Recognizing the need to modernize existing processing facilities to further support small scale farmers, the ADC worked with community members and organizations to envision the Whitmore Food Hub. The project is a part of the overall strategic goals of ADC to revitalize agricultural production, boost the economy, and support small scale farmers. In addition to preparing an environmental assessment for this project, PBR HAWAII used ArcGIS StoryMap to produce the Whitmore Food Hub webpage.
Diamond Head State Monument Implementation Plan, O‘ahu Diamond Head (Lēʻahi) is one of Hawaiʻi’s most iconic geological features and a significant natural, cultural, historical, and recreational resource. PBR HAWAII completed the Diamond Head Master Plan in 1999. Since then, visitation to Diamond Head has doubled, resulting in pedestrian and vehicular congestion. In 2018, DLNR State Parks contracted PBR HAWAII to assist in proposing improvements to the Diamond Head State Monument to enhance and diversify visitor experiences in and around the crater. As part of the work, PBR HAWAII prepared a public participation plan, which included use of social media to cost-effectively increase public engagement. In addition, PBR HAWAII used ArcGIS StoryMap to produce a webpage to provide information about proposed improvements and obtain input. The StoryMap also included an on-line survey (SurveyMonkey). In total, more than 500 people responded to on-line survey, to provide both DLNR State Parks and legislators with feedback to support proposed improvements.
Heʻeia State Park Community Based Long Range Plan for NERR, Oʻahu PBR HAWAII supported HCDA to prepare a community-based long-range plan for the Heʻeia National Estuarine Research Reserve (NERR)at Heʻeia State Park. The planning process included working with a facilitator respected by the community to engage in one-on-one and small group stakeholder meetings to discuss a path forward for the NERR to integrate with the Park. An open public meeting (virtual) followed. The community engagement outcomes were paired with a review and analysis of the many overlapping management plans for Heʻeia to make long-term recommendations for integration of the NERR with Heʻeia State Park. The recommendations in the final Heʻeia State Park Long-Range Plan are based on key values identified during the community engagement process and in the many land use and natural resource plans previously developed for the area and. The plan recommendations provide a framework for the planning of physical improvements, management of these improvements, and the planning of programs and activities.
Vision Zero Action Plan, Oʻahu The City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services seeks to develop a wholistic approach to engaging traditionally underrepresented community groups and effectively collaborate with City decisionmakers. It focuses on deep community engagement to find solutions to pedestrian, bike, and public transit user safety with the goal of eliminating traffic deaths on O‘ahu. PBR HAWAII shall lead or support in collaboration with Papa Ola Lōkahi and Nelson\Nygaard throughout the development of the Honolulu Vision Zero Action Plan for the City and County of Honolulu.
Polihale State Park Outreach, Kaua‘i The State of Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR) Division of State Parks contracted PBR HAWAII to conduct initial community outreach for Polihale State Park in preparation of the development of a long-term management/master plan. PBR designed a project logo, banner, flyers, Storymap, and website materials to be utilized by DLNR’s Communications team for their department website and social media outlets. PBR also conducted an initial community survey that received over 1,300 responses and is currently conducting public open house events to gather additional community input.
Ka‘iwa Ridge (Lanikai Pillbox) Trail Improvements, Management Plan,
Environmental Assessment, and Conservation District Use Permit Project,
O‘ahu PBR HAWAII is assisting the DLNR, Division of Forestry and Wildlife Na Ala Hele Trails Program with a plan to make improvements to the Ka‘iwa Ridge Trail (Lanikai Pillbox Trail). The project involves developing a plan for physical improvements of the Ka‘iwa Ridge Trail that reduces erosion and provides an improved hiker experience. The goal is to provide safer conditions while developing a management plan for the trail that: 1) upholds the right of public access to mauka lands; 2) is compliant with HRS Chapter 198D and HAR Title 13, Chapter 130; and 3) lays the groundwork for reduced community conflict. Project tasks include: 1) better defining the legal trail corridor and trail management responsibilities; 2) a survey of existing natural and cultural resources; 3) identifying the points of community conflict; and 4) developing a plan for physical improvements and management. PBR HAWAII is responsible for community engagement, trail drawings, and a comprehensive management plan. PBR HAWAII is working with a civil engineer/hydrologist to develop a physical plan for the trail that addresses chronic erosion. PBR HAWAII will also prepare an Environmental Assessment and Conservation District Use Application to ready the project for future design and construction.
