About
Ho‘oku Consulting Engineers
Overview
Ho’oku Consulting Engineers, a woman owned small business, is a full service structural engineering and consulting firm.
Our vast experience ranges from large residential, commercial, and military projects to small remodels and retrofits. With over 20 years of experience, our firm specializes in structural engineering, forensic engineering, seismic evaluation, seismic rehabilitation, and quality control. In addition, we have extensive experience in DoD construction projects with services including Antiterrorism Force Protection design, blast & progressive collapse design, request for proposal (RFP) preparation, structural inspector of record (SIOR), quality control, and security engineering.
Ho’oku Consulting Engineers clients include Architects, Contractors, Building Owners, Department of Defense, and Homeowners. Our wide range of experience allows us to provide comprehensive services to our clients.
Our Mission
Ho’oku utilizes a people-centric, team-oriented approach to deliver practical, innovative, and economical designs meeting the needs and desires of our clients.
We provide personalized customer service and listen attentively to our clients to understand their goals and offer cost savings solutions to meet budgetary constraints. We continually strive to exceed our clients expectations and develop long-lasting relationships.
Ho’oku brings exciting ideas, creativity, and collaboration, in an open-minded and positive environment.
Design
Our open-minded approach to design results in creative ideas and practical design options presented to the team to meet the goals of the project.
We design using a wide variety of materials from traditional to state-of-the-art, and our attention to detail results in buildable, economical designs.
We strive to use sustainable, durable materials, and utilize design strategies that increase the life of the structure, resulting in a positive impact on our environment and community.
We are well versed in structural design in different regions with varying seismic, wind, and snow load conditions; from typhoon-force winds to high seismic design and detailing.Meet our Leader
Ms. Kulia Pacheco Boerstler, P.E., S.E.
PRESIDENT
Ms. Kulia Boerstler is the President of Ho’oku Consulting Engineers LLC, a Woman-Owned Small Business. She is licensed as a structural engineer in the State of Hawaii and licensed as a professional engineer in Colorado. She has over 20 years of experience in a variety of project types including residential and commercial structures, transportation facilities, military facilities, seismic rehabilitation, and major structural renovations. Ms. Boerstler is active in Antiterrorism/Force Protection (AT/FP) design and has been trained in Security Engineering Planning at NAVFAC, Port Hueneme, CA. Ms. Boerstler also continually participates in local Building Code Committees and the Structural Engineering Association of Hawaii.
Kulia was born and raised in Kailua, Hawaii, and is the 6th generation of a Portuguese family who migrated to Hawaii in the mid-1800’s. “Kulia” is Hawaiian, meaning “To strive”.
Kulia’s love of engineering and the construction industry began at a young age working with her father in construction. Her father worked for Hawaiian Dredging Construction for 38 years, had his own company as a General Contractor, and continually shared his enthusiasm for the industry. Her love of math and interest in construction inspired her to leave the Islands to pursue her bachelor’s and master’s degree in engineering at the University of Colorado at Boulder.
Outside of engineering, she loves spending time with her family and participating in a variety of sports. In her “spare” time she enjoys tennis, outrigger canoe padding, golfing and sprint triathlons. She loves to cook and is inspired by her weekly trips to the local farmer’s market. Kulia is active in Community organizations including volunteer work with the Structural Engineers Association of Hawaii (SEAOH) and participating on the Facilities Committee for the Hawaii YWCA, and coaching outrigger canoe padding.
Awards
Special thanks to Monica Lau Photography.