In Remembrance

Merritt Tetsuya Sakata, AIA ME

1946 - 2024

Long-time AIA Honolulu member (40 years) Merritt Tetsuya Sakata, AIA ME, an accomplished architect, passed away March 29, 2024. Born on November 21, 1946, he dedicated his professional career to creating value for his clients whose projects often had severe budget constraints.

Merritt utilized a thoughtful approach to design that blended functionality with aesthetics through the use of economical yet quality materials and construction systems. He specialized in commercial and light industrial projects and often provided value engineering services to clients whose projects had been designed by others but had affordability challenges.

Beyond his professional achievements, Merritt was a beloved brother, husband, and friend. His kindness, humility, and unwavering commitment to excellence endeared him to all who knew him. His legacy extends beyond blueprints and steel; it resides in the hearts of those he inspired. Merritt is survived by his wife Carol Sakata, FAIA, family, friends, and colleagues.

His memorial service will be held on Saturday, July 20 at Nuuanu Memorial Park & Mortuary. Visitation from 4:00pm, service at 5:00pm. In lieu of flowers, the family requests contributions to a scholarship fund in Merritt’s name, supporting aspiring architects.

Alan Rowland, AIA ME

1926 - 2023

We are sad to say that long-time AIA Honolulu member (50+ years) Alan Rowland passed away on August 5, 2023, at the age of 96.

Alan was born in San Francisco. After graduation in 1944, he joined the Navy, took the NROTC test and got assigned to Stanford University. This was before transferring to UC Berkeley where his '51 School of Architecture class was the last of California's four-year Architecture curriculum. He started working in San Francisco, then with a US firm in Japan. In the Fall of 1956, his ship had a two-week stop in Honolulu where he met Alfred Preis, who said work was plenty in Hawaii. He ended up working with Vladimir Ossipoff for 42 years, before he opened his one-man office.

He and wife Margaret Mary "Molly" Walker were married for 65 years and have three children. Read his wonderful life story in his own words. In lieu of flowers, consider a donation to Habitat for Humanity.

Robin Lee, AIA

1945 - 2023

Remembering AIA Honolulu member, Robin H.S. Lee, AIA, who passed away on June 12, 2023, at the age of 78. Robin was one of the earliest graduates of the University of Hawaii Architecture School, where he earned his Bachelor of Architecture degree. He was also an alumnus of McKinley High School.

Robin began his career at Vladimir Osipoff’s office and remained a lifelong admirer of “Val”'s work. He later established his own firm, Robin Lee Architect, AIA, and won several AIA Honolulu Design Awards for his residential projects.

Robin’s love for architecture extended to books, and he acquired a wonderful library of architectural publications. He spent hours reviewing architecture done around the world. He also developed a talent for photography and won numerous awards for his artistic vision. His daughter Nanika inherited his love for architecture and became an architect in Los Angeles. His granddaughter’s fiancé, also an architect, benefited from his mentorship at the University of Washington.

Robin was a respected and beloved member of the AIA Honolulu community, and his legacy will live on through his work and his family. We offer our deepest condolences to his wife, Barbara, his four children, and his four grandchildren. He will be greatly missed by all who knew him.

Allen Yasuo Kajioka, AIA

1933 - 2023

Allen Kajioka, 89, of Honolulu, Hawaii peacefully passed away on March 15, 2023. He graduated from McKinley High School and received his architecture degree from Illinois Institute of Technology. In 1972, he founded the architectural firm currently known as KYA Inc.

Allen is survived by his wife, Eileen; children: Faye (Alex) Bueno, Lynne (Khoi) Le, and Nelson (Darcie) Kajioka; 5 grandchildren; and sisters, Eleanor Tokunaga and Ginny Kimura.

Ryan Yamamoto, AIA

1979 - 2022

Ryan Gunichi Yamamoto, 43, of Honolulu, Hawaii, passed away on May 14, 2022.
Ryan graduated from Mililani High School and the University of Hawaii's School of Architecture. He was employed at Architects Hawaii. He was an active member of the Waikiki BeachBoys Canoe Club. The ocean was his second home and he loved paddling his OC1.

