Riley Smith
President and CEO of Lanihau Properties, LLC
Riley Smith, PE is currently the President/CEO of Lanihau Properties, LLC and has held a multitude of positions in his professional tenure. His endeavors have been grounded by his education at Kamehameha Schools, where he graduated with honors in 1972. Riley went on to receive his B.S. in Civil Engineering at the University of Southern California with an emphasis in Water Resources in 1976. He returned home in 1976, worked for a consulting engineering firm and also obtained his MBA in 1980 from the University of Hawai’i with an emphasis in Finance. That same year, he qualified for and received his Professional Engineer’s (PE) license in the State of Hawai’i. Throughout his career, Riley rose from practicing as a design and project engineer to serving in many leadership roles at a variety of companies in both the private and public sectors. A few highlights include being the Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Public Works at the County of Hawaii, the Vice President of Parker Ranch, and the Vice President of Construction of Waimana Enterprises. His extensive resume is supported by his natural excellence at math and science, as well as his passion for management of construction projects.
As the current President and Chief Executive Officer of Lanihau Properties, Riley is responsible for the Lanihau Family Enterprise lands (10,000 acres in North Kona), owned by the heirs of Frank Greenwell. The history of this land traces back to 1850, with the arrival of Henry Nicholas Greenwell, an English merchant captain, to Hawai’i. Lanihau’s primary strategy is to develop the lands, construct needed infrastructure, and create commercial/industrial lots to sell. Lanihau Properties owns Palani Ranch as well, which raises 1,100 mother cows and their annual production of calves. Alongside his management of land and company operations, Riley serves many roles in the public sphere. In April 2021, Riley was appointed by Mayor Roth to sit on the Mayor’s Advisory Committee on Planning and Permitting, to be on the Liquor Commission, and assisted Mayor Roth’s transition team in interviewing cabinet members.
However, Riley’s career wasn’t without obstacles. In 1981, Riley started working for a land developer and enjoyed his time there, focusing on building housing and managing infrastructure in these housing developments. Almost 10 years later, Riley was laid off due to a restructuring of the workforce. Pivoting in a moment of crisis, he started working for a land planning firm. The fit wasn’t ideal, as Riley was a licensed professional engineer working with land planners and landscape architects. While there, one of his mentors introduced Riley to Mayor Stephen Yamashiro of Hawaii County. Upon this connection, Riley was offered the job of Deputy Chief Engineer for the Department of Public Works for Hawai’i County. Riley relocated and has stayed on Hawai’i Island ever since, raising his family and enjoying the opportunities the island has provided. From this experience, Riley learned that life is not fair and not everyone is treated equally, so it is crucial to prepare oneself for whatever challenges and opportunities that may arise. When asked about his life philosophy, Riley shared an outlook that aligns with the aforementioned lesson, which is to “Work hard, be mentally tough, be humble, establish friendships and relationships, be loyal to friends, help others (especially before asking them for help), have positive values, and exhibit strong moral character.” Riley also always returns all his phone calls before the end of the day, highlighting not to put off what can be done today for tomorrow, and stresses the importance of telling the truth.
In his free time, Riley enjoys spending time with his family, as well as spending time outdoors, whether that be swimming, snorkeling, or stand-up paddleboarding. A strong swimmer, Riley used to be a lifeguard at Makapu’u and Sandy Beach in East Honolulu.
As a Native Hawaiian engineer, Riley believes that Hawaiian engineers have the opportunity to improve the quality of life for everyone in the state, provide business opportunities in a humble and compassionate manner, and share the hard work ethic and generosity of the Hawaiian culture with others.