Governor Josh Green recently named several community and business leaders to a number of state boards and commissions.
Further information regarding the appointments can be found below:
BOARD OF EDUCATION
The six BOE appointees include:
- Reappointment of Ken Kuraya (member, at large)
- Reappointment of William “Bill” Arakaki (member, Kaua‘i County)
- Appointment of Mary Hattori, Ed.D. (member, City and County of Honolulu)
- Hattori will succeed member Lauren Moriarty whose term ends June 30, 2024.
- Appointment of Elynne Chung (member, City and County of Honolulu)
- Chung will succeed member Shanty Asher whose term ended June 30, 2023, but continued to serve in a holdover capacity.
- Appointment of Wesley Lo (member, at large)
- Lo will succeed former chair Bruce Voss who resigned in June 2023.
Governor Green appointed Roy Takumi as chair of the BOE, to succeed Warren Haruki, who recently submitted his resignation for personal reasons. Takumi will become the chair if and when he is confirmed by the state Senate.
UNIVERSITY OF HAWAIʻI BOARD OF REGENTS
Governor Green appointed Michael Miyahira to the University of Hawaiʻi (UH) Board of Regents (BOR), Hawaiʻi County member. If confirmed, Miyahira would be seated immediately as the holdover member, succeeding Alapaki Nahale-a who resigned from the UH BOR earlier this month. The term is set to expire June 30, 2028.
EARLY LEARNING BOARD
Governor Green appointed the following nine leaders to the Early Learning Board:
- County of Hawai‘i – Joni Onishi (term to expire June 30, 2028).
- County of Maui – Elaine Yamashita (term to expire June 30, 2028).
- County of Kauaʻi – Alanna Bauman (term to expire June 30, 2028)
- City and County of Honolulu – Stephanie Shipton (term to expire June 30, 2027).
- City and County of Honolulu – Dr. Lindsey Heathcock (term to expire June 30, 2027).
- City and County of Honolulu – Erica Mau-Schank (term to expire June 30, 2026).
- At-Large – Dr. Sulma Gandhi (term to expire June 30, 2027).
- At-Large – Kau‘i Burgess (term to expire June 30, 2027).
- At-Large – Cheryl Cudiamat (term to expire