He was an instrumental team member on AHL’s Federal and State government projects including some of the largest planning projects in Honolulu - the Hawaii State Capital District Oahu Master Plan and the Planning for the Future of Oahu Community Correctional Center. Ryan’s work continues to be transformative for our local community and the AHL team.

Philip "Pip" White, AIA

1947 - 2022

Philip “Pip” White – renowned architect, mentor, family man, founder of WhiteSpace Architects and former president of AIA Honolulu – died of cancer Aug. 25, 2022, at the age of 74.

A seventh-generation kama‘aina, Pip infused a Hawaiian sense of place into all his designs and believed that architecture should be inherently sustainable and environmentally sensitive.

All who knew him can certainly picture Pip in his trademark Aloha shirt with slacks and slippahs – which made heading out to surf that much easier. His easygoing personal style and devotion to the natural world combined with his immense talent and work ethic to inspire wonderful achievements over a nearly 40-year career.

He designed Wai‘anae High School: Searider Productions’ media-education center, Molokai Ranch & Camps, and many educational and commercial projects, in addition to countless gracious dream homes for island families statewide. Punahou School will soon break ground on Pip’s transformation of the former Cooke Library into the Academy Learning Commons, a state-of-the-art center for collaborative and individual learning for its high-school students.

Laura Ayers, WhiteSpace principal, and his entire office ‘ohana are devastated by the loss but continue to live and work by Pip’s example. As Laura explains, “Pip’s warmth and humble nature was appreciated by everyone he met. He carried a love in his heart for our team and strongly believed that professional development was essential for every architect. Pip taught me more lessons than I can count; he was my business partner and mentor, but most importantly my dear friend. I will forever be grateful for the opportunities he gave me and our time working together for the past 20 years.”

Pip was an early adopter of the flexible workweek for his office ‘ohana, believing that people are most creative in a relaxed environment. Kahea and Hina, his beloved Irish setters, greeted all who visited the WhiteSpace office, setting the friendly workplace tone. He was a thoughtful mentor to architects now practicing across Hawai‘i and the world, sharing not only his technical expertise and design ethos, but also his encouraging leadership.

Devoted to making a difference outside the workplace realm, Pip actively engaged in community service throughout his life; among other efforts, he served on the boards of Hale Kipa, HUGS, Hawai‘i Architectural Foundation and the Asia-Pacific Center for Architecture. Those and many other organizations also will miss him.

Of course, the loss is most profound for Pip’s family, as well as for his broader ‘ohana of friends and colleagues. We ask to keep a special thought for Pip’s wife, Franny, their sons and extended family, as well as the WhiteSpace team.

Pip embodied aloha. His family, friends and industry colleagues will miss him always.

Gregory Mun Biu Tong

1929 - 2022

On December 30, 2022, Gregory Mun Biu Tong passed away peacefully in his sleep.

Tong, AIA, was an architect’s architect – He started off working for Wimberly & Cook, Architects, and then worked to become a founding partner and chairman of Wimberly, Whisenand, Allison, Tong & Goo, an internationally acclaimed resort architectural firm. Tong is now the last founding partners of the firm, now known as WATG.

Gregory Mun Biu Tong's ambitions didn't stop there. He set off to travel around the world, which in turn became his newest passion. This passion also became his newest accolade as he became a co-owner of a cattle ranch in Australia.

Weinstein loved Hawaii and was actively involved in multiple nonprofits such as Boy Scouts of America, Pacific & Asian Affairs Council, Honolulu Committee on Foreign Relations, Jewish Federation of Hawaii where he served as president in 1983, Honolulu Kiwanis club as well as the AIA.

He graduated from Iowa State University with a Bachelor of Science degree in architectural engineering, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology with a master’s degree in architecture, and served in the U.S. Army Combat Engineers, Liaison and Intelligence, in the European Theatre of Operations.

