History

Locally Owned and Operated 


Allen Kajioka, KYA's founder, first became inspired to pursue architecture in high school when he watched a top draftsman work on drawings with just one arm. After attending the Illinois Institute of Technology in Chicago and working for a large Honolulu firm, Allen decided to create his own company in 1972. KYA started out with three employees: Allen, his classmate and a secretary. Allen shares, "our first client was Duty Free Shopping (DFS) way back when the airport was on the other side of the freeway." Since then, KYA has grown and evolved into a full-service design consultation firm with just under fifty employees. Despite being in business for over 40 years, Allen is proud that the KYA organizational culture and work ethic hasn't changed.



  1. 1972

    Allen Kajioka Starts the Firm

  2. 1977

    Groundbreaking at the office on Dillingham

  3. 1988

    KYA moves to its Pumehana Street Location

  4. 1996

    KYA's first LEED Silver Certification: UH Hilo Life Science Building

  5. 2002

    KYA wins BIA's Overall Grand Award for Commercial Remodeling at Duty Free Shops (DFS) Waikiki

  6. 2012

    KYA Celebrates 40th Anniversary

  7. 2022

    KYA Celebrates 50th Anniversary