ʻAʻOHE PAU KA ʻIKE I KA HĀLAU HOʻOKAHI All knowledge is not taught in the same school

Arthur Aiu is a Community Relations Specialist in the Communications Office. He is a native Hawaiian cultural practitioner who has woven aspects of his personal interests into the educational tours and outreach programs offered by BWS. Learning about our island’s water resources is based on traditional Hawaiian practices as well as modern technology and science. Knowing about where we have come from in order to better plan and prepare for where we are going is one of his firm beliefs. As an island people, we are all responsible to care for our land, our waters, and the resources our lives depend upon.

Roger Babcock Jr., Ph.D., PE is the Director, Department of Environmental Services (ENV) for the City and County of Honolulu, a position he began in January 2022. In 2021, he was the City’s Chief Engineer and Director of the Department of Facility Maintenance and served on the Honolulu Board of Water Supply as an Ex-Officio member. He obtained his Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from UCLA in 1991, worked as a consultant in California, and then as a Professor of Civil Engineering at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa from 1995 to 2020. He has Professional Engineering licenses in California and Hawai‘i. Dr. Babcock conducted research on a wide variety of water/wastewater/stormwater topics during his 25 years at UH and advised 85 Master’s and Ph.D. students. He is a past president of the Hawai‘i Section of ASCE and the Hawai‘i Water Environment Association, and was the 2019 Engineer of the Year for Hawai‘i and in 2024 for ASCE Region 8.

Glenn Barnes is the director of Water Finance Assistance. Water Finance Assistance works with utility staff to ensure they have the money and the people they need to sustain operations today and for years to come through direct assistance and educational programs. Glenn focuses on utility rates, affordability, customer relations, asset management, and water loss control. His work is rooted in data analysis and data communication. Glenn is based on the mainland but has worked with utilities across Hawai’i and has been a frequent presenter at HWWA Conferences.

Kevin Barnes is the National Sales Manager for Fluid Conservation Systems here in the United States. He has been in the water industry now for just over 24 years and has worked with customers throughout the country. The experience he brings is knowledge throughout the process of source to the tap, with the most recent time being in the non-revenue water loss sector. He is actively involved in the AWWA and holds several positions in the CA-NV section. He is also the 2023 recipient of the George A. Elliot Memorial Award. 

Stella Bernardo, is an Information Specialist at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply with particular focus on digital products, multimedia, and customer experience. Stella believes access to fresh, dependable, and affordable water is an essential service for all communities. Stella joined the BWS Communications Office in 2015, following more than 15 years of communications, media, research, and digital product development and user experience in the private sector. Her past life included moving across the U.S. for a major news media company and advising clients in the government sector and in the utility, travel & tourism, real estate, recruitment, automotive, and retail industries. A Honolulu resident since 2000, Stella is a past Board Member of the American Advertising Federation – Hawaiʻi chapter.

Steven Bond-Smith joined University of Hawaiʻi Economic Research Organization (UHERO) as an Assistant Professor in 2021. Steven’s main research focus is the implications of distance and scale for productivity and growth in small and isolated economies such as Hawaiʻi. This research helps to understand regional growth dynamics and supports development of place-based policy approaches, informed by theory and data, to support economic growth for more people in more places. Prior to joining UHERO, Steven was a Senior Research Fellow in Economics at Curtin University in Western Australia. Steven was previously employed in various government, corporate and consulting roles in Australia and New Zealand providing economic advice to government departments, regulators, businesses and stakeholders.

Wendy Broley is the Executive Vice President at Brown and Caldwell. She has focused throughout her career on advancing water reuse, resource recovery, One Water thinking, and innovation in the water industry. As a licensed professional engineer, Wendy has worked with private sector and municipal agencies over the past 25 years to implement alternative water supplies and contribute to more diverse and resilient water portfolios. Wendy was a Co-Principal Investigator of Water Research Foundation's Blueprint for One Water, driving the inclusion of One Water thinking into utilities' culture and operation. 

