Join ACEC Hawaii in celebrating Engineers Week 2026 from February 22 to February 28! This year’s theme, Transform Your Future, highlights how engineering goes beyond building our world. Engineering opens doors to opportunity, strengthens communities, and shapes the future we envision for ourselves and the next generation.
Engineers Week 2026 Schedule of Events
HAWAII COUNCIL OF ENGINEERING SOCIETIES KICK-OFF AWARDS BANQUET
Date & Time: Saturday, February 21, 2026 at 5:30 pm to 9:00 pm
Location: Ala Moana Hotel, Garden Lanai Room
Let’s start Engineers Week 2026 with a bang! Join us at HCES’s awards banquet on Saturday, February 21, 2026. We are excited to announce that we will have Dr. Patrick Sullivan as our Engineers Week 2026 Keynote Speaker. This banquet is held annually to recognize the outstanding accomplishments, contributions, and achievements of individuals in the different specialized fields of engineering.
More registration information at the link below. Deadline to register is February 11, 2026. Secure your seat now!
ENGINEERS WEEK KICK-OFF LUNCHEON EVENT
Date & Time: Tuesday, February 24, 2026
11:00 AM – Social Hour
11:30 AM – 1:00 PM
Location: Hale Koa Hotel
Price: $80 (SAME Members and Non-Members), $90 (Walk-Ins), $30 (Active Military Personnel or Government Civilians)
The Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) Honolulu Post will be hosting a Kick-Off Luncheon on Tuesday, February 24. We are honored to have Dr. Roger Babcock as our guest speaker presenting on “Transforming the Future at the Department of Environmental Services.” Registration is now open until February 18, 2026. Mahalo to SAME Honolulu Post and HCES for sponsoring this event!
Big Island General Membership Meeting & Golf Tournament
Date & Time: Friday, February 27, 2026
10:00 AM – Tee Off Time
2:30 PM – Lunch and Speaker (TBA)
Location: Mauna Lani Golf North Course
68-1050 Makaiwa Pl, Waimea, HI 96743
Price:
ACECH Members – $150 (Golf & Lunch), $100 (Golf Only), $50 (Lunch Only)
Non Members – $175 (Golf & Lunch), $125 (Golf Only), $75 (Lunch Only)
Register by February 20, 2026
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII AT MANOA, COLLEGE OF ENGINEERING CAREER EXPO
Date & Time: Friday, February 27, 2026 at 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Location: Campus Center Ballroom and adjacent CC Room Suite
The University of Hawaii at Manoa College of Engineering Spring 2026 Career Expo takes place on Friday, February 27, 2026 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., at the Campus Center Ballroom and adjacent CC Room Suite. This is a great opportunity to network with and learn more about various engineering firms throughout the state.
Become an Engineers Week Sponsor:
$1,000 GOLD SPONSORSHIP
- 1/2 Page Wiliki Ad
- Logo on Powerpoint Slide
- Logo in Program
$750 SILVER SPONSORSHIP
- 1/4 Page Wiliki Ad
- Logo on Powerpoint Slide
- Logo in Program
$500 BRONZE SPONSORSHIP
- Logo in Wiliki
- Listed in the Program
Sponsorship Sign Up Deadline is February 11, 2026
For more information, email hcesorg@gmail.com
2026 HCES Lifetime Achievement Award
Dexter Kubota, P.E.
Dexter Kubota’s career reflects visionary leadership, technical excellence, and a deep commitment to improving Hawai‘i’s infrastructure and community well-being. He is the co-founder of Bowers + Kubota Consulting, a kamaʻāina architectural, engineering, and construction management firm that has grown successfully for more than three decades under his leadership. With over 40 years of experience, Dexter has served as Principal in Charge on major projects across the Pacific, including the Kāne‘ohe–Kailua Wastewater Facilities, South Ramp Fuel Line, and the Honolulu Rail Transit Project. He helped establish the Department of Education’s first statewide Facilities Asset Management program and supported initiatives expanding access to early learning facilities across the state. Following the 2023 Lahaina disaster, Dexter and his team rapidly delivered temporary classrooms and constructed a temporary school campus within months. A strong advocate for community well-being and social impact, Dexter supports housing and mental health initiatives statewide and holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in civil and environmental engineering as a licensed Professional Engineer in Hawai‘i.
2026 Engineer of the Year
Howard Lau, S.E.
Howard Lau, SE, has been a leader in Hawaiʻi’s structural engineering community since 1974. A University of Hawaiʻi graduate, he rose from junior engineer to President of SLSH before the firm joined Coffman Engineers in 2022, where he now serves as Principal Advisor. Over his 51-year career, Howard has led the design and restoration of major structures across Hawaiʻi and the Pacific, earning a reputation for innovative problem-solving and expertise in advanced building systems and codes. His technical achievements include pioneering cold-formed steel in Hawaiʻi, restoring the Midway Fuel Pier, leading rapid seismic assessments for the U.S. Navy, and contributing to disaster-resilient design standards. Howard has also served in key leadership roles with SEAOH, CFSEI, and the State of Hawaiʻi licensing board, while mentoring students and young engineers statewide. His legacy reflects engineering excellence, community service, and a lifelong commitment to strengthening Hawaiʻi’s built environment.
2026 Young Engineer of the Year
Christine Mau, P.E.
Christine Mau, PE, is a Project Engineer at HDR with over five years of experience in wastewater engineering and infrastructure design. A Hawai‘i Kai native, she earned her civil engineering degree from Saint Louis University and obtained her Professional Engineer license in 2025. At HDR, Christine specializes in pump station design, pipeline replacement, and water quality testing, contributing to major projects such as the JBPHH Water Line and Salt Water Line Tunnel C, Mānoa Sewer System Improvements, and the Kīhei Wastewater Pump Station No. 7 Replacement. She also supports wastewater sampling at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and Joint Base Pearl Harbor–Hickam’s Wastewater Pretreatment Program. Active in professional leadership, Christine serves as Vice President of ASCE’s Younger Member Forum and co-chairs the Pacific Water Conference. She brings the same collaborative spirit to her career, community involvement, and personal life.
2026 Student Engineer of the Year
Matthew Fujioka
The 2026 HCES SEOY is Mr. Matthew Fujioka, an outstanding student with a 3.98 GPA and a long-standing passion for engineering that began in middle school. He is completing his BSME this semester and is on track to earn his MSME through UH Mānoa’s BAM program in 2027, while maintaining Dean’s List status and receiving the Provost Achievement Scholarship. Matthew serves as Vice President of Pi Tau Sigma and is active in organizations including ASME, ASHRAE, and NHSEMP. His research experience spans soft robotics for ocean waste collection, corrosion engineering, and fabrication technologies through UH’s FabLab. He also serves as CFO and Chief Engineer of UH’s Drone Technologies Team, helping secure $40,000 in funding and leading the team to a national third-place finish. Through internships at NIWC and the W.M. Keck Observatory, Matthew demonstrates adaptability, leadership, and a strong commitment to engineering excellence and mentorship.
