June is National Automotive Service Professionals Month, which honors the individuals who keep our cars running and our communities moving.
Mike Agcanas, diagnostic specialist I, at Lexus Hawaiʻi by Servco. (Servco Pacific Inc.) 
Garrett Leong, diagnostic specialist III, at Subaru Hawaiʻi by Servco. (Servco Pacific Inc.) 
Jarrett Silva, beginner technician, at Toyota Hawaiʻi by Servco. (Servco Pacific Inc.)
As technicians serving Subaru, Lexus and Toyota Hawai‘i, we’re proud to help customers by providing excellent quality and care, and ensuring residents have safe and reliable vehicles each day. While we each took different paths to enter the field, we’re united by a shared passion of respect and teamwork that drives us — helping us solve complex mechanical challenges, while serving our community.
Why we chose automotive service
Mike Agcanas: I’ve always been fascinated by how things work, especially with motors. I enjoyed taking things apart and putting them back together, and grew up with cousins who built lowriders and racing cars. That curiosity naturally grew into a love for cars — and from there, automotive service allowed me to turn that into a career; one where I can work with my hands, solving tangible problems. With modern vehicles becoming more advanced, this allows me to stay at the forefront of innovation, working with both mechanical and electronic systems in a constantly evolving field.
Garrett Leong: My love for vehicles started with my dad, a mechanic. Growing up, I would help him out just to spend time together, but that quickly turned into a passion I enjoyed. Following high school, I joined the Army as a light wheel quarter master mechanic, maintaining and repairing light-wheeled vehicles and equipment. That training helped build a strong foundation for what came next — working at automotive dealerships across Hawai‘i. I’ve been in this industry ever since, serving customers and my community.
Jarrett Silva: Motorsports and cars were a big part of my life growing up. My dad, also a mechanic, helped me get more exposure to the service industry. What started as a hobby eventually became a career, and it’s great to do honest work — resolving any vehicle problems while giving customers peace of mind and reliable transportation. When people visit our service centers, they trust it’s going to get done correctly. They’ve invested in a forever car, and trust us to help it last long-term.
Why we stay
Agcanas: The field offers a rewarding combination of stability and fulfillment, and a lifestyle I truly cherish. On an island, most residents rely on vehicles for daily transportation — providing not only job security but a strong sense of pride in my work. Additionally, this career path offers a good living without need for costly degrees, particularly important given Hawai‘i’s high cost of living.
Beyond technical, I deeply appreciate the community and personal relationships that develop in Hawaiʻi's tight-knit, family-oriented environment, where trust and respect between customers and technicians are highly valued.
I look forward to mentorship opportunities, developing the next generation of technicians and ensuring growth of the trade. I’m passionate about workforce development, encouraging keiki to pursue skilled trades that are essential to our way of life.
To every automotive technician, mahalo. Your work is often under appreciated, but it’s essential. Mahalo to the early risers, shop warriors and quiet heroes. You’re valued and respected. You're not just fixing vehicles — you’re keeping aunties, uncles, kūpuna, keiki and visitors safe. You’re helping delivery drivers reach destinations, families get to school and work and tourists experience our Islands’ beauty. Your hands tell stories of hard work, excellence and purpose.
Leong: The people. The environment can make or break a workplace, and I’m fortunate to be around amazing colleagues who make me want to come to work. Sometimes, I spend more time with coworkers than family, and that speaks to the positive environment we’ve created and continue to nurture.
Silva: As a Hawai‘i automotive technician, especially as a Toyota tech, there’s always something to learn. Toyota is very special to our community as Hawaiʻi’s most popular automotive brand. So with that, along with our lineup, there will always be something new to learn from a technological standpoint. I originally entered the field to learn and grow, but the culture at my dealership keeps me.
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