Daniel Chen is a Program Manager at Honeywell, he manages the Honolulu Board of Water Supply’s Water Conservation Program. He has over a decade of experience in sustainability consulting and implementing energy and water efficiency projects. He earned a Master of Science in Earth and Environmental Engineering from Columbia University, and a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. 

Francis Cheng grew up in Salt Lake and is a graduate of Moanalua High School and University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He has worked at Okahara and Associates, Inc. as a mechanical engineer for over 11 years and has experience with HVAC, plumbing, fuel system, and hydraulic designs. Unsurprisingly, hydraulic-focused design projects have piqued his interest the most and he has since been involved in several booster pump and well pump replacement projects, which have nurtured a continued strong interest in design work to help improve our local waterworks infrastructure. Outside of running hydraulic calculations for fun, Francis enjoys dialing in his espresso shots and searching for his next three-pedal car/toy.

Noelle Cole is the Branch Chief for Policy Planning in the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting’s Planning Division where she manages long range planning documents including the Oʻahu General Plan and the Primary Urban Center Development Plan, among other duties. She is an active participant in the City’s One Water Panel and is currently leading the DPP’s Adapt Waikīkī 2050 project team, working across departments and with the development community to achieve greater climate resilience in the Waikīkī Special Design District. Noelle holds M.C.P. and M.L.A. degrees from U.C. Berkeley, and worked as a planner in the California Bay Area prior to joining the City and County of Honolulu in 2015.

Michael Cubas is an experienced environmental engineer at CDM Smith specializing in water resources, infrastructure planning, and environmental compliance. Over the past decade, he has led complex projects for public agencies across California and Hawai‘i, including risk and resiliency assessments, asset management programs, condition assessments, and emergency response planning. Michael brings a strong blend of field leadership and technical expertise, having developed methodologies for risk quantification, emergency response planning, and infrastructure optimization. With a mindset of sustainable practice, he has consistently applied his expertise to deliver innovative and resilient solutions for water systems.

As Carollo's Resilience Management Lead, Rachel Duncan is at the forefront of building resilient water and wastewater systems in the face of a changing climate. Her work focuses on climate change vulnerability assessments and strategic water supply planning, leveraging sophisticated climate impact modeling, rigorous alternatives analysis, and insightful decision modeling. As Chair of AWWA's Climate Change Committee, Rachel is actively shaping the industry's response to this critical challenge. 

David Ebersold is Senior Vice President and Director of CDM Smith’s West Pacific Group. He provides facilitation and strategic support for water issues, leveraging over 35 years of experience in water and natural resources management. Specializing in large, technically complex, multi-disciplinary projects, his current engagements emphasize strategy development, public outreach, and stakeholder group facilitation for water issues. He routinely works with municipal clients on a broad range of technical, political, infrastructure, supply, and rates issues including potable reuse, water supply reliability, resiliency, and impacts of climate change. Dave received both his bachelor’s degree and MBA from UCLA.

Kathleen Elliott-Pahinui is the Public Information Officer for the Honolulu Board of Water Supply and head of the Communications Office. Originally from Chicago and a graduate of the University of Illinois at Chicago, Kathleen moved to Hawaiʻi in the late 1980’s. She has worked in sales, marketing, publishing, and managed a few restaurants. At the Board of Water Supply, she brings a wealth of marketing experience that has facilitated the agency in expanding their reach and message including rendering the agency more transparent and accessible to the customer. She manages a sharp team of marketing professionals with skills in strategic planning, social media, website creation and management, video production, and writing. In 2023, she was named Manager of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu for her dedication and work on critical issues such as Red Hill and water conservation. She is dedicated to the North Shore community and has been involved in many efforts to preserve open space and promote agriculture.

Michael Flores is the Asset Management and Utility Management Services Technical Lead for Southern California at HDR. He leads the growth and delivery of facility asset management and utility management services across the region, specializing in helping water and wastewater utilities enhance infrastructure value, longevity, and operational efficiency through strategic asset management. Michael has over 30 years experience in the water industry. He oversees complex, multidisciplinary projects from planning through implementation, mentors technical staff to ensure high-quality service delivery, and builds cross-departmental teams to streamline and scale asset management solutions. He also drives innovation in service delivery, tools, and workflows to improve client outcomes.

