2012 AIA Honolulu Board of Directors

Statement: After serving on several non profit boards, I do not take the chance to serve on the AIA Board of Directors lightly.  We all share a responsibility to give back to our community and our profession.  The role of AIA Honolulu should mirror that responsibility to our community and our members.  As architects, we have the unique training and ability to use the power of design to guide long term improvements for the communities in which we live.

Firm Name: Philip K. White & Associates, Ltd.

Statement: In the course of building the company during the past 13 years, I feel an increase of responsibility not only to our good people with the company, but also a need to sustain the culture and passion of our very unique profession. To achieve this goal, I believe that AIA could play a key role in the nurturing of our emerging successors. This nomination has humbled me deeply and I feel that I have just been given a chance to fulfill a grander goal in life in serving our professional organization and community.

As a former board director, I understand what it takes to serve on the board and I also have a realistic understanding of the challenges we face. Through some of the programs and task forces I have participated as a board member and as a firm, I find it very fulfilling serving on the board and will look forward to working with the board for our members in the coming years. It is my desire to continue to accomplish the tasks we have just started, such as community outreach and membership benefits, as well as promoting our values beyond Hawaii.

Firm Name: Fung Associates, Inc.

Statement: I have always believed strongly in the importance of the roles played by architects within our society.  We are one of the few professions with the ability to develop and envision physical improvements for our clients and our communities, and communicate our vision to others.
                                                                                                                                                         
In the past I have felt that our profession could better highlight our contributions to politicians, universities & other educational organizations, health service groups and others.  While serving for the AIA State Council, my involvement in the legislative process and upon seeing the impacts that laws have on our profession made me realize that it is crucial that architects get more involved collectively.  I am humbled by the opportunity to serve and if elected, will work hard to look out for your interests and for opportunities to elevate our presence in the community.

Firm Name: Urban Works Inc.

Statement: “Problems are opportunities in disguise”.   Every problem presents opportunities to consider alternative approaches and explore creative design solutions.  Challenges of our current economy and increased competition for securing projects present opportunities to collaborate and communicate with others inside/outside our industry and opportunities to discover emerging areas of new work in areas such as sustainable design, energy modeling and project delivery.  I’d like to serve as a conduit for encouraging, nurturing and growing our awareness of such opportunities strengthening AIA’s outreach, resources and benefit to membership & the public.

Firm Name: PQ Architects, Inc.

Statement:  As a new member of the AIA I know that I can add new ideas and energy to the organization.  After living on the mainland and working for architects who showed me their diverse ways of thinking about architecture and the specialties that can be achieved within the profession, I have realized that architects come in all forms.  The opportunities for creative architectural dialogue, collaboration and continued learning are some of the reasons of why I would like to be more involved with the AIA.

Firm Name: John Hara Associates Inc.

Statement: I was happy to be asked to run for a position on the AIA Board.  I’ve worked with AIA on the Urban Design Charrette, Canstruction, AIA-GCA presentations, and as the IDP resource contact.  If selected for the board, I would like to strengthen the programs supporting our emerging professionals and young architects.  This annual meeting is one of those great opportunities to spend time with colleagues and friends.  It reminds me of the power of the AIA to bring us together: collaborative-minded architects who are driven to apply our design intelligence in service to Hawaii.

Firm Name: Group 70 International, Inc.

Statement: We are so lucky to be able to live and work in Hawaii.  One of the greatest things about Hawaii is its diversity.  In the context of the AIA, we should celebrate and appreciate the diversity of people, of ideas, of backgrounds, and the diversity of career paths our architectural education has taken us.  As members of AIA, we should reach out to be inclusive, to reflect the diversity of our profession and people.  Thank you.

Firm Name: Fung Associates, Inc.

Statement:  I am honored to again be considered as a nominee to serve as a Board Member for AIA Honolulu.  As a current board member filling out an interim position, the opportunity has allowed me to hit the road running.  In my time serving on the board;  I have already had the privilege of serving as Vice Chair to our incoming President Pip White in the development of the Leadership Education Program.  If elected to a new term on the board, I would hope not only to continue the development of this much needed program, but also work on further developing our efforts in increasing the public’s awareness of AIA Honolulu and the value of architecture in general.

Given the opportunity to return to the board, I would also like to focus on ways of improving design professional interaction and accessibility with our local jurisdictions having authority.  With the recent restructuring within the DPP; I feel this is a great opportunity to proactively engage with the likes of our new Deputy Director – Mr. Jiro Sumada and initiate change that will better assist our public, as well as our fellow professionals working with the DPP.  While initial engagements have been promising, there is much more that can be done and I would like to be part of the team that helps the AIA initiate that positive change.

Firm Name: Hawaii Architecture LLP - Architecture, Planning + Interiors

Statement: Architects as individuals tend to be a diverse group.  Different office sizes and projects types.  Different backgrounds.  Different goals and values.  I believe that our diversity is among our greatest strengths.  As a group, we have the opportunity to draw upon this diversity as we shape spaces for our community and to shape the future of community as a whole.
The AIA’s responsibility to represent all of us, finding common values and needs and to effectively represent the group on design, community & legislative issues can be challenging if we don’t voice our opinions.  As a Board Member, I would like to help increase community awareness of who we are and what we represent.

Firm Name: WCIT Architecture

Statement:  By becoming a Director with the Honolulu Chapter of the AIA, I will work to reshape the role of the young Architect in Honolulu.  There is tremendous potential with the AIA to groom the leaders of tomorrow’s architectural community and strengthen our professional as a whole, as well as a great opportunity for the younger generation of Architects to reciprocate the favor by bringing fresh ideas to the table and maybe even teach some of the old dogs new tricks.  However, I don’t believe this potential is currently being fully realized due to increasing misperceptions about the purpose and direction of the AIA, and how this younger generation fits into the daily activities of the organization.  As a Director, I hope to change this course by increasing membership, opportunities, and involvement amongst the young Architects.

Firm Name: Leo A Daly Company

Statement: As an architect I am intrigued by the immeasurable possibilities to positively influence the community we live and work in.  The profession of architecture is a tremendous privilege to achieve and yet an unparalleled art to continually learn from.  Given the honor of being nominated to pursue a second term as a member of the AIA Honolulu Board of Directors, I will work to consistently promote the interests of the AIA and its membership.  I would like to build upon prominent AIA support of being a legitimate partner to the public understanding of the built environment.  As a potential board member interested in design and community, I have firm hopes to lead the development of beneficial programs and collaborate with both AIA members and the diverse base of Hawai’i’s unique cultural identity.   I strongly believe that the AIA Honolulu can be a source of inspiration and is capable of influencing current members, future design leadership, and the ways in which all design graces our island home.

Firm Name: shimokawa+nakamura

Statement: I believe the breadth of the architectural profession exceeds the scope of any individual; and, it is the AIA that servers as a platform for architects to relate, discuss, and discover areas of interest.  A local AIA chapter should specifically facilitate the interaction between members and members to the greater community; this demands a sophisticated online, physical, and public presence.

School Name: University of Hawaii at Manoa SoA

Statement:  For the past few years, the Big Island Section has actively engaged the legislative and administrative processes of the County of Hawaii, and this interaction is expected to continue.  If elected as a director, I will seek ways to increase the connectedness of the Section with Chapter resources to help Hawaii County make informed decisions regarding the future of our built environment.  Additionally, I would like to extend the availability of CES opportunities on the Big Island for our members.  I also see this as a vehicle to increase out-reach to non-member colleagues.

Firm Name: H & S International