Growing up in Taos and Maui, Kihei developed an enduring wonder and admiration for beautiful places. He deeply values the expression of local culture and tradition in the built environment and feels at home in the mountains and valleys of northern New Mexico. Following a self-guided tour around the world after earning his undergraduate degree in environmental design, Kihei was determined to pursue a profession in architecture. His prolific collection of sketches, photographs, and journaling of buildings, landscapes and urban conditions continues to inspire his creativity.

Joining SMPC in 2012, Kihei is a keen listener and passionate aesthete who is dedicated to the collaborative design process. He is fascinated with the language and evolution of regional building types and enjoys sketching various forms and details in his free time. While his love for style and flow might find him flying down steep slopes on a powder day, or catching glassy waves in the islands, Kihei really savors simple days at home, sipping tea and spending time with his sons in the garden.