Lifetime Achievement:

Janice Marsters

Dr. Janice Marsters has dedicated over three decades to advancing Hawaiʻi’s engineering profession and its impact on the community. Recently retired from Haley & Aldrich as a Senior Principal, Janice’s career reflects an unwavering commitment to technical excellence, innovative problem-solving, and mentorship. Recognized as a Fellow of the American Council of Engineering Companies (ACEC) and a recipient of the ACECH’s inaugural Kāko‘o Award in 2014, Janice’s career is a testament to her exceptional contributions to the profession, her leadership on transformative projects, and her dedication to fostering the next generation of engineers.

Technical and Environmental Excellence

Throughout Janice’s career, she sought innovative and sustainable solutions for Hawaiʻi’s engineering challenges. One standout project was the Waiāhole Bridge Replacement, where she led environmental consulting efforts to address both regulatory compliance and the preservation of natural resources. Janice was the Principal-in-Charge for the project which encompassed obtaining numerous permits; providing input for National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and Hawaiʻi’ Revised Statutes (HRS) 343 documents, construction plans, and specifications; wetland and stream delineation; baseline water quality monitoring; and Phase I Environmental Site Assessment for Right-of-Way acquisition.

At the Kalaupapa National Historical Park, Janice managed the complex design and permitting of emergency dock repairs. This culturally significant site posed logistical challenges, including limited access and delicate environmental considerations. Janice’s leadership ensured that repairs honored the site’s historical importance while addressing urgent safety concerns.

Another notable project involved the Nuuanu-Dowsett Historic Mansion, where she oversaw geotechnical renovations to modernize the property while maintaining its historical integrity. In each of these projects, Janice demonstrated an exceptional ability to balance engineering innovation with the preservation of Hawaiʻi’s cultural and natural heritage.

Championing Advocacy and Policy

Beyond her project work, Janice has been a tireless advocate for the engineering profession. As Chair of ACEC-HI’s Legislative Committee, she spearheaded efforts to pass the Qualifications Based Selection (QBS) law, which established a framework for prioritizing expertise and quality in public procurement. This legislation set a benchmark for ethical project management, benefiting engineering firms and their clients alike.

Janice also played a pivotal role in creating the Design Claims Conciliation Panel, which streamlined dispute resolution in engineering and construction. Her ability to navigate complex policy landscapes has left a lasting legacy, ensuring that Hawaiʻi’s engineering practices align with national and global standards. Her dedication to advocacy and her consistent support of ACEC’s initiatives have been recognized through her membership in the exclusive Chair Circle Donor Program of the ACEC Research Institute.

Inspiring the Next Generation

Mentorship has been a cornerstone of Janice’s career. As Chair of the University of Hawaiʻi College of Engineering’s Industry Advisory Council, she worked to modernize the engineering curriculum and foster connections between academia and industry. Her efforts have helped prepare students for leadership roles in a rapidly evolving field.

At Haley & Aldrich, Janice took young professionals under her wing, guiding them through complex projects and instilling the values of integrity, innovation, and collaboration. Through her roles in ACEC and the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME), she championed diversity and inclusion, creating opportunities for underrepresented groups to thrive in engineering careers.

Service to the Profession

Janice’s influence extends beyond her own work. As President and National Director of ACEC-HI, she expanded the organization’s advocacy e orts, forged partnerships with government agencies, and increased member engagement. Her tenure as Chair of ACEC’s Risk Management Committee resulted in the development of nationally recognized guidelines and training programs that continue to benefit engineering firms today.

Her contributions to professional organizations like the Hawaiʻi Association of Environmental Professionals have fostered a culture of collaboration, bridging the gap between industry and community needs.

A Commitment to Sustainability

Sustainability was a guiding principle throughout Janice’s career. At Hanauma Bay and Keaʻau Middle School, she led stormwater management initiatives to address runo and contamination, setting a new standard for environmental planning in Hawaiʻi. At Kahului Airport, she implemented wildlife hazard management strategies that balanced infrastructure development with ecosystem preservation.

These projects underscore Janice’s commitment to environmentally responsible engineering, leaving a legacy that will benefit Hawaiʻi’s communities for generations to come.

