Stan Takaki

1935 - 2006

A graduate of McKinley High School in Honolulu, Takaki began his career as a draftsman and received his Architectural Drafting Certification in 1956 from Honolulu Technical School. Stan’s 40+ year career afforded him a long-standing reputation of architectural excellence for his experience and expertise in many project types. He was best known for his resort hospitality projects, but he also worked on hospital, residential projects including low- and high-rise condominiums, and government and military projects. 

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Stan joined Watanabe Chun Iopa Architecture as a principal and the firm was renamed Watanabe Chun Iopa Takaki (now known as WCIT). A few of his outstanding WCIT projects include Mauna Kea Uplands on the Kohala Coast of Hawai‘i Island; 503 Portlock Residence on O‘ahu; Kūki‘o Lot 97 on the Kohala Coast of Hawai‘i; Westin Kā‘anapali Ocean Resort Villas North on Maui; and Intrawest Honua Kai Resort on Maui. Stan’s work on projects within Hawai‘i and throughout the world has been continually praised with design awards and professional recognition. He had intimate knowledge and specific familiarity with the technical requirements to develop projects of varying size, scale and complexity. 

Although Stan has passed, we are still inspired by the way he lived, worked and played.

Kevin Chun

1950 - 2007

A 1968 graduate of Castle High School, he attended the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, and the School of Architecture at University of Hawai‘i. He joined  Wimberly Whisen Allison Tong & Goo (WWAT&G) in 1977.  Kevin left WATG in 2000 and joined forces with Eugene Watanabe to found Watanabe and Chun Architects and Design Consultants, LLC. Watanabe and Chun were soon joined by Rob Iopa and Stan Takaki to form Watanabe Chun Iopa Takaki, Inc. 

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With WCIT, Kevin continued to create award-winning designs, including Sheraton Mo'orea Resort and Spa, Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, The Uplands at Mauna Kea, as well as a luxurious residence at the Old Kaiser Estate on Portlock Road. Chun held a position of eminence among Hawai‘i design professionals. His leisure industry projects evoked an appropriately Hawaiian grace and charm. Chun created notable residential designs, as well as spas and convention facilities. Many of his works are monumental in size and palatial by client mandate, but function as tropical architecture and are informally comfortable. Chun approached design with sensitivity, thoughtfulness and quiet confidence. He drew from European, Oriental, and Pacific themes, often expressing them in a compatible blend eschewing the trendy in favor of timelessness.

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