Blake Gammel has been a Commercial Account Manager at International Trucks of Hawaiʻi (IToH) for nine years, assisting various companies and government entities with obtaining the correct truck builds & equipment for a wide variety of applications. Blake has been an integral part in helping develop and improve IToH’s full scale service department, marketing, customer relations, and customer service, as well as procuring trucks for their customers. 

Kevin Gooding is a Principal Hydrogeologist and Manager at INTERA Incorporated. Kevin has over 30 years of experience in geology, groundwater hydrology, engineering project management, and rockfall assessments. In the past several years, he has managed and worked on environmental sustainability, civil engineering, environmental assessment, dam safety, groundwater, geothermal, wetland restoration, and water supply projects. 

Ann Miyahira Hajnosz has worked in the public works arena for over 35 years specializing in public finance, rates, and general utility consulting. Originally from Honolulu, she graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a civil engineering degree and attended Indiana University where she earned an MBA in Finance. She has worked closely with public agency leaders and staff, councils, boards, and various stakeholders on wastewater, water, energy, and solid waste projects across the state of Hawai‘i, Guam and the West Coast.

Dawn Halpern is an accomplished water treatment professional with significant process engineering, design, and project management experience in membrane filtration technology and municipal asset recovery and operations management services. Commercial design and application knowledge spans the water and wastewater treatment industry and encompasses Reverse Osmosis, Nanofiltration, Ultrafiltration Hollow Fiber Membranes and Water Distribution Assets. This scope of knowledge is in both industrial and municipal markets. Dawn received a Bachelor’s in Mechanical Engineering and a Master’s in Science in Project Management. She started her career designing membrane water and wastewater treatment systems and is currently working with PERC Water as a Project Manager on Design/Build projects since 2023.

Michele Harman collaborates with the community for wai and ʻāina health as a Community Relations Specialist in the Communications Office. She previously worked in the BWS Hydrology-Geology Branch and at the Hawaiʻi Nature Center and studied environmental science and botany at UH Mānoa. Her work and interests focus on environmental education, watershed conservation, native plant xeriscaping, and people-plant relationships.

Sarah Harris serves as the Hazard Mitigation and Long-term Disaster Recovery Program Manager for the City and County of Honolulu’s Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. She joined the City in September 2022. In her role, Sarah coordinates City actions and policies to lessen the impacts of climate change and natural disasters while improving community resilience. Prior to joining the office, she worked for over eight years with firms in California and Hawaiʻi providing guidance to private and government clients on land use and environmental planning. Sarah holds a masters in Applied Geospatial Science with an emphasis in Planning and Recreation from Northern Arizona University (NAU), and a BS in Biology also from NAU.

Isaac Hayashi is a civil engineer in the Water Systems Planning Branch with over 12 years of experience in evaluating the hydraulic capacity and capability of water system facility improvements in the HBWS CIP and assists in troubleshooting existing water system related issues. Since 2013, he has been actively involved in the development and use of the hydraulic model at the HBWS. In recent years he has become more actively involved in the development and management of the pipeline risk analysis. 

Judy Hayducsko has experience as both a Drinking Water State Revolving Fund (DWSRF) state loan project manager and county engineer. Her background includes a BS in Pollution Policy and Natural Science from Northland College in Ashland Wisconsin; and a MS from University of Minnesota in Environmental Engineering. She has been the Hawai'i Department of Health's Safe Drinking Water Branch Engineer since June 2023. 

Yvonne Heaney is an engineer with the Division of Drinking Water in California and has responded to numerous wildfires throughout the state, including the 2018 Camp Fire and the 2025 LA Fires. She has collaborated closely with systems during fire events and has led post-fire research studies assessing the impact of wildfire-related contaminants on water quality, evaluating potential risks to public health, and developing strategies for effective monitoring and mitigation. 

