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Meet the team

Glenn H. Yamasaki President/ No Ka Oi Energy

Glenn is President of NKO and leads all aspects NH Energy Venture LLC projects. Previously Glenn was the Regional Vice President of Bank of Hawaii in the Private Client Wealth Management Services and brings 28 years of experience in finance and banking to the team. Glenn currently serves as Trustee/Treasurer of Seabury Hall. He is an Eagle Scout and Past President of the Maui County Council Boy Scouts of America.Mr. Yamasaki is a graduate of the University of Hawai at Manoa and holds a B.A. in Journalism with a minor in Speech.

Kent R. Smith

Kent R. Smith has been actively involved in the development of renewable energy projects in Hawai’i since 2001. He was involved in the development of South Maui Renewable Resources (2.87 Megawatts) and Ku’ia Solar (2.87 Megawatts). Mr. Smith is the founder of KRS Development and developed numerous projects on Maui including the first workforce housing development. He is also the founder of MN Hawaii, the original developers of Kahuku Wind Farm 1 & 2, and Kawailoa Wind Farm, and Kahuku Wind Farm. He is a graduate of the College of the Desert in Palm Desert, Calafornia.

Hilton H. Unemori, P.E.

In 1976, he founded ECM, Inc., an electrical consulting firm (formerly Electrical Civil Mechanical, Inc.) based in Wailuku.

He attended the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Indiana and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

Hilton was formerly the President and Chief Executive Officer of HHMI Corporation in Hilo, Hawaii, in charge of overall management and operation of the company. Founded in 1975, this firm specialized in industrial plants, utility power generation and utility electrical transmission. This company was purchased by POWER Engineers, Inc. in 2012.

Hilton was actively involved in the development of renewable energy projects, notably 51MW Kaheawa Wind Power (KWP), 69MW Kawailoa Windfarm, 2.87MW South Maui Renewable Resources Solar Farm (SMRR), and 2.87MW Ku’ia Solar.

A member of the Hawaii Society of Professional Engineers, Hilton is active on a number of non-profit and community organizations including the Wailuku Rotary Club (member), St. Anthony Parish (Finance Committee Chairperson). He is an Eagle Scout and a past President of the Maui County Council of the Boy Scouts of America.

Hilton is a registered licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Hawaii.

Russell T. Yamane

Mr. Yamane owns Russell Yamane & Associates CPAs, Inc. and performs a variety of professional accounting services ranging from conducting audits to review and compilation of financial statements of both profit and non-profit organizations. He has been involved in renewable energy companies and investments for over 15 years. Russ is a past president of the maui county council boy scouts of America. He is a licensed CPA.

Emily S. Erickson

Emily is the President of Evergreen Energy Consulting, focusing on large scale utility renewable energy projects. Ms. Erickson acts as the project coordinator for NKO and manages the marketing aspects for the team. She is the Marketing Chair for The Maui Farm, a non-profit that serves women and children in need as well as a member of Ka Ipu Kukui Fellowship. Ms. Erickson graduated Magna Cum Laude from Colorado State University with a double major in Technical Journalism and Equine Science.

Mark J. Unemori, P.E.

LEED AP BD+C
President, ECM Inc. and Senior Electrical Engineer
ECM Energy, Managing Partner

Mark serves as the Technical Lead in the NH Energy development Joint Venture between NKO Energy and HES that focuses on developing both large scale commercial and grid-scale renewable energy projects in Hawaii.

Mark graduated from the Harvey Mudd College in Claremont, California with a degree in Engineering.

He started his career at Cryptek, Inc. in San Diego, California as Systems Engineer in systems and computer network design. Mark then moved back to Hawaii in 2005 where he earned his license as an Electrical Engineer at HHMI, Inc. in Hilo, Hawaii working on large scale commercial, industrial and military projects. He also worked as an engineer for the State Energy Office in Honolulu helping various State agencies to implement energy efficiency projects including but not limited to energy audits, sub-metering, ESPC, and lighting retrofits. Finally, Mark returned to Maui where he joined ECM and was promoted to President in 2021.

Mark is also an active member of the community as a member of the Wailuku Rotary Club, an Eagle Scout, and youth leader with the Boy Scouts of America.

He is currently responsible for the electrical design of commercial, high-end residential and industrial projects. Mark is a registered licensed Professional Engineer in Hawaii, and has a LEED Accredited Professional with certification in Building Design and Construction.

Mark P. Rickard, P.E

RCDD/OSP Specialist
Vice President, ECM Inc.
General Manager, ECM Inc., Principal Engineer
ECM Energy, Partner

As General Manager of ECM, Mark handles fee proposals and is responsible for the overall management and operations of the company. He has well over 30 years of experience and is extremely knowledgeable of a wide variety of projects as the Principal Engineer at ECM.

Mark is a graduate of Layola Marymount University in Los Angeles, California with a Bachelor of Science degree in Electrical Engineering.

In 1982, he worked for Awareness House, Inc. in Hilo, Hawaii as a Computer Consultant/Assistant to the Director. He joined ECM, Inc. as an Electrical Engineer in 1988, and earned the position of Vice President in 2007.

Mark has extensive experience in the design of resort hotels, premium residences, office, schools and apartment buildings. His broad range of projects include underground electrical infrastructure for subdivisions, school electrical upgrades, application of photovoltaic panels, electrical utility pole maintenance and transmission line engineering.

Mark is a registered licensed Professional Engineer in the State of Hawaii, a registered Communication Distribution Designer (RCDD) and an Outside Plant Designer (OSP). He is a past Board member of the Maui Redevelopment Agency.

Darryl “Duey” Vigneux,

Mr. Vigneux is the owner of Plumbing Pros of Maui. He is responsible for construction management and is a licensed General Contractor.

Anthony Takitani, GILBERT KEITH-AGARAN

The principals of Akoni Kilipaki LLC, Anthony Takitani and Gilbert Keith-Agaran, were born and raised on Maui. Mr. Takitani grew up in Wailuku and Mr. Keith-Agaran in Paia. Both left Maui to study at mainland colleges but remained strongly committed to the Valley Isle and its unique community. Currently practicing law in Wailuku, both previously served in the State Legislature and have been active in the Maui community and various non-profits. Mr. Keith-Agaran also worked in the Governor Ben Cayetano cabinet and Mayor Alan Arakawa Maui County administration. Mr. Takitani serves on the boards of Maui Land & Pineapple and Maui Health Systems.

Project Gallery

Kahuku Wind
Farm

Ku'ia Solar Farm

Mauna Loa Plant

South Maui Renewable
Resources

Kawailoa Wind
Farm

Affiliates

Affiliates