Conclusion

Dr. Janice Marsters exemplifies the ideals of the HCES Lifetime Achievement Award. Her technical contributions, policy advocacy, and dedication to mentorship have left an indelible mark on Hawaiʻi’s engineering profession. Her accolades, including the ACEC Fellow distinction and the Kāko‘o Award, reflect the breadth and depth of her impact. Janice’s career is not just a testament to her expertise but also to her passion for building a sustainable and inclusive future.

Engineer of the Year:

Glenn Miyasato

Glenn Miyasato has been a practicing structural engineer for 37 years in Hawaii. After completing his B.S. in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa (UH) in 1983, Glenn attended Stanford University, where he earned his M.S. in Structural Engineering in 1984 and Ph.D. in Structural Engineering in 1988. He then returned to Hawaii to work for the forensic engineering firm, Wiss, Janney, Elstner, Inc. (WJE) while also earning an M.B.A. from UH in 1996. Working directly with Dick Elstner and Duane Lee at WJE instilled in him the need for personal hands-on observation and investigation to develop a proper scope, whether it be for repairs, retrofit, or replacement.

In 2000, Glenn co-founded MKE Associates LLC with Susan Kuniyoshi, where he spent the majority of his professional career working primarily on the assessment and repair of existing structures. To that end, he has inspected or assessed most of the State of Hawaii bridges and harbors, as well as a number of commercial and residential buildings, and has designed repairs and retrofits for many of these structures to ensure they operate safely. For one of his projects, the Karsten Thot Bridge in Wahiawa, he conducted the first fracture critical inspection of bridge thru-trusses and developed emergency repairs for the corroded bottom chords to allow for the reopening of the bridge within two months after the critical finding. Recently, Glenn has enjoyed the opportunity to work with his daughter and fellow structural engineer, Leah Miyasato.

In addition to his consulting work, for the past 30 years, Dr. Miyasato has also taught courses in reinforced and prestressed concrete design, wood and steel design, structural analysis, construction materials, mechanics of materials, and probability and statistics in the Department of Civil Engineering and the School of Architecture at UH.

Glenn’s contribution to the profession includes numerous board roles and committee chairmanships for several professional engineering organizations, including president of both the ASCE Hawaii Section and the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii (SEAOH). He has also endeavored to improve the practice of structural design in Hawaii, particularly in the areas of seismic and wind design, through his involvement with the Hawaii State Earthquake Advisory Committee, State Hazard Mitigation Forum, and various building code committees with SEAOH. Nationally, Glenn is committed to improving testing standards for structural engineering licensure by serving for over a decade on structural professional engineer exam scoring and development committees for the National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying.

In the past, Dr. Miyasato performed research in areas to improve the seismic risk assessment methodology of buildings, and he has co-authored several papers in the areas of post-tension concrete repair, seismic vulnerability and risk assessment, strong ground motion attenuation in the Eastern U.S., and seismic zonation in Hawaii.

His passion for engineering extends to his outreach efforts over his entire career. In addition to lecturing, he is a mentor, industry representative, and student chapter practitioner advisor at UH, and a yearly presenter in school classrooms and at career fairs to impress upon students from elementary school through college the importance of engineering and to encourage them to pursue this profession. Glenn feels indebted to these outreach programs and UH for his engineering career, as it was a UH College of Engineering windmill design and construction competition that he was required to enter as a high school physics student that introduced him to the possibility of a career in engineering.

Young Engineer of the Year:

Alicia Suzuki

Alicia Suzuki, P.E. is an accomplished civil engineer and Principal at Kennedy Jenks (KJ), where she leads operations for KJ’s Hawaiʻi team. She earned both her Bachelor of Science and Master of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawaiʻi at Manoa. As a licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Hawaiʻi, Alicia has had early success in projects and leadership throughout her career.

Alicia serves as Project Manager and Lead Design Engineer on key projects, including the development of a wastewater facility plan for the County of Kauai and a complex water project for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply customers in Windward Oahu. Alicia was a leader for the Facility Plan for the Wailuku-Kahului Wastewater Reclamation Facility, which was recently awarded the ASCE Hawaiʻi Section 2023 Outstanding Civil Engineering Achievement Award for Best Water/Wastewater/Environmental Project. Projects like this have challenged Alicia to leverage her educational background, local knowledge, experience, and people skills to address the unique challenges of treating water and wastewater in Hawaiʻi.