“Alex was often the voice of reason, providing a practical view that never failed to reflect his passion for a built environment amidst the beauty of Hawaii’s environment and people,” noted Bettina Mehnert, FAIA, president and chief executive officer of AHL.

Alex Weinstein, AIA

1923 - 2022

Alex Weinstein, AIA, was an architect’s architect – artistically driven, paid attention to detail, and treaded his own path. He joined Architects Hawaii in 1969, retired in 1988, and served on the board of directors until 2020. He passed on April 16, 2022 at the age of 98.

His projects received recognition in numerous publications and more than 21 international, national and local design awards. He was involved in creating many architectural landmarks in Honolulu including Nauru Tower, Marin Tower, Grosvenor Center, Hale Koa Hotel, Queen Emma Tower, Cancer Research of Hawaii, and Queens Medical Center.

Edward Sullam, FAIA

1925 - 2022

Edward Sullam, an architect whose designs embodied mid-century Hawaiian architecture, passed away on May 10, 2022, at Straub Medical Center, Honolulu. He was 96 years old and died from pneumonia. Sullam was born in New York city on December 25, 1925, to Florence and Benveniste Sullam. As a youth, Ed Sullam was a gifted artist. He loved to draw and was admitted to Manhattan's prestigious High School of Music and Art. In 1942, he enlisted in the Navy and served as a radioman. His Navy service brought him to Hawaii in late 1944. After an honorable discharge from the Navy, Sullam returned to New York to marry Fredda Reich, whom he met at a Cooper Union drawing class. He studied architecture the Carnegie Institute of Technology, in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, graduating in 1950 with a bachelor's degree in architecture. After working for a large Los Angeles architectural firm, in 1955 he moved to Honolulu to work for Vladimir Ossipoff's firm.

Sullam worked for Ossipoff for three years, participating in the designs of the Pacific Club, Waikiki McInerny's, and the Diamond Head Apartments. In 1958, he opened his own practice. One of his first commissions was Temple Emanu-El in Nuuanu. Until 1993, when he retired, Sullam designed numerous residences on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and Hawaii. Among his commercial projects were the Kaimuki Professional Building, Kailua Professional Building, and the old Wailea Town Center. He also designed the Koko Head District Park, Manoa Valley Theater, and renovations to the Waimea-Kohala Airport. Sullam served as president of the AIA's Hawaii Chapter in 1967. In 1972, he was designated an AIA Fellow, which recognizes member architects for their outstanding contributions to the profession.

Sullam maintained an active interest in local and national politics. He was a regular contributor to the letters to the editor pages of the Honolulu Advertiser and Star Bulletin. He enjoyed attending symphonic concerts and swam daily in the ocean. He and Fredda were also involved in championing better care for the severely mentally ill. They were founding members of the National Alliance for the Mentally Ill's Hawaii Chapter.

Fredda died in 2017. Sullam is survived by three sons: Brian of Baltimore, and his wife Susan; Steve of Honolulu, and his wife Karen Buzzard; and Paul of Honolulu; two grandchildren: Jennifer, of Baltimore, and Karen, of Bern, Switzerland; and three great grandchildren.

Geoffrey Paterson, AIA ME

1928 - 2022

Geoffrey Paterson, AIA Member Emeritus, passed away on February 15 at age 93 in California with family at his side due to complications from pneumonia. For those who knew him, Geoffrey had an infectious zest for living which drew you into extended conversations about the history his life spanning from Atlantic to Pacific. Hawaii was privileged to have him join our island ‘ohana.

Geoffrey was born in England and amidst the fog of World War II, he traveled to Canada with his mother and siblings. He returned after the war and joined the Royal Navy. After his military service he graduated from the Oxford School of Architecture.

After university with motivations beyond his home country, he moved to America, first to Philadelphia, then Phoenix, and finally arrived in Honolulu in 1961. He worked with Henry Kaiser on the original Hawaii Kai Master Plan. In the mid-1960s he became the office manager at John Carl Warnecke during the design and construction of the Hawai'i State Capitol Building.

