Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 26, Number 8, 1 August 2009 — MAPPING THE POSSIBILITIES [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

MAPPING THE POSSIBILITIES

By ī. Ilihia Giūnsan _ _ X KaWaiūla f f

N e \ Hawaiian owned . and operated Aee J Land Surveying LLC a has more than 50 years combined experience in surveying in Hawai'i and beyond. Aee Land Surveying does surveys for land titles, legal descriptions, flood certifications, shoreline certifications, topographic surveys, boundary surveys and more. The company has worked on projects big and small across Hawai'i, including homestead communities at La'i'ōpua, Wai'ōhuli and Kapolei, the planned Waiawa Ridge development on O'ahu, and the Kaheawa wind farm on Maui. The company has about 20 employees to serve clients in Hawai'i and in U.S. territories in the Pacific. At the helm of Aee Land Surveying is founder and president Kevin Kea. He founded Aee at the turn of the 21st century, and although he had experience in surveying, business ownership was a trade that Kea had to learn. "I was faced with so many unknowns

W that 1 had to quickly learn, from state and fed-

eral rules and requirements, to insurance and tax issues, to employees and benefits - and to bring a steady amount of work through the front door," Kea said. "I was always eomfortable with the surveying portion of running a business, but the actual 'running a business' I had to learn, quickly." Kea, an independent soul since his high school days at St. Louis, said his success was worth the hard work at the beginning. "Now if I had failed and acquired debt and lost my home and everything else that I sacrificed, then of course my answer would be 'no,' Kea said. "That's the serious risk business owners take, and the odds are stacked against us. But I am in control of my destiny and I ean help my family in ways I wouldn't be able to otherwise." Kea credits his Hawaiian heritage and upbringing - his dad is from Moloka'i, his niom from Hilo - for his motivation and success. "The negative stereotypes of Hawaiians push me even more to reach higher and go farther than others. When I attend meetings with developers, engineers and architects and I look around the room and realize

1 ni the only Hawanan there, that tells me we as Hawaiians have a lot of catching up to do," Kea said. "My dad, who is a retired engineer, told me more than onee as I was coming along to put myself in a position to help others, not only your family but those needing it the most." Kea is a past president and current board member for the Hawai'i Land Surveyors Association, among other professional affiliations. His company also volunteers with Hawai'i Meals on Wheels and supports a scholarship program at Moloka'i High School. "I feel as business owners we have resources to help in certain areas of the eommunity and the youth. I wish at times I could do more," Kea said. "I think we ean be a source of motivation to the next generation that as Hawaiians it is possible to reach higher and accomplish more, not just in Hawai'i but nationally and worldwide." ■

Aee Land Surveying's work takes ■ plaee inside the office and ouf. Kevin Keo, ifs president, describes how fhe "rorbot," pictured, ollows one person to do the surveying work of three. - Photo: Courtesy of / . ' ĀīeLanil Surveying F f