Lorna Heller is a Civil Engineer in the Water Resources Division, Water Conservation Branch where she helps administer the various programs to institute sustainable water use behaviors and practices across the island of Oʻahu. She oversees the Water Conservation Branch as they develop, design, implement, and measure the effectiveness of corresponding programs that promote sustainability and to demonstrate through action, the Departments’ core mission of “Water for Life”. Lorna graduated with a Bachelor’s in Civil Engineering from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa and is a licensed Professional Engineer in Hawaiʻi.

Randy Hiraki is the president of Commercial Plumbing with more than 30 years ago. With his experience, he provides a thorough knowledge of the construction trade and the skills and understanding of the fundamentals of managing a business. Randy was selected as the 1997 Small Business Person of the Year for the City and County of Honolulu.

Nicholas Ing is a planner at the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources, Commission on Water Resource Management. He's been with the Commission for a little over 5 years and works on water planning documents as well as the Commission's annual water audit program.

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Charles Jury is a proud graduate of Pearl City High School and UH Mānoa, where he graduated with his degree in Civil Engineering. He is a licensed professional civil engineer, Vice President at Okahara and Associates, and is currently serving as President for the American Council of Engineering Companies of Hawai‘i. He is also a two-time Okahara and Associates Fantasy Football Champion and the current Okahara and Associates Billiards Tournament Champion. 

Ciara Kahahane is the First Deputy of the Commission on Water Resource Management with the Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kahahane graduated from the William S. Richardson School of Law and is dedicated to addressing water resource challenges in Hawai‘i through a combination of legal expertise, cultural awareness, and collaboration. Her role at the Water Commission underscores the importance of managing the state’s resources sustainably while considering diverse perspectives and values.

Ann Kam has worked with the Hawai‘i Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch - Monitoring Section for the past 3 years and primarily takes care of the public water systems throughout Maui County. She has been involved in all the PFAS sampling projects conducted by the SDWB and is currently the Project Manager for PFAS sampling currently being conducted by the monitoring section. Prior to joining the SDWB team, she was with the Department of Agriculture for 27 years and brings those years of conducting pesticide enforcement experience with her.

Yumi Kam is the Program Manager for the Wai'anae Mountains Watershed Partnership (WMWP). For the past 16 years, Yumi has managed a wide range of conservation projects (primarily focused on wildfire and watershed management) across the Wai‘anae Mountains in addition to their outreach program. Their outreach program incorporates surrounding communities and engages schools in school campus native plant nurseries and volunteer service trips to mālama āina in WMWP Project sites centered around wildfire mitigation, post fire recovery, and ecosystem restoration. 

Alana Kobayashi Pakkala is CEO and Partner at Kobayashi Group, a family-owned real estate development company based in Hawai‘i. Kobayashi Group’s portfolio includes Kūki‘o Golf & Beach Club, Hyatt Andaz Maui at Wailea, Four Seasons Resort Hualālai, Park Lane Ala Moana, Hokua, Capitol Place, and ONE Ala Moana, as well as the revitalization of the Kaimana Beach Hotel and Royal Lahaina Resort. The company has also contributed to important civic and institutional projects, including the University of Hawai‘i Cancer Research Center. With more than 25 years of experience, Alana continues the company’s commitment to best-in-class development, extending its work in both luxury and affordable housing while introducing new approaches to sustainability. 

Rich Konkler serves as the Western Region Dealer Manager for TRUVAC, a division of Vactor & Federal Signal. With more than 15 years of experience in the hydro excavation industry across North America, Rich has been instrumental in advancing industry standards through education, training, and field development. He has worked extensively with municipalities, contractors, and equipment dealers to promote safe excavation practices and expand the understanding of hydro excavation applications. Rich has also helped numerous organizations establish and grow their hydro excavation divisions, reinforcing his reputation as a dedicated advocate and steward of the industry.

