Charles Kaneshiro has been named president and chief operating officer of Honolulu-based Group 70 International Inc., one of the largest architecture firms in Hawaii.
Kaneshiro, who has been with the firm for nearly 15 years, will serve a five-year term as head of the company, and succeeds Linda Miki, who joins other past presidents as a vice chair on the board of directors.
“I am honored to be taking the reins of Group 70 as president, and look forward to working with the other principals during this exciting time of growth for the firm as we chart our new directions both in Hawaii and globally,” Kaneshiro said in a statement. “We have a tremendous amount of young talent in the company, who bring fresh ideas and energy to our projects. One of my goals is to nurture this next generation to ensure Group 70 remains a leading design firm not just in Hawaii, but worldwide.”
Kaneshiro, who was among the very first in Hawaii to receive his LEED AP designation for advanced knowledge in green building, is an alumnus of the Pacific Century Fellows Program and the University of Hawaii at Manoa, as well as Iolani School.
Before becoming an architect, he taught high school for three years in Hawaii after receiving his bachelor of science in education from the University of Michigan.
Group 70, which reported $21 million in billings in 2012, has about 30 architects, according to PBN research.