Senior leadership, deep Pacific experience

Helene Takemoto

President / Senior Environmental Program and Project Manager

40+ years experience

Helene leads Environmental Assistants with more than 40 years of environmental program and project experience across federal, state, Pacific Island, and commercial work. Her background spans environmental policy, law, and permitting; EIS/EA and environmental documentation; water and wastewater; hazardous waste and remediation; cultural resources; and community engagement. She has helped build and manage major environmental programs, served as a senior environmental liaison on South Pacific regional and Pacific Island standards work, and led environmental response in emergency settings.

• Environmental policy, law & permitting
• EIS/EA & environmental documentation
• Water/wastewater & remediation
• Cultural resources & community engagement
• Federal program & emergency response

Derek Yasaka

Senior Environmental Scientist / Remediation and Field Safety Specialist

35+ years experience

Derek brings extensive Pacific experience in remediation and field operations — RI/FS, contamination characterization, hazardous-waste and munitions-response support, and work within CERCLA / CLEAN frameworks. He serves as a Site Safety and Health Officer, leads field-safety on environmental projects, and supports public meetings and community relations, pairing technical rigor with safe field execution.

• Remedial investigation & feasibility study (RI/FS)
• Contamination characterization
• Hazardous waste & munitions response support
• CERCLA / CLEAN frameworks
• Site Safety and Health Officer (SSHO)

Brandon Benson

Program Manager / Technology, Innovation & Field Operations

18+ years experience

Brandon drives technology and innovation at Environmental Assistants, applying AI, automation, and emerging digital tools to environmental field operations and program delivery. He has implemented innovative technologies — including nanotechnology — to reduce contamination, cut algae and mold, and improve wastewater quality; secured a $1 million EPA grant for an innovative wastewater treatment plant on Maui; and advanced sustainable solutions such as eco-friendly nano-concrete for reef and construction applications. With 18+ years across international trade, remote operations, and digital systems (cloud, CRM, IoT, and AWS), he pairs business development and strategic partnerships — including a $5 million U.S. trade-mission purchase agreement — with the documentation discipline and client communication that federal programs require.

• AI & emerging technology application
• Innovative field & remediation technology
• Nanotechnology remediation support
• Program & operations management
• Strategic partnerships & grant funding

Senior SME Network

Senior & principal-level Pacific specialists

Environmental Assistants maintains access to a Hawaiʻi-based network of senior and principal-level environmental professionals with decades of Pacific experience in environmental policy, regulatory coordination, cultural resources, remediation, water/wastewater, hazardous waste, natural resources, and federal environmental program execution. This network lets the firm match the right senior expertise to each project's needs. Individuals are named only with their permission.

• Environmental policy & regulatory coordination
• Cultural & natural resources
• Remediation & water / wastewater
• Hazardous waste & site investigation
• Federal environmental program execution