Today, as G70 prepares to mark its 55th anniversary, the company stands at an essential moment of renewal. At the heart of the company is Linda Miki, Vice Chair and CEO, whose leadership reflects the firm’s forward-looking spirit that has defined it for decades. FOUNDERS’ VISION, MODERN LEADERSHIP G70 traces its roots to the early 1970s, when founders Gus Ishihara, Gordon Tyau, and Francis Oda established Group 70 International with a simple goal: to elevate design in Hawai‘i. The firm began as a design architecture practice supporting others; however, it quickly recognized the need for a more holistic approach to address the Islands’ cultural, environmental, and social complexities. “We were originally designers for other architects,” Miki says. “Our founding fathers eventually decided to provide full-service work, and through their vision, G70 evolved into a multidisciplinary firm.” That vision shapes G70 today. The firm blends architecture, planning, interior design, civil engineering, and cultural resource management to tackle Hawai‘i’s multifaceted challenges with depth and flexibility. Its leadership evolution reflects that breadth: former president Charles Kaneshiro (architect) now serves as Chairman, Kawika McKeague (cultural planner) as President, and Ryan Char (civil engineer) steps in as COO. “They are an excellent combination,” Miki says. “Together we form a solid C-Suite team.The transition balances continuity with new energy, grounding the firm in cultural knowledge while strengthening its capacity for future growth with 16 Principal leaders.” INITIATIVE MEETS OPPORTUNITY Miki’s leadership journey at G70 is closely tied to the firm’s evolution. Early in her career, she distinguished herself by identifying ways to strengthen operations— most notably a 15-page proposal to modernize G70’s CAD production system. Rather than set it aside, the firm’s leaders, Francis Oda, Norman Hong and Sheryl Seaman, empowered her to implement it. “There was a lot of opportunity for growth,” she recalls. “They were open to new ideas and willing to try different things.” That openness propelled her from intern architect to CAD manager, then associate, and 41 BUSINESS VIEW MAGAZINE VOLUME 12, ISSUE 12 GROUP 70 INTERNATIONAL (G70)
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