Kukui Awana
About Kukui Awana
Kukui Awana serves as the Director of Industrial Hygiene at Gopher Resource, bringing extensive experience in industrial hygiene across 13 countries. Awana holds multiple MBAs and has held various roles in organizations such as Golder Associates and John Deere, focusing on regulatory compliance and exposure control.
Current Role at Gopher Resource
Kukui Awana serves as the Director of Industrial Hygiene at Gopher Resource since 2022. In this role, Awana is responsible for overseeing industrial hygiene practices and ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. The position involves developing strategies to manage workplace exposure risks and implementing effective health programs.
Previous Experience in Industrial Hygiene
Awana has a diverse background in industrial hygiene, having worked in various roles across multiple organizations. Prior to joining Gopher Resource, Awana held the position of Senior Industrial Hygienist at John Deere from 2018 to 2022. Awana also served as the Industrial Hygiene Services Manager at Golder Associates from 2009 to 2014 in Singapore, and as the Business Disruption Risk Lead at HMSA from 2016 to 2018 in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Education and Qualifications
Kukui Awana holds multiple degrees relevant to their field. Awana earned an MBA with a focus on China from the University of Hawai‘i - Shidler College of Business between 2007 and 2009. Additionally, Awana studied at Sun Yat-sen University, where they achieved an MBA while focusing on Business and Mandarin from 2008 to 2009. Awana also holds a BA in Chemistry from Lewis & Clark College, completed from 1997 to 2001.
International Experience and Skills
Awana has extensive experience working in industrial hygiene across 13 countries on three continents. This international exposure has equipped Awana with a strong technical background in developing exposure controls, conducting incident investigations, and interpreting regulations. Awana also possesses expertise in ventilation assessment and equipment design, alongside skills in technical writing and training.
Early Career and Development
Awana began their career in industrial hygiene as a Staff Scientist at EnviroServices and Training Center from 2001 to 2002. Following this role, Awana worked as a Project Manager/Trainer at Globeteck Group, Inc. in the Hawaiian Islands from 2003 to 2004. This early experience laid the foundation for Awana's later roles in the field.