DURP ʻOhana News

Throughout his planning career, Leo has served Hawaiʻi in many notable planning capacities. Leo has a high skill set and is a leader who believes in both the capabilities of staff and the value of the people he serves.

Year 1: A second proposal was approved in the Fall of 1969 and the founder, Tom Dinell, hired Miriam Ryder as his assistant followed by Luciano Minerbi. These three worked with community and university leaders in establishing a set of principles and standards for a degree in Urban and Regional Planning, however the program was not funded.

Luciano Minerbi retired as a professor of Urban and Regional Planning at the University of Hawai'i in December 2018. Professor Minerbi’s contributions to planning, to the University of Hawai'i, to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning, to Hawaiian and other Pacific Island communities are countless.

It is an honor to bestow on Frank Streed, MURP 1980, the Dinell Outstanding Urban and Regional Planning Alumni Award for 2018.  You have served the profession and all of us with aplomb.

Mike is the planner who made a difference during the historic rainfall that hit Kaua`i in April 2018.  Assigned by the Mayor represent the County of Kaua`i in the relief and recovery of the areas heavily damaged by landslides, flooding, and impacts related to roadway and infrastructure disruptions.  Mike’s commitment to our profession as well as the people of Kaua`i has made a huge difference to the community.

During our first year as The DURP `Ohana we have been able to make several awards toward educational enhancements at DURP. In the process of developing relationships as a Chapter of the UH Alumni Association, we have also built several networks at the University and in the community as a whole.

The DURP `Ohana kicked off their first year with a travel grant to current MURP students whose Fall 2017 Site Planning (PLAN 678) project was accepted for presentation at the 2018 APA National Planning Conference. Four of these students—Erin “Bear” Braich, Laura Mo, Amanda Rothschild, and Brandon Soo—created a poster showcasing a research and design concept made for the State of Hawai`i Office of Planning, on transit-oriented development (TOD) in Waipahu. The site plans were designed to initiate conversation between key stakeholders to coordinate and make decisions on how to develop state lands near the Pouhala transit station.

Dolores Foley retires after more than 25 years of service at DURP.  Her dedication to education, broadening cultural exposure, and hands on planning experiences provided DURP students with planning experiences for clients in Hawaii, Samoa and Indonesia.

Photo: Dolores Foley with the two DURP PhD recipients, Molly Chlebnikow (left) and Sarah Bolduc (right) Spring 2018 Graduation.

From left: Sameer Saraswat (MURP) Britta Johnson (MURP); Marc Malate (MURP); Professor Priyam Das; Malachi Krishok (MURP) Professor Dolores Foley; Molly Chlebnikow (PhD); Sara Bolduc (PhD); Jessica Okamura (MURP); Jesse Hsu (PhD); Professor Luciano Minerbi; Professor Ashok Das

Photo: (left) Sara and MURP Graduate Kaleo Manuel (2009), now Acting Administrator of the Planning Division at the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands (DHHL) on Sara’s defense day. (Right-top) With Dr. Luciano Minerbi, Sara’s long-time advisor and mentor, on graduation day, May 12, 2018. (Right-bottom) Sara Bolduc and Dr. Dolores Foley, April 27, 2018. Post Defense day (for Sara) and Retirement Party (for Dr. Foley) in Saunders Courtyard.

The Vice President of our Board of Directors has worn many hats over the years and is about to try on a new one.  In the Fall of 2018, he will return to the Department of Urban and Regional Planning as an instructor.

Thank you for your service.  We wish you much success in your future endeavors, continued enjoyment in your explorations of culture and language, excitement in your upcoming wedding plans, and a long, joy filled marriage.

Lulu Chun, born in Hainan Island, South China, moved to Hawaii in 2012 to pursue her Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning. Prior to her pursuing a career in planning, Lulu studied and practiced landscape architecture. Her time in Hawaii has been formative, as she has gained both graphic design skills, as well as an understanding of urban planning. Lulu now works as a planner and graphic designer for a local engineering and planning firm, SSFM International.

Representative Nakamura’s career has brought her through a multitude of roles in the Hawaiian planning sector, including roles at Hawaii Community Development Authority (HCDA), in the Neighborhood Reinvestment Corporation, City and County Departments of Transportation Services and Land Utilization, the Pacific Housing Assistance Corporation, and and as the Managing Director of the Planning Office at the County of Kauai.  She also worked for 20 years as a private planning consultant (NKN Project Planning). Ms. Nakamura was later elected to the County Council, where she served from 2010-2013.

WTPD 2017 was celebrated as per tradition at the Saunders Courtyard and Spencer Hall on Wednesday, November 8. World Town Planning Day is an annual global event designed to celebrate the role of planning in creating livable communities.  It was founded by Professor Carlos Maria della Paolera at the University of Buenos Aires in Paris, and is celebrated in more than 30 countries.  Dolores Foley, as Chair of DURP, first included Honolulu and the University of Hawaii as part of this global event.

Among her achievements was the creation of the Hawaii Youth Services Directory (HYSD) — an online and searchable database of over 900 programs and services in Hawai‘i for keiki, youth, and young adults aged 0-21. The HYSD has served as a first of its kind resource for youth-serving professionals in Hawaii, whilst providing employment opportunities for DURP students, who help to sustain the directory.