Staff
Maurice Kaya, HREDV Project Director
Maurice Kaya joined Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture in 2008; as Project Director he is responsible for the strategic direction and overall execution of the project. Mr. Kaya has over 35 years of experience in energy and environmental engineering in Hawaii’s public and private sectors.
Mr. Kaya served as the director of the State of Hawaii’s energy program [1988-2008], and was also appointed Chief Technology Officer (CTO) for the Hawaii Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism (DBEDT) [2003-2008]. As energy program director and CTO, he was responsible for the planning and execution of state energy policy and projects. Mr. Kaya also developed a comprehensive energy policy strategy for the State of Hawaii, which was implemented first through Energy for Tomorrow and is now part of the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between the State and the U.S. Department of Energy that he helped conceive and launch.
He has served on numerous boards dealing with energy and high technology development. He currently serves as a board member of Energy Industries and the U.S. DOE Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Technical Advisory Committee, as well as co-chair of the Hawaii EPSCoR Statewide Committee. Previously, he served as the Chairman of the State Energy Advisory Board to the Secretary of Energy, U.S. DOE, and on the boards of the National Association of State Energy Officials, the Natural Energy Laboratory of Hawaii Authority, and the High Technology Development Corporation. He also served as the Chairman of the Emerging Energy Technologies technical committee, Energy Division, American Society of Civil Engineers.
Mr. Kaya’s prior positions include Vice President and Chief Engineer of a major civil engineering firm in Honolulu, the Deputy Director and Chief Engineer for the City and County of Honolulu, and the Director of Facilities Planning and Engineering, US Navy Public Works Center, Pearl Harbor.
Mr. Kaya received his B.S. in Civil Engineering and M.S. in environmental engineering from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.
Harold Masumoto, Project Co-Director
Harold Masumoto is co-Project Director for the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture (HREDV) and Project Director for the Hawaii Technology Development Venture (HTDV), both of which are projects of the Pacific International Center for High Technology Research (PICHTR). HTDV, which is funded by the Office of Naval Research (ONR), expands the capabilities of Hawaii-based small businesses in developing advanced technologies related to current and future Department of Defense and Department of Navy programs.
Mr. Masumoto previously served as Executive Director of the Research Corporation of the University of Hawaii [1994-2003] and as President and Chief Executive Officer of PICHTR [2001 – 2003]. Both organizations are dedicated to enhancing research and development in Hawaii.
His prior positions include Director of the Office of State Planning under former Governor John Waihee [1987-94], Interim Chairman of the State Public Utilities Commission, and Special Assistant to the Governor; University of Hawaii Vice President for Administration/Director of Administration [1975-86]; University of Hawaii Community Colleges Budget and Fiscal Officer [1970-75]; and various other positions at the University of Hawaii and the Hawaii State Legislature.
Mr. Masumoto received his B.A. and M.A. degrees in Political Science from the University of Hawaii and his J.D. from the National Law Center of George Washington University.
Dawn Lippert, HREDV Project Coordinator
Dawn Lippert joined the Hawaii Renewable Energy Development Venture in 2009. As Project Coordinator, she serves as the technical contact for HREDV’s co-investment projects and is responsible for coordinating HREDV’s business training, outreach, and partnership development programs. Prior to joining PICHTR, Ms. Lippert was a senior consultant with Booz Allen Hamilton in Washington D.C. She provided management consulting to the Department of Energy (DOE) on a variety of renewable energy projects, including the Hawaii Clean Energy Initiative, a partnership between DOE and the State of Hawaii created to chart a path to 70% clean energy in Hawaii by 2030. Previously, Ms. Lippert spent time on the Big Island working with Hawaii County to develop the island’s sustainable energy plan in conjunction with government and community partners.
Her role at HREDV also draws on her international experience – at The Energy and Resources Institute in New Delhi working to commercialize biomass technologies in rural areas and at the Fish and Wildlife Service implementing sea turtle conservation projects in Vieques, Puerto Rico. She is also a LEED Accredited Professional.
Ms. Lippert received her B.A. in Environmental Studies from Yale University and her Master’s Degree in Environmental Management from the Yale School of Forestry and Environmental Studies.
Keith Matsumoto, Project Consultant
Erin Kalopodes, Subcontracts Assistant
Linda Ome, Project Assistant
