Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement
ASCE’s Committee on Younger Members selected Amanda Tanaka as the 2020 recipient of the Edmund Friedman Young Engineer Award for Professional Achievement. The award is typically presented at the Society’s Annual Convention.
2020 Outstanding Young Civil Engineer - Private Sector
Amanda Tanaka was honored with the 2020 Outstanding Young Civil Engineer award at the ASCE Western Regional Younger Member Council held on January 25, 2020, in San Francisco, California. This prestigious award recognizes a younger member who has demonstrated exceptional leadership potential within the private sector of civil engineering.
From left: Executive Director Thomas Smith, 2020 President-Elect Jean-Louis Briaud, Amanda Tanaka, and 2020 President K.N. Gunalan.
Ala Moana Wastewater Pump Station Force Mains #3 and #4
Connecting the Ala Moana Wastewater Pump Station with the Sand Island Wastewater Treatment Plant with two parallel 7,500-foot, 63-inch pipes serving more than half of the metropolitan Honolulu area. Extensive planning led to new and innovative methods to design a force main system 85 feet below the mean sea level, crossing Honolulu Harbor while keeping the current system running. The project also used a 3-D finite element model (FEM) computer analysis program to evaluate the extreme conditions of liquefiable, very loose silty fine sands at the harbor entrance, to abrasive, unweathered dense basalt. The vertical shaft sinking machine (VSM) used was only the second in the US, and the first included in a Design-bid-build document in the U.S. The project was completed successfully, on time and under budget for the City & County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services. The project was recognized with 1 national award and 4 local awards.
2019 Outstanding Young Civil Engineer - Private Sector
Amanda Tanaka was awarded the 2019 Young Engineer of the Year Award by the Hawai'i Council for Engineering on February 23, 2019. Amanda was nominated for her outstanding leadership in advancing the civil engineering profession and is an active member of the ASCE where she has held several officer positions and committee chairs.
From left: Jon Muraoka, Jon Nishimura, Amanda Tanaka, and Royce Fukunaga.
2018 ACECH Engineering Excellence Award Banquet
Ala Moana Wastewater Pump Station Force Mains No. 3 and No. 4 recognized with the Grand Conceptor Award. The project was completed on time and under budget for the City and County of Honolulu, Department of Environmental Services.
From Left: Jeff Kalani (ACECH President, Yogi Kwong Engineers), Lori Kahikina (Dept. of Environmental Sciences), Royce Fukunaga & Jon Muraoka (Fukunaga & Associates, Inc.), and Janice Marsters (ACECH National Director, Hart Crowser).
2018 ACECH Grand Conceptor & People's Choice Award
Fukunaga & Associates, Inc., in collaboration with Yogi Kwong Engineers, was honored at the 2018 ACECH Engineering Excellence Awards Banquet with the Grand Conceptor Award, the event's highest recognition, and the People's Choice Award for the Ala Moana Wastewater Pump Station Mains No. 3 and No.4 project. These awards celebrate outstanding engineering achievement and innovation in overcoming complex technical challenges while delivering critical infrastructure improvements for the City and County of Honolulu.
From Left: Patrick Vea (Yogi Kwong Engineers), Kekoa Tam (Yogi Kwong Engineers), Jeff Kalani (Yogi Kwong Engineers) and Amanda Tanaka (Fukunaga & Associates).
Lance Manabe Honored with Inagural WEF/HOD Volunteer Service Recognition Award
Lance Manabe was presented with the first-ever WEF/HOD Volunteer Service Recognition Award at the House of Delegates Luncheon on September 30, 2017, during WEFTEC in Chicago, Illinois. A dedicated representative of HWEA, Lance was recognized for his exceptional service, enthusiasm, and contributions to the WEF through the House of Delegates. Affectionately known as "Mr. Aloha," he brought the spirit of Hawai'i to every meeting sharing shell leis, calendars, and macadamia nuts while representing HWEA with warmth and distinction.
ACEC Coalitions Distinguished Service Award
Presented to Jon K. Nishimura, P.E., FACEC, in recognition of outstanding service and support to ACEC's Coalitions. Presented by the Council of American Mechanical and Electrical Engineers, Council of American Structural Engineers, Council of Professional Surveyors, Design Professional Coalition, Land Development Coalition, and Small Firm Council. Presented in Colorado Springs, Colorado on October 21, 2016.
From Left: Dave Raymond (ACEC President), Jon Nishimura (Fukunaga & Associates, Inc. President), June Nakamura (Committee of Fellows Chairman), and Peter Strub (ACEC Chairman).