Geoffrey then ran his own architectural office from 1968 which included a long relationship with the Sullivan family, founders of Foodland. He was particularly proud of his projects for Mcdonald's island restaurants designed directly with founder Ray Kroc, Kuilima Golf Clubhouse (unbuilt), Kaiser Clinic Building, the Sullivan Home, and Kapalua Plantation Course Clubhouse.

He was a member of AIA Honolulu since 1967 and participated in many of our programs and committees throughout the years. He served most recently as AIA Honolulu's Board Secretary from 2012-14. He moved to California in 2015 to be closer to family and lived in a Belmont Shore bungalow continuing to enjoy a beach community lifestyle. He reveled in the company of new friends, his family and grandson, laughing, dancing, singing, reciting poetry, playing chess, and writing. He is survived by his four sons and his grandson Garrett.

Listen to Geoffrey tell his own fascinating story on eaH’s Olelo series.

Joyce Noe, FAIA

1940 - 2022

Joyce Michiyo Noe, wife, mother, grandmother and great-grandmother passed away peacefully on May 7, 2022 at the age of 82. She spent much of her life dedicated to education at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa, School of Architecture.

Joyce was born in Honolulu on April 15, 1940, to Jitsuhei & Mitsue Fujimoto. She graduated from Roosevelt High School in 1958 then studied Electrical Engineering at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa for two years, before transferring to the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana School of Architecture and graduating with a BArch in 1965.

While in Illinois, she met and married Leon Joseph Noe in 1965 and moved back to Honolulu with him in 1968. In 1976 they launched Noe & Noe Architects and started private practice together.

Joyce joined the faculty of the School of Architecture at the University of Hawai'i at Manoa in 1982 and spent 38 years teaching there. She received tenure in 1986, served as Associate Dean and Graduate Chair from 2001 to 2007, and retired in 2019.

In 1998 Joyce studied at the Harvard Graduate School of Design, receiving a Master's in Design Studies, with distinction. She was also elected as a Fellow of the American Institute of Architects (FAIA) in 2006.

As an architect and educator, Joyce's aspiration was to weave practice into education and education into practice to resolve real-life community and environmental dilemmas through research and creative design processes. With this vision, she helped to create and launch the DArch program at the UHM SOA in 1998 which integrates coursework with professional office practice and is the only Doctor of Architecture degree accredited by the National Architectural Accrediting Board. This unique program provides an invaluable connection for UHM SOA students to the architecture communities in Hawaii, the mainland, Asia and the Pacific.

Joyce had an impact on so many with her passion for her profession, her trailblazing spirit, and her devotion to her UHM SOA students and their careers. She will be missed but remains in our hearts.

Joyce is preceded in death by her sister, Florence Kinoshita, brother-in-law, Tamio Otsu and sister-in-law, Joy Fujimoto. She is survived by her loving husband, Leon; sister, Betsy Otsu, brothers, Martin (Mabel) Fujimoto, and Reynold Fujimoto, brother-in-law Takeshi Kinoshita; children, Julia Noe, Cathy (Dickson) Terashita, David Noe; 3 grandchildren, Bronson (Mia) Peralta, Dylan (Jess) Peralta and Kelsy Peralta (Travis Uyeno); and 6 great-grand- children, Aron, Olivia, Dayten, Ryder, Madison and Maddex.

David A. Miller, AIA

1942 - 2022

David A. Miller, beloved husband, father, business leader and mentor, died April 10, 2022, at his home in Honolulu. He was 79 years old. David is survived by his wife, Brigitte Hahn-Miller, and adult children Joshua Han Miller, Kyra Li Ai Miller and Jordan Han Miller.

A visionary architect with a lifelong passion for design and architecture, David influenced much of Hawaii’s built environment for the last five decades. He joined Architects Hawaii Limited (now known as AHL) in 1971, became a principal in 1975, was appointed chief executive officer in 2000, and served as chairman of the board from 2010 until his retirement last year.

David inspired and mentored numerous architects during his 50 years at AHL. He led an annual leadership series for staff, emphasizing the importance of understanding the many facets of business. David had an uncanny ability to recognize challenges and to find innovative ways of solving problems. Above all, he was calm under pressure.