Hawai‘i Ocean Resources Management Plan Update, State of Hawai‘i PBR HAWAII supported the State Office of Planning Coastal Zone Management Program (CZM) with an update Statewide Ocean Resource Management Plan (ORMP). The work involves statewide public and stakeholder information sharing sessions, incorporation of Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK), and enhanced graphics. Updated every five years, the ORMP facilitates compliance with CZM objectives and policies by improving inter-agency collaboration across natural resources rather than jurisdictional boundaries. The goals for this update of the ORMP are to:
• Increase the plan’s utility to state agencies, plan partners, and the community, recognizing the Plan’s primary purpose is as a State Comprehensive Plan intended for use in inter-agency collaboration.
• Distill the number of focus areas to a few (1-3) that appear to be ripe for interagency collaboration for the greatest impact and unify future implementation efforts.
• Develop a project list that is focused and achievable.
• Integrate Traditional Ecological Knowledge (TEK) in the planning process, focus areas, and project list.
• Enhance readability of the document through streamlining and graphic enhancement.
• Capitalize on technology and one-on-one connections to reach a broad audience to capture and carry forward implementation.
Complete Streets University/McCully/Metcalf, Kalihi and Ala Wai Boulevard,
O‘ahu The City and County of Honolulu is working to implement Complete Streets through the City’s existing roadway rehabilitation and repaving program. PBR HAWAII is supporting Nelson\Nygaard through the public engagement process as they apply design overlays to enhance the roadways for all modes of transportation for upcoming roadway rehabilitation projects in the University/McCully streets, Kalihi neighborhood, and on Ala Wai Boulevard. The public engagement strategy includes communications, education, stakeholder meetings and presentations, community events, and means of collecting and documenting input. The strategy includes efforts to reach traditionally underserved groups, including low-income, minorities, and non-English speaking populations. For the Kalihi and McCully-Mō‘ili‘ili Neighborhoods, the strategy will include working with established community partners to build upon (rather than compete with) the many on-going planning efforts in the area.
O‘ahu Pedestrian Master Plan, O‘ahu As part of the City and County of Honolulu’s Complete Streets Program, the Department of Transportation Services and their consultant Fehr & Peers is developing the County’s first Pedestrian Plan. The O‘ahu Pedestrian Plan is expected to be a long-term action plan to create vibrant, safe, and accessible streetscapes. Grounded in data, over 1,000 roadway miles will be evaluated for their pedestrian conditions. PBR HAWAII is assisting Fehr & Peers with ground-truthing roadway conditions. PBR HAWAII is further supporting this effort with community engagement to assist DTS in gaining the best possible understanding of the issues roadway users face and to inform recommendations that reflect community needs and character. Community engagement deliverables include on-line surveys; web and social media materials; project fact sheets; and a community meeting.
DOH Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan Update, Statewide The State of Hawaiʻi Department of Health Hazardous and Solid Waste Branch have contracted with TetraTech and PBR HAWAII to update the State Integrated Solid Waste Management Plan. PBR HAWAII’s role is focused on the organizing, convening, and managing a statewide Task Force to help inform the Plan’s development. The Task Force meetings (in process at the time of this writing) will cover such topics as long standing waste streams such as tires and organics as well as emerging issues such as waste from photovoltaic panels. Task Force meetings are subject to Hawaiʻi’s open meeting law, or “Sunshine Law” and the PBR team is responsible to meet these requirements while running in-person/virtual hybrid meetings.
Ala Wai Canal Bridge Alternatives Analysis, O‘ahu PBR HAWAII provided planning and community engagement services to Nelson\Nygaard transportation consultants on a City and County of Honolulu Department of Transportation Services (DTS) project to identify, develop, and evaluate alternatives for additional access across the Ala Wai Canal. The Alternatives Analysis (conducted by Nelson\Nygaard) assessed options for new transportation infrastructure, including a pedestrian/bicycle bridge over the Ala Wai Canal that will provide an additional connection between the Waikīkī, Ala Moana, and McCully/Mō‘ili‘ili neighborhoods. PBR HAWAII’s primary tasks included community engagement and preliminary environmental documentation to support the analysis process and set a foundation for future phases of the design development. Community engagement tasks included: 1) supporting DTS with briefings to stakeholders such as community groups, funding agencies, educational institutions and elected officials; 2) organizing and staffing informational “pop-ups” for the general public; 3) organizing and facilitating public meetings to involve the public in consideration of alternatives; and 4) preparing supporting materials such as fact sheets, web content, social media posts, electronic presentations, and posters. As part of the community engagement work, unique community engagement partnerships were formed. PBR HAWAII staff presented the Ala Pono project and conducted a site visit with Jefferson Elementary students as part of their STEM curriculum. PBR HAWAII staff also used the alternatives analysis as a vehicle for a site planning class at UH Mānoa. The final public meeting to share outcomes of the analysis included boards prepared by the elementary students, with the aspiring engineers on hand to share their work with the public. Preliminary environmental documentation tasks include conducting pre-assessment consultation consistent with Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statutes, development of a report of potential impacts and mitigation measures for the alternatives, and identification of local, state, and federal permits required for regulatory clearance.