Jordan Kurahara has served 20 years with the Honolulu Board of Water Supply, where he currently serves as a Water Service Supervisor in Field Operations. Beginning his career as an apprentice pipefitter, he has developed extensive experience in water system maintenance, repair, and operations, supporting the delivery of reliable water service to the community.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply appointed Ernest Y. W. Lau as the tenth Manager and Chief Engineer on February 1, 2012. As Manager, he is responsible for the overall strategic direction and management of the BWS, with a focus on furthering the department's mission to provide safe, dependable and affordable water supply, now and into the future. Ernest previously served as the administrator of the Public Works Division under the State Department of Accounting and General Services, where he oversaw the planning, coordinating, directing, and controlling of a statewide program of engineering, architectural, and construction services. He previously worked as Deputy Director of the State Commission on Water Resource Management, Department of Land and Natural Resources where he worked collaboratively with the Commission members to set policies and make decisions in accordance with the State Water Code. He also served as the Manager and Chief Engineer of the Kaua'i Department of Water Supply from 1996 to 2003 and as Deputy Manager from 1995 to 1996. Prior to that position, he worked for BWS for more than 14 years as an engineer in Long Range Planning and Water Systems Planning.

Kevin Lavery holds a Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from University of Washington and an MBA. He began his water treatment career in Naval Nuclear Power, progressed through ultrapure and wastewater applications engineering and sales for the microelectronics industry, managed an ion exchange resin regeneration facility, led a program for mobile natural gas pipeline water treatment, and has been focusing recently on granular activated carbon.

Mitch LeBas is a 1984 graduate of LSU, a licensed Civil Engineer in the State of Louisiana, and the President of Backflow Prevention Services, a consulting and training company based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Mr. LeBas has over two decades experience within the backflow industry and was instrumental in developing the backflow industry in Louisiana and North Dakota. He annually provides training and workshops in multiple States and regularly speaks at State, National, and international events. Mr. LeBas is an accomplished author and software developer and holds several Service Marks with the US Patent Office. He is an active member of the AWWA Cross Connection Control Committee and past Chair of the AWWA M14 Revision Committee. In addition, he chairs the ABPA Public Awareness and Education Committee.

Carl Lundin has over 15 years’ experience as a process engineer and senior project manager specializing in drinking water treatment planning, design, and construction. He holds an MS in Environmental Engineering and a BS in Civil Engineering, both from the Colorado School of Mines. Carl is a registered PE, PMP, and certified treatment plant operator. In his free time, he's probably found running on a trail somewhere.

Charles Luxford is the Director of Engineering for Brierley Associates, with 25 years experience in heavy civil construction. His expertise includes transportation infrastructure, industrial plants, water resource facilities and buildings. Charles is a registered Civil and/or Structural Engineer in multiple states, and is also licensed in Canada.

Lenise Marrero is the One Water Leader at Brown and Caldwell. She has over 20 years of professional experience as an environmental engineer and water resources planner, leading integrated and strategic plans, technical studies and master plans, policy development, community engagement, and interagency coordination. In her former public sector role, she was the project and program manager for the award winning One Water LA Program for the City of Los Angeles. Grounded on holistic, collaborative approaches, Lenise has helped organizations achieve transformational policies and multi beneficial projects that advance sustainable practices, water equity, and climate resilience.

Nancy Matsumoto has over 34 years of experience in the water resources management, water resources consulting and environmental consulting fields. She holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Degrees in Geology, and is a registered Professional Geologist and Certified Hydrogeologist with the State of California. Currently, she serves as Chief Hydrologist-Geologist in the Water Resources Division of the Honolulu Board of Water Supply.

Melissa May is the Principal and Resilience Lead at Haley & Aldrich and has extensive experience advancing climate resilience in Hawai‘i. She has partnered with state and local agencies on award-winning projects including resilient design guidelines, watershed plans, and policy analysis for climate adaptation and managed retreat. As resilience lead, Melissa develops business and strategy for Haley & Aldrich’s Resilience team and integrates resilience into practice areas across the firm. Melissa’s comprehensive knowledge of the policy and regulatory landscape makes her an invaluable problem-solving partner on complex planning and policy issues. Her inclusive, systems-based approach ensures that every project reflects a shared vision, builds community capacity, and provides a pathway to implementation.

Sheri Mikami is a Community Relations Specialist in the Communications Office, where she manages the three-acre Hālawa Xeriscape Garden and its volunteer program. She conducts educational presentations, workshops, tours, and outreach events to encourage the public to conserve water. Sheri enjoys teaching DIY projects that incorporate xeriscape plants. She is a Master Gardener Emeritus with a BBA in Marketing and an Art Minor from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa. She volunteers with the UH Master Gardener Program and as a Gardening Resource Leader with the Oʻahu County 4-H Program.

