People

Ronald A. Sato, AICP

Senior Associate

Years Experience: 32

Ronald Sato joined HHF in 2010 and specializes in environmental planning, land use planning, community planning, and land use entitlements. With 26 years of professional planning experience, he has worked with both engineering firms and land use consulting companies. As a project manager, he has been involved with a broad range of small to large public and private projects throughout Hawai‘i. His responsibilities have included managing large teams of technical consultants, working with land use attorneys, and coordinating project tasks with clients. Ron is experienced with land use planning and entitlement procedures for all Hawai‘i counties, including attendance at public hearings and presentations before various Commissions and County Councils. His environmental planning expertise includes preparing and processing both Federal and State environmental documents and complying with various agency regulations and documentation procedures. For community planning projects, he has conducted public informational meetings and consulted with government agencies and community organizations. Ron also has a wealth of experience with transportation projects and other infrastructure and public facility projects.

Community Involvement

Past Member, Board of Trustees, Historic Hawai‘i Foundation

Past Board Member, Kāne‘ohe Neighborhood Board #30

Past Board Member, Wai‘alae-Kahala Neighborhood Board #3

Representative Projects

• Green Physical Needs Assessment, 70 State Housing Projects, Statewide, Hawai‘i
• Kawainui Marsh Wetland Restoration and Habitat Enhancement; Environmental Assessment (EA) and Entitlements, O‘ahu
• Kawainui Hāmākua Marsh Complex Master Plan Update, O‘ahu
• Kahalu‘u Ma Kai Education and Cultural Center, EA, Special Management Area Use Permit, Kahalu‘u, Island of Hawai‘i
• St. Augustine-by-the-Sea Church Master Plan Environmental Assessment, O‘ahu
• State HPHA Environmental Reviews, Statewide, Hawai‘i

Project Experience with Prior Firms

• Realignment of a Section of Honoapiilani Highway, Phase 1A; Future Keawe Street Extension, Lahaina, Maui, [EA, NPDES]
• Kūhiō Highway Short-Term Improvements, Temporary By-Pass Road to Kuamoo Road Environmental Assessment, Kaua’i
• Ke‘ehi Small Boat Harbor Sewer Force Main Project, Honolulu, O‘ahu, [EA, CDUA, SMA, SSV]