South Kauaʻi Community Plan, Kauaʻi PBR HAWAII worked closely with the County of Kaua‘i Planning Department to update the South Kaua‘i Community Plan (SKCP), which had not been updated since its enactment in 1978. The SKCP is the County’s guiding document for the long-range growth and development of the southern sector of the island. Adopted by the County Council and signed into law by the Mayor in July 2015, it won two American Planning Association Hawai‘i Chapter Awards later that year for Outstanding Planning and Best Practice. Guided by extensive community outreach and a Mayor-appointed Citizen Advisory Committee, PBR HAWAII developed the plan to integrate projected population growth for the district with land use recommendations and a multimodal transportation network which prioritizes pedestrian, bicycle, and transit use to preserve South Kaua‘i's rural two-lane roadways and lifestyle. Community surveys, workshops, charrettes, social media campaigns, a project website, and walk audits were used to inform alternative solutions for South Kaua‘i’s historic towns. The SKCP also includes an innovative form-based code developed in partnership with Opticos Design, Inc. It is applied only in key town core locations and is calibrated to the existing communities to encourage future development that is in tune with its surroundings and best fulfills the community's vision for future growth. The SKCP identifies cultural, natural, and historic resources for protection as well as plans for climate change and natural and coastal hazards, social and economic change, infrastructure requirements, and parks and recreational needs. The SKCP concludes with a chapter on implementation and monitoring and an action plan for County agencies. Indicators are identified to help monitor the effectiveness of plan implementation over time. Cost estimates and financing and funding alternatives also provide the County with actionable items to include in their capital improvement budgets.
21st Century Kalihi Transformation Initiative Vision Plan, Oʻahu The 21st Century Kalihi Transformation Initiative Vision Plan was introduced in August 2016 by Governor David Ige and the State Office of Planning (OP) to produce a vision concept that re-imagines the future of Kalihi in the event the O‘ahu Community Correctional Center (OCCC) is relocated or replaced. The purpose of this effort was to: 1) understand community needs, concerns, and desires for the site and surrounding area; 2) explore how the site’s redevelopment might transform surrounding social, physical, and economic conditions; and 3) articulate a vision informed and inspired by community aspirations that would serve as a catalyst for a preferred future for Kalihi in the 21st Century and other State-controlled properties in Kalihi. For this project PBR HAWAII prepared a vision report, synthesizing the ideas that emerged from a series of community meetings and several workshops with a Vision Committee comprised of area business leaders, community and social service providers, legislators, and landowners.
Mayor Wright Homes Redevelopment, O‘ahu PBR HAWAII was the prime planning consultant for the Mayor Wright Homes (MWH) Redevelopment project. The project included: 1) redevelopment of the 15-acre property into a new mixed-income, mixed-use transit-oriented (TOD) community, mixed-finance neighborhood; 2) one-for-one replacement of the existing 364 public housing units with additional affordable/workforce and market rate housing. PBR HAWAII was responsible for: 1) developing and implementing the community engagement process; 2) coordinating the master planning process; 3) preparing and processing State and Federal environmental review documents; and 4) securing the entitlements for the project. A key element of the planning effort is development and implementation of a robust community engagement process. In engaging the community, PBR HAWAII worked with the development and consultant team in identifying key representatives from Mayor Wright Homes and the surrounding community to serve on a Community Advisory Committee. (CAC). The CAC’s task is to provide input and guide the community engagement process. Other community engagement techniques included stakeholder meetings (with community leaders, residents, business owners and service providers); resident meetings held at MWH; community meetings; and a weeklong charrette held onsite at MWH. The planning team also met with legislators, City Councilmembers, and governmental agencies to receive input and for coordination on the project. The community engagement process deeply informed PBR HAWAII’s coordination efforts around Mayor Wright Homes Preliminary Redevelopment Master Plan. The Draft Master Plan was developed during this week-long workshop was presented to the community on the last day of the charrette. The Master Plan included: site history, planning and regulatory context for the site; information from preliminary studies; the community-based vision and master plan; a conceptual landscape design; design guidelines; and a social capital plan. PBR HAWAII prepared and processed an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) for the MWH Redevelopment pursuant to Chapter 343, Hawaiʻi Revised Statutes (HRS) based on the use of State funds and State lands. Governor David Ige accepted the Final Environmental Impact Statement on April 24, 2018, with publication of the acceptance in the May 8, 2018 edition of The Environmental Notice. PBR HAWAII also prepared an Environmental Assessment (EA) for the project in compliance with the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) of 1969, as amended (42 U.S. Code 4321 et seq.) using HUD’s online HEROS system. The Request for Release of Funds will be submitted to HUD when project proponents are ready.