He was a keen listener who took an authentic interest in learning about people and places. He was kind, gentle and fun loving. David enjoyed telling stories about his architectural experiences and his world travels and delighted many with his clever wit. Another of David’s passions was music, in particular the American song book and early jazz, and for years was intent on mastering the ukulele.

Among David's many notable projects were Aulani, A Disney Resort & Spa; Center of Waikıkı retail shops; Marriott’s Ko Olina Beach Club; Beach Villas at Ko Olina; Ironwoods at Kapalua; Marriott Waikoloa Resort; Outrigger Waikoloa Resort; Sheraton Walker Hill Resort in Seoul, Korea; The Shops at Wailea, Maui; The Shops at Mauna Lani on the Island of Hawai‘i; Kahala Nui Senior Living Community in Kahala; the Pacific Aviation Museum on Ford Island, Pearl Harbor, O’ahu; and Symphony Honolulu, a residential luxury high-rise.

The Boston Society of Architects and the Hawaii Society of Architects bestowed design awards on many of David’s projects. In 1978, he was awarded a Professional Design Fellowship from the U.S. National Endowment for the Arts, Washington, D.C.

David earned his Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University in 1964 and his Master of Architecture from Harvard University in 1965.

For his legacy in enhancing Hawaii’s built environment and enriching the lives of those fortunate enough to know him, David will be sorely missed.

Donald (Don) Goo, FAIA

1934 - 2022

Don Goo, FAIA, passed peacefully on April 7th, 2022. Don, a recipient of the Hawaii State Council and Hawaii Architectural Foundation’s Medal of Honor, served as the president, CEO, and chairman of WATG for many years.

He is credited with bringing signature design elements that separate Hawaii’s hospitality and elevate the resort experience. Some of Don’s local projects include such iconic fixtures as the Hilton Hawaiian Village, Sheraton Maui, Hawaii State Convention Center, and the Waikiki Bank of Hawaii.

“A Big Picture Guy, Innovative Planner and a Waikiki Rethinker are descriptions that come to me to describe friend and colleague Don Goo” says Joe Ferraro, FAIA.

“Don never resisted going after big ideas that we should press on our politicians like a Ponte Vecchio style pedestrian walkway across Ala Moana Boulevard, extending the Ala Wai Canal through Kapiolani Park, repurposing the Ala Wai Golf Course, and more worker housing in a denser Waikiki. I would typically receive ten of Don’s emails a month on ideas and what we could/should do about them.”

Don never stopped thinking about how to make Hawaii a better place. He and his wife, Laura, put faith in the future of architecture by contributing to UHSoA and establishing the School of Architecture Practicum Fund.

Don loved to ask questions and discuss topics with the AIA Hawaii Fellows. He said: “Where does my work end and the work of my colleagues begin? Perhaps we are inseparable. Together, we make great places.” A hui ho and mahalo for making great places, Don.

Theodore (Ted) Garduque, FAIA

1951 - 2022

Remembering fondly longtime AIA Honolulu member and past president, Ted Garduque, FAIA, NCARB (age 71), who passed away on February 2, 2022.

Ted was a nationally certified and licensed architect with a Bachelor of Architecture from the University of Oregon and a Master of Architecture in Urban and Regional Design from Cornell University.

Ted founded Garduque Architects (1987) and was recognized nationally and internationally for design achievement in publications, design award programs and exhibits. He liked simple, elegant architecture, informed by the landscape, place and culture.

He joined AIA in 1977 and truly made his mark serving the organization on a local, regional, and national level. He was the AIA Honolulu President in 1990, served as the Northwest & Pacific Region Director 1997 to 1999, and in 1999, he was appointed to head the AIA National’s committee dealing with issues such as building designs to curb terrorism, the rebuilding of inner cities, and urban sprawl. He served on both regional and national AIA design juries; and chaired the AIA National Topaz Award jury (for top architectural educator). Ted was also a founder of the AIA Northwest & Pacific Region Gold Medal program.

