Congratulations to our new AICPs!
The APA Hawaii Chapter would like to recognize the following individuals who passed the recent AICP exam. These individuals either received their certifications following the exam or will obtain their certification after completing the Planning Experience Assessment and submitting verification of employment and education.
Please join us in congratulating these individuals!
Carlos Castillo
Carlos is an environmental and urban planner committed to advancing resilient and sustainable communities in Hawaiʻi and the Pacific Region. He has over a decade of experience in land use planning, environmental permitting, and hazard mitigation, working across the public and private sectors in partnership with community groups, universities, nonprofits, and government agencies. His professional work has focused on the social, economic, and environmental dimensions of planning, with particular expertise in climate adaptation, coastal zone management, and multi-agency coordination.
Carlos holds a Master’s degree in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa and a Bachelor of Arts in Geography, focusing on GIS and strategies to address climate change and resilience. His professional path has included leading environmental compliance and permitting for critical infrastructure projects, strengthening coordination across multiple agencies, and advancing initiatives that protect communities and natural resources.
As a newly certified AICP planner, Carlos looks forward to continuing his contributions to building resilient island communities, advancing collaborative partnerships, and mentoring emerging planners dedicated to tackling climate change and strengthening community resilience. When he is not working on planning projects, Carlos can often be found sailing throughout the Hawaiian Islands or spending time with his wife and newborn daughter, drawing inspiration from the ocean and island landscapes that shape his professional and personal life.
Malachi Krishok
Malachi is a Planning Project Manager at Bowers + Kubota with a little over a decade of experience planning in the non-profit and private sectors in Hawai‘i. Malachi’s work draws on experience working with communities throughout Hawai'i, which has focused on comprehensive community planning, land use planning and entitlements, state and federal environmental compliance services, community outreach design and facilitation, GIS mapping and analysis, and technical assistance and capacity building. He credits much of his growth to the mentorship and guidance he’s received at each stop throughout his career.
Originally from Milwaukee, Wisconsin, Malachi holds a B.A. from Occidental College and a Master’s in Urban and Regional Planning from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. He now lives in ‘Ewa Beach, the hometown of his wife Kourtnei, with their three children. Outside of work, Malachi enjoys spending time outdoors with his family, good food, and baseball.
Noelle Cole
Noelle is the Branch Chief for Policy Planning at the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting (DPP), Planning Division. Noelle joined the Department as a planner in 2015 after moving to Honolulu from the California Bay Area. She works on long-range plans for Oʻahu, serving as the project manager for the recently adopted Primary Urban Center Development Plan (PUC DP). Noelle has a strong interest in climate resilience planning and participates in the City’s One Water panel of agencies dedicated to increasing the resilience of Honolulu’s public infrastructure and land use practices. She is currently managing a pilot Area Adaptation Plan in the Waikīkī Special District. Prior to relocating, Noelle co-founded Resource Refocus, LLC in 2010, a consulting team specializing in energy efficiency research, projects, and initiatives. Noelle holds Master’s Degrees from University of California at Berkeley in Landscape Architecture and City Planning.