Liliha Civic Center Master Plan & Iwilei Infrastructure Master Plan, Oʻahu PBR HAWAII is providing master planning services for the Liliha Civic Center and greater Iwilei area. The plan will provide space for State programs and affordable housing and support walkable Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) communities in the Iwilei area. As part of the planning process PBR HAWAII completed market studies for affordable housing at the site, and together with its subconsultants, is identifying infrastructure improvements needed to support future development. The master plan for the Liliha Civic Center site may include up to 600 housing units, offices for State workers, ground-level commercial/retail, outdoor space, and connection to the future HART rail station. This unique site also features two historic Oʻahu Railway and Land Company buildings. PBR HAWAII is also preparing and processing a programmatic EIS to support the master planning efforts.
Rendering by Torti
Board of Water Supply Nu‘uanu Reservoir Hydroelectric and Managed Aquifer
Recharge Project, Oʻahu PBR HAWAII is assisting prime consultant CDM Smith with the Board of Water Supply Nu‘uanu Reservoir Hydroelectric and Managed Aquifer Recharge Project. This project involves connecting reservoirs in the Nu‘uanu Valley to: 1) generate renewable hydroelectric energy; 2) provide energy storage to help meet peak energy demands; and 3) supplement groundwater supplies through the increase of groundwater recharge of captured stormwater. The project will: 1) help Hawai‘i meet renewable energy and water sustainability goals; and 2) increase dam safety and flood control at two Nu‘uanu reservoirs. As a sub-subconsultant to CDM Smith, PBR HAWAII’s role in includes: 1) agency and public outreach, including public meetings; 2) coordination and management of subconsultants conducting archeological, biological, and traffic management studies; and 3) preparing and processing an environmental assessment in compliance with Chapter 343, Hawai‘i Revised Statues (HRS).
Board of Water Supply Hālau Wai Mānoa (Mānoa Learning Center) HRS 343
EA, O‘ahu The Honolulu Board of Water Supply (BWS) is exploring the possibility of creating a place-based, hands-on learning area to promote the goals of forest restoration, watershed protection, water conservation, and sustainable agriculture. The BWS Hālau Wai Mānoa would provide an alternative outdoor learning facility for members of the public to learn about watersheds, forest health and watershed protection, water conservation, and sustainable resource management practices. Also, from this location, BWS would provide community volunteer opportunities/workdays for watershed restoration and sustainable agriculture. The proposed learning center is conceptualized as:
• An education center for place-based education programs for schools (e.g., a hale/open-air structure for gathering out of the elements);
• A place for hands-on opportunities to learn about watershed protection, sustainable agriculture/living (e.g., establishing and working on lo‘i, gardening/practicing regenerative agricultural methods to grow own food/materials); and
• A base for mauka restoration efforts in Mānoa (e.g., removal of invasive species including ungulate control, forest restoration with site appropriate native species, erosion control/soil stabilization to reduce polluted runoff and sediment loading of the streams). PBR HAWAII completed an HRS 343 Final EA/FONSI to consider the impacts of the proposed action on the human and natural environment.
Waimea District/Regional Park, Hawai‘i PBR HAWAII assisted the County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation in the planning the Waimea District/Regional Park in Waimea, South Kōhala district and was responsible for: 1) conducting background research and analysis: 2) conducting community outreach services; 3) developing the Master Plan; and 4) preparing an environmental assessment The first phase of the park (28 acres) was completed in 2016 and serves as district park. In the second phase, an additional 22+ acres will expand the district park into a regional park. The completed 50-acre park will offer diversified types of recreational activities including active play areas such as fields for soccer, baseball, and football; a community gymnasium; a multi-purpose community building; a multi-use walkway and trail system; and passive recreational areas. The Waimea District/Regional Park addressed the deficiency of athletic and recreational opportunities for Waimea residents and other surrounding communities and provides a larger community gathering area to address existing and future demand. The County of Hawai‘i Department of Parks and Recreation and PBR HAWAII received the 2014 American Planning Association, Community-Based Planning Award for this project.