Alicia is dedicated to serving the community and protecting Hawaiʻi’s environment. This passion has inspired her to actively serve in several roles, including President of the Hawaiʻi Water Environment Association (HWEA) and various positions with the American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE). She volunteers with local schools to encourage interest in engineering and environmental improvement, focusing on inspiring young women to consider careers in STEM.  A fun fact about Alicia is that she has watched many record-breaking races volunteering for a decade to read finish line times at high school and summer recreation track and field events.

Alicia’s innovative approach and commitment to excellence have earned her numerous accolades, including the ACEC Young Professional of the Year Award in 2022. She was recently selected as a 2025 Top Young Professional for the Engineering News-Record (ENR) West region.

Student Engineer of the Year:

Tyler Maruno

The 2025 HCES SEOY is Mr. Travis Nitta!  So, my evaluation committee managed to select another perfect 4.0, and many of you ‘may’ know Travis as he has been in several internships and community involvements beginning in high school! Travis is completing his BS CE this spring in the structures track and is in the Honors Program. He is a UH Regent’s Scholar and a very proud alum of Henry J. Kaiser High School, class of 2021!

While achieving these feats, Travis serves as the President of ASCE (American Society of Civil Engineers) student chapter and is a member of XE, the national civil engineering honor society, and serves as the XE liaison to our ECUH (Engineering Council at the University of Hawai’i), the group helping run our HolmesComing each fall.  He is also academically active in design projects and technical paper competitions and submissions, and was the recipient of additional awards including the SEAOH (Structural Engineering Association of Hawai’i) Scholarship and the Outstanding ASCE Student Chapter member awards.

Travis formulated an exceptionally strong interest in science and engineering along with community service well before he came to UHM.   Throughout his primary education, Travis excelled in math and sciences and quickly grew fond of these subjects. At middle and high schools, alongside being a section leader in the Kaiser Cougar Band and the Model United Nations Club President, he competed on Kaiser’s Varsity Math Team as well as other academic competitions. He explored engineering through the International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (IBCP), where he took advanced calculus and physics classes and interned at Elite Pacific Construction, a local construction company.  He has consistently and continuously volunteered for the Hawai’i United Okinawa Association and Kaiser Key Club.

Travis gravitated towards civil engineering through the opportunities offered by the ASCE student chapter, and since then, his interest in the profession grew with his involvement in the chapter. He eventually focused on structural engineering through his internship with MKE Associates LLC, where he now conducts inspections to evaluate and report structural defects observed on aging bridges. In addition to his undergraduate coursework, he is also enrolled in graduate-level structural engineering courses at UH to deepen his understanding of the field

further. In the future, he plans to pursue an MS in Structural Engineering to explore his interests in structural hazard risk mitigation, structural health monitoring, and sustainable building practices. He hopes to become a licensed structural engineer to find innovative solutions to addressing Hawai’i’s aging infrastructure and harmonize the built environment with the unique natural and cultural environment of Hawai’i.  He has also interned at Wilson Okamoto Corporation as a Transportation Engineering intern.

Through the ASCE, Travis developed technical skills and leadership while representing UH’s excellence on a national level. In his freshman year, he joined the UH Timber-Strong Design Build team, where undergraduate students design, fabricate, and build a two-story light-framed

timber structure under timed construction conditions, winning first place out of nine universities. He now serves as the Project Manager and Design Captain for this year’s project and aims to place again in the regional competition this April. He also led the hosting of the 2024 ASCE Pacific Southwest Student Symposium at UH. The regional ASCE student symposium attracted 14 universities to compete in 10 technical civil engineering competitions over three days on Oahu. Leading a planning team of 15 students over two years, he worked to mobilize the local civil engineering community by directly coordinating with the ASCE Hawaii Section, the ASCE Committee on Student Members, the University of Hawai’i, and the City and County of Honolulu. Ultimately, the team detailed, managed, and executed the robust event for over 750 engineering students with a budget exceeding $300,000.