Mike Miyahira is a Principal Engineer in the Carollo Engineers Honolulu Office. He has over 40 years of experience in civil design, construction management, environmental planning/permitting, and drinking water regulation development and implementation, in both public and private sectors, here in Hawai‘i as well as in Southern California. He is a current member of the American Water Works Association Hawai‘i Section, Hawai‘i Water Environment Association, and the American Membrane Technology Association.

Adam Mundy is the Administrative Officer/Public Information Officer for the Maui Department of Water Supply. With five years’ experience in his current position and 21 years as a Water Treatment Specialist in the United States Army, Adam is experienced in communications, emergency communications, and community outreach. 

Scott Murakawa is an Environmental Health Specialist with the Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch. Scott graduated from the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo with a Bachelor’s degree in Natural Science with a minor in Marine Science. Scott has been working at the Department of Health for over 20 years working in the Clean Water Branch, Clean Air Branch, Solid and Hazardous Waste Branch, and now the Safe Drinking Water Branch. Scott brings a wealth of knowledge based on all of his diverse professional experiences. 

Judy Nishimoto is a Project Manager for CDM Smith based in Carlsbad, CA, with over 25 years of experience in planning of water system supply and design of treatment facilities. Her career has been dedicated to advancing sustainable water management practices, with a specialized focus on groundwater supply, climate risk mitigation, and long-term resource resilience. Last year, Judy supported the Honolulu Board of Water Supply in drafting the first Source Water Protection Plan and this year, completed an extensive update to the risk and vulnerability assessments for the water system. Judy’s work integrates climate science, regulatory frameworks, and innovative technologies to support resilient and sustainable groundwater systems.

Steven Norstrom serves as an Information Specialist in the Communications Office. He has worked to build strong partnerships with government agencies and community organizations to raise public awareness about the importance of water conservation. He helped launch targeted educational outreach programs for large residential condominiums and communities—some of the most challenging properties to reach—and continues to explore innovate strategies to promote water sustainability. Driven by a deep passion for responsible stewardship of Oʻahu’s fresh drinking water, Steven empowers residents and businesses to take action in protecting this most vital and finite resource. 

Keith Okamoto started his engineering career working for private engineering firms on O‘ahu before moving to the Big Island in 1996, where he started his career with the Department of Water Supply. Keith held several positions within the department before being appointed as Deputy in 2012 and then as Manager-Chief Engineer in 2015. Most importantly, Keith is happily married to his beautiful wife Leigh and has a terrific 22-year-old son, Tristan, who is attending college on the mainland. In his spare time, Keith stays active with community service and enjoys hunting, fishing, and camping on the Big Island with family and friends. 

One World One Water company founder and owner Christin Reynolds’ expertise includes policy, engineering, mapping, and modeling. As a specialist in coastal and water management issues, she has provided/provides support for federal and local governments in Hawai‘i and American Samoa. With over two decades of professional experience in Geographic Information Systems, water resources, project management, and engineering, her career spans the public and private sectors. A Rotary ambassadorial scholar, Christin holds a master’s degree in engineering and policy analysis from the Technische Universiteit Delft in the Netherlands and Harbin Institute of Technology in Harbin, China. She received her bachelor’s degree in civil and environmental engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute in Massachusetts.

Michele Rodriguez-Flores is the founder of Ridgecresta, a firm dedicated to helping organizations grow through people development. She believes employees are the heart of organizational success—and that continuous growth, strong leadership, and accountability are key to achieving it. With over 25 years in Learning and Development, Michele brings deep expertise in designing and implementing innovative training solutions that empower individuals and drive organizational growth. She holds an MS in Administration and a Professional Training Management Certification. Her approach blends brain-based research, instructional design, and workforce strategy to create impactful, forward-thinking solutions.

Joseph Rogers leads a team of product managers responsible for the software, services and radio businesses within the Sensus portfolio. These solutions help utilities optimize operations and ensure sustainable and reliable delivery of water to end consumers. He has a Bachelor’s degree in engineering from North Carolina State. Joe joined Xylem in 2016 starting as a FlexNet Application Engineer, and later joined the software engineering team to help architect the Sensus solutions. He enjoys speaking to his customer base about new ways to use the Sensus solution to solve water.

Alyssandra Rousseve is a hydrologist, Native Hawaiian water rights, and watershed planner with the State of Hawai‘i, Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR), Commission on Water Resource Management (CWRM). Her primary responsibilities are with CWRM's Planning Branch, advancing the comprehensive water resources planning program. She also supports hydrologic fieldwork for the Groundwater and the Stream Protection and Management branches.

Andrew Salveson, with Carollo Engineers, has been implementing recycled water reuse projects for over 27 years, working on PRW projects big (>200 mgd) and small (0.1 mgd) across the US, globally, and in his home state of California. Andy has been honored as the WateReuse Person of the Year and with the Bahman Sheikh Memorial Award, and his projects have been awarded on multiple occasions from the WateReuse Association, CWEA, and the International Water Association.

Tony Shing is a civil engineer with over 14 years of experience in the Technical Engineering Projects (TEP) of the IT Division. He began his career in the hydraulic modeling section, where he supported the calibration of hydraulic models to improve system analysis and performance. Today, Tony leads the Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Section, overseeing GIS and Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) related initiatives. His work provides valuable geospatial data and technical support that contribute to planning, initiatives.

Jim Siriano has more than 30 years of experience in the water sector, including extensive experience managing programs under the Clean Water and Safe Drinking Water Acts; developing and implementing strategies to improve water quality and water utilities; and working with private, government, and non-profit organizations. As a WRF Senior Account Manager, he is a primary point of contact for member utilities in several states, including Hawai‘i. Jim has a bachelor’s degree in finance, and a master’s degree in environmental biology.

Dr. Tess Sprague is Brown and Caldwell's Climate & Resilience Lead for Planning and Policy. She specializes in developing solutions for climate resilient planning and managing extreme events for public and private sectors. Her work includes climate change adaptation planning, private and public sector climate risk and vulnerability assessments, building resilient communities, stakeholder engagement, disaster risk reduction, and climate equity. She has authored a book on Building Resilience and Planning for Extreme Water-Related Events with Palgrave & Macmillan Publishers, is an author in the Springer Nature Handbook on Climate Resilient Societies, and is vice-chair of AWWA's Climate Change Committee.

Jay Stone is Bowers + Kubota Consulting’s Principal-in-Charge of Horizontal Design. He holds bachelor’s degrees in English and Civil Engineering from the University of Notre Dame and is a licensed civil engineer in Hawai‘i. He is also a board-certified environmental engineer in water supply and wastewater with the American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists, Certified Floodplain Manager, Certified Professional in Erosion and Sediment Control, Certified Professional in Storm Water Quality, and LEED Accredited Professional. 

John Stufflebean is currently the Director of the Maui County Department of Water Supply. Prior to working in Maui, John had over 40 years of experience in local government in Arizona, Missouri, California, and Australia, including 24 years as a department head responsible for wastewater management, potable and recycled water supply, stormwater management, watershed protection, waste management, and sustainability. John was the Assistant Director for the Pure Water and Technical Services Branch of San Diego’s Public Utilities Department. Pure Water is the $5 billion project designed to generate nearly one-half of San Diego’s water demand from purified wastewater. In both San Jose and Sunnyvale, he led the implementation of the strategic master planning efforts at the wastewater treatment facilities. In Australia, he served as a sustainability consultant for the City of Willoughby and for the Infrastructure Sustainability Council of Australia. John also worked as a local government management consultant. He holds a B.S. in civil engineering from Colorado State University, an M.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Arizona, and an M.P.A. from the University of Missouri, and is a registered professional engineer in Hawai'i.