Hā‘ena State Park Master Plan and EIS, Kauaʻi Building on years of previous park planning efforts, PBR HAWAII worked with State Parks and the Hā‘ena community to develop a park master plan that focuses on the importance of Hā‘ena in Hawaiian culture and prioritizes the protection, rehabilitation, and restoration of the park’s varied historic, cultural, and natural resources such as the extensive Hāʻena Agricultural Complex, the sand dunes and reefs, and the ancient Hula Complex encompassing Ka Ulu a Paoa Heiau and Ke Ahu a Laka. The proposed improvements were minimal including a new entry path through the restored loʻi connecting a permeably-paved parking lot to Kē‘ē Beach, directing visitors away from rockfall hazards along the highway, new restrooms, and the implementation of a new visitor limit, shuttle access, ongoing support from community and cultural advisory groups, and an online reservation system. PBR HAWAII completed the master plan and Final EIS in 2018 and the result has been a highly improved experience where visitors are emersed in the restored cultural landscape and local residents feel welcome at the park again. The plan is being heralded as an example to help manage other cherished parks that are often overrun by visitors and has won several awards including: • 2020 American Planning Association, Hawaiʻi Chapter Outstanding Planning Award • 2021 American Society of Landscape Architects, Hawaiʻi Chapter Honor Award – Planning & Analysis • 2021 Historic Hawai‘i Foundation Historic Preservation Programmatic Award.
Transit-Oriented Development Conceptual Master Plans for Kapālama and
Moanalua Kai (Shafter Flats), Oʻahu The State of Hawai‘i, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands retained PBR HAWAII to assist in the preparation of conceptual master plans for Transit-Oriented Development (TOD) for DHHL properties in Kapālama and Moanalua Kai/Shafter Flats. The master plan process included: 1) site assessments, market studies, and preliminary financial assessments to identify the context and opportunities for potential TOD development and 2) a week-long charrette with representatives from DHHL. The project goal was to assist DHHL in determining the feasibility of potential development scenarios and land uses that can help the agency capitalize on the advantages of TOD and its related benefits, within the context of the agency’s mission, values, and land use regulations. A major focus of the site assessments was to analyze the impacts that various sea level rise scenarios may have on long-term development opportunities and financial investments on the properties due to the proximity to waterways, low existing elevations, existing flooding in the Moanalua Kai area, and exposure to sea level rise conditions. Multiple sea level rise scenarios were considered to identify uncertainties of timing and magnitude of impacts to the properties. Scenarios included: 1) maintaining existing facilities and providing lease extensions (limited reinvestment on the properties) 2) complete redevelopment of facilities including mitigation strategies (major investment on the properties) and 3) phased redevelopment of the properties that allows flexibility in decision making based on changing sea level rise conditions over time (flexible adaptation approach). The scenario analysis identified costs associated with various strategies, and opportunities for income generation to inform suggested TOD development on the properties. The sea level rise projection graphic below represents sea level rise scenarios and anticipated building life spans based on the magnitude of sea level rise, development approach, and implementation of mitigation strategies. Overall, this approach allowed DHHL to comprehensively consider the potential magnitude of investment against uncertain futures of sea level rise to better understand opportunities for return on investment and associated limitations.
Moanalua Kai Kapālama
Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan 2021 Update The Department of Land and Natural Resources State Parks Division selected PBR HAWAII to prepare the 2021 State of Hawai‘i Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan (SCORP). Generally, SCORP updates are done approximately every five years and PBR HAWAII also prepared the 2015, 2008, and 2003 updates. As a technical reference, the SCORP report, maps and associated data are intended to guide federal, state, county, and private agencies in the planning, development, and management of Hawai‘i’s outdoor recreation resources. The 2015 SCORP update focused on identifying and addressing the shifting trends and challenges related to outdoor recreation including maintenance backlogs, user conflicts, and the effects of sea level rise. The SCORP also includes the State Wetland Resource Plan which draws connections between recreation and wetlands while ensuring consistency between Hawai‘i’s recreation planning process and the National Wetlands Priority Conservation Plan. For the 2015 update, in response to a reduced budget and the population’s growing use of technology for communications, PBR HAWAII collected public comments using a suite of web-based services that allowed the public to participate in on-line surveys as well as in-person public meetings. The on-line surveys facilitated a higher public participation rate than in prior editions of the SCORP. The 2021 update is the eleventh update of the State Comprehensive Outdoor Recreation Plan, which was first prepared by the State in 1966. The federal Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) Act of 1965, requires the preparation of a SCORP document from each state prior to consideration by the Secretary of the Interior for financial assistance. Since the inception of the program, the State of Hawai‘i and the four counties have received more than $36 million in federal grants for outdoor recreation acquisition and development projects.