As one of our members said, “the word Volunteering could easily have been his middle name!,” and in that spirit he served as an architect member on the EASLA licensing board, an advisor for the City and County of Honolulu’s design advisory committee; and chaired the Architectural Committee of Waikoloa Beach Resort. The list could go on and on.

Ted became a Fellow in 2000 and was recognized as an AIA National Richard Upjohn Fellow due to his leadership on a national level. He also sponsored many of our local architects during their Fellowship process. He was always ready to lend a helping hand, in the words of a member, “Ted bore numerous noteworthy talents...But what truly stands out to me, was his delightful personality. Always smiling, always willing to donate his energy for bettering our built environment and…especially in being a mentor to many.”

He also had a true passion for art and photography, and helped lead our AIA Honolulu Photography courses. He most recently showed his work at the “Architects as Artists Exhibition" at the Downtown Art Center (DAC).

It was a true honor to know Ted and he will be missed dearly by our AIA Honolulu members. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Ted is survived by his wife Cynthia (Cyndy).

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David Gerald Stringer, AIA

1933 - 2020

David Gerald Stringer, a man who lived a long life full of love, friendships, and held many accomplishments, passed away peacefully on November 5, 2020.

David was the 13th child of 14 children, in an English immigrant family. Stringer was a first-generation college graduate and had served oversea during the Korean War, later honorably discharged as a disabled veteran.

Stringer acquired impressive accolades during his 60-yearlong architectural career with Pacific Rim. He won many awards for design excellence from his work such as, Kapiolani Park Bandstand, 1100 Alakea St, The Mauna Luan, and many more. He also served as the Commissioner of Culture and the Arts for the City and County of Honolulu, and was elected to the first Neighborhood Board of Hawaii Kai.

It was a true honor to know Ted and he will be missed dearly by our AIA Honolulu members. Our deepest condolences to his family and friends. Ted is survived by his wife Cynthia (Cyndy).

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In Remembrance

Merritt Tetsuya Sakata, AIA ME

1946 - 2024

Alan Rowland, AIA ME

1926 - 2023

Robin Lee, AIA

1945 - 2023

Allen Yasuo Kajioka, AIA

1933 - 2023

Ryan Yamamoto, AIA

1979 - 2022

Philip "Pip" White, AIA

1947 - 2022

Gregory Mun Biu Tong

1929 - 2022

Alex Weinstein, AIA

1923 - 2022

Edward Sullam, FAIA

1925 - 2022

Geoffrey Paterson, AIA ME

1928 - 2022

Joyce Noe, FAIA

1940 - 2022

David A. Miller, AIA

1942 - 2022

Donald (Don) Goo, FAIA

1934 - 2022

Theodore (Ted) Garduque, FAIA

1951 - 2022

David Gerald Stringer, AIA

1933 - 2020

AIA Honolulu Closed – Thanksgiving Holiday

Emerging Professionals Holiday Mixer

Basic ADA Training Chapters 9 and 10

Tentative: Oceanit Meeting

UH Manoa Architecture Dean Finalist Presentation

Talk on Architectural Conservation

In Remembrance

Merritt Tetsuya Sakata, AIA ME

1946 - 2024

Alan Rowland, AIA ME

1926 - 2023

Robin Lee, AIA

1945 - 2023

Allen Yasuo Kajioka, AIA

1933 - 2023

Ryan Yamamoto, AIA

1979 - 2022

Philip "Pip" White, AIA

1947 - 2022

Gregory Mun Biu Tong

1929 - 2022

Alex Weinstein, AIA

1923 - 2022

Edward Sullam, FAIA

1925 - 2022

Geoffrey Paterson, AIA ME

1928 - 2022

Joyce Noe, FAIA

1940 - 2022

David A. Miller, AIA

1942 - 2022

Donald (Don) Goo, FAIA

1934 - 2022

Theodore (Ted) Garduque, FAIA

1951 - 2022

David Gerald Stringer, AIA

1933 - 2020

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