Joseph Tait is a municipal business leader and public sector strategy executive with over 35 years of hands-on, day-to-day operations and organizational improvement experience. Prior to joining DOW, Joe has served as Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California and has managed organizational competitiveness programs and operating improvement projects throughout the western U.S. from Anchorage to Salt Lake City and Los Angeles to Honolulu. Joe earned his Bachelor of Arts in Management from the University of Phoenix and holds certifications in Industrial Relations and Human Resources Management/Law. His experience includes Strategic Municipal and Business Planning, Utility Technology Master Plans, and Public Sector Organizational Design to streamline processes, practices and capital improvement and investment programs. He is a native of Los Angeles, California.

Melvin Tokuda is an Environmental Health Specialist with the Hawai‘i Department of Health, Safe Drinking Water Branch. Melvin graduated from the University of Hawai‘i with a Bachelor of Science degree in Animal Technology. Melvin has been an Environmental Health Specialist for 32 years having work at the Hawai‘i Department of Agriculture prior to joining the Safe Drinking Water Branch in 2008. Melvin served in the Hawai‘i Army National Guard as a Construction and Combat Engineer for 37 years before retiring in 2021. Melvin currently serves as the Governor’s Appointee to the Hawai‘i Board of Agriculture’s Advisory Committee on Pesticides.

Amy Tsuneyoshi is a Watershed Resource Specialist in the Hydrology-Geology Branch. She helped establish the BWS watershed program in 2002 and throughout the years has developed partnerships with agencies and community groups to protect O‘ahu’s natural resources. Amy assisted with recommendations to identify BWS priority watersheds and manages funding projects in those priority watersheds.

Ani Turner joined the Kauaʻi Department of Water Supply in 2024 and currently serves as Information & Education Specialist in the agency’s public relations/communications section. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Biological Sciences from the University of California - Irvine and a Master’s degree in Library & Information Sciences from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa.

Barry Usagawa P.E. has been the Program Administrator for the Water Resources Division at the Honolulu Board of Water Supply for the past 40 years. He administers the Water Systems Planning, Water Conservation, Recycled Water, Long Range Planning, Hydrology-Geology and Project Review functions of the department. Water Resources conducts long-range water resource and capital planning for O‘ahu to ensure sustainable water resources and dependable water systems for current and future customers. 

Kawika Uyehara is the Deputy at the Hawai‘i Department of Water Supply and has been in this position since 2015. He oversees the daily operations of the Department’s Communications, Contracts, Energy Management, Human Resources, and Information Systems branches. Prior to being appointed to the Deputy position he was a civil engineer in the Department’s Water Quality branch since 2007. And before the Department of Water Supply, Kawika worked for engineering consulting firms in Honolulu and Seattle, WA. He obtained his bachelor’s degree in civil engineer from the University of Washington. 

Zhaohui Wang (aka Wang) the Compliance and Enforcement section supervisor at the Safe Drinking Water Branch of the Hawai‘i Department of Health. Majority of his section’s work focuses on Revised Total Coliform Rule; Phase II/Phase V chemical monitoring; Radionuclides monitoring; the Consumer Confidence Report; PFAS monitoring, operator certification and violations and enforcement. Wang has over 15 years of experience in the fields of environmental engineering and monitoring in the private and public sector. Wang received his B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from East China University of Science and Technology, in 1995 and 1998, respectively, and his Ph.D. in Chemistry from University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa (UHM) in 2005.

Scott Wong is the Information Systems Security Officer for the Board of Water Supply (BWS). Scott oversees and develops the cybersecurity programs at BWS spanning information technology, operational technology, compliance and staff outreach and education. 

Alex Yee, AICP, serves as the Coastal and Water Program Manager within City and County of Honolulu Office of Climate Change, Sustainability and Resiliency. He joined the City and the Resilience Office in March 2021. Prior to joining the office, he worked in the Sea Level Rise unit for the California Coastal Commission, where he worked with numerous coastal city governments to enact sea level rise adaptation policies. With the office, Alex led the development and now implementation of the City’s climate adaptation strategy: Climate Ready Oʻahu. Alex has been active within the American Planning Association at the national level, holds a masters in Urban Planning from the University of Southern California’s Sol Price School of Public Policy, and a BA in International Relations and Chinese from Tufts University.