It was in the late ‘90s when Kimi Yuen graduated with a master’s in urban and regional planning from the University of Hawai’i at Mānoa. Shortly after, she was recruited as an environmental planner for PBR Hawai’i and Associates Inc. by Grant Murakami, who now serves as executive vice president. She promoted to vice president in 2000 and became president and chairperson in January.
Their combined years of experience as certified planners – 25 and 30, respectively – is about how long the independent firm, which was founded by Frank Brant in 1970, has been operating in Hawai’i and the Pacific Islands.
At the end of last year, PBR Hawai’i president and principal R. Stan Duncan, stepped down from his role, elevating Yuen to the helm, along with Murakami and Vincent Shigekuni to executive vice presidents.
“Those who came before us set a good foundation,” Murakami told Aloha State Daily. “We pride ourselves on service to our clients. So, our principals are working on projects. We’re very hands-on and involved in training new planners.”
During his tenure, Murakami has served as project manager and lead urban designer for an array of commercial, residential and community-based planning projects locally, specializing in master planning, urban design, sustainability and more.
He’s also served at UH’s School of Architecture and as a lecturer for its department of urban and regional planning. The company celebrated its 50th anniversary by providing scholarships to both programs.
“In terms of recruitment, we’re thankful for various partnerships with UH, Kamehameha Schools and other institutions that bring resumes and referrals to us from all over the country,” Yuen said. “When we hire, we try to match their interests and put them on those projects, which gives them a lot of exposure if they’re ready for it.
“It’s fun, very strategic, and we have a lot of projects going on at a time.”
Her day-to-day includes overseeing county projects across both public and private sectors for regional and long-range and master-planned communities. Previously, she’s worked on the Līhu‘e Town Core Urban Design Plan and the South Kaua‘i Community Plan, “with a focus on creating sustainable, resilient communities,” per PBR Hawaiʻi’s website.
Another project Yuen has in the works is a transit-oriented development master plan on the east side of Kauaʻi in Kapaʻa where the Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital currently sits. “The hospital will expand its services, and the surrounding areas will become a mixed-use community with affordable housing for workforce,” Yuen said. “This master plan took a couple of years to complete. We just submitted for an Environmental Impact Statement Preparation Notice. This could be an example for the state about how to plan for comprehensive housing, wellness and community needs.”
In West Kauaʻi, adaptive planning that manages flooding and stormwater runoff will help restore the wetlands and allow affordable housing to be built, she said, adding that another bright spot will be Waimea High School getting its own track and football field.
On Maui, she is working on the Wailuku Civic Complex Master Plan and environmental assessment, as well as the Maui County District Park Plans.
PBR Hawaiʻi has 40 employees and in 2024, generated $3.49 million in Hawaiʻi environmental billings, according to Pacific Business News.
Cultural sustainability and graphic design are other services that make the firm unique, Murakami said.
“Ramsay Taum is our cultural sustainability planner. He advises us on how to bring in an authentic Hawaiʻi to every project. We reach out to practitioners from the area, too, and find out what the essence of the place we’re planning for is, what was it before – the Traditional Ecological Knowledge."
Yuen added, “Landscape-wise, we bring in native plants from the area and look for ways to bridge modern development standards with traditional values.”
“I’m excited we’re 55 years old and am thankful for our founder Frank Brandt and our senior partners for everything they’ve done. We care for and love Hawaiʻi – this is both of our homes – and we aim to pass that on to the next generation.”
Kelsey Kukaua Medeiros can be reached at kelsey@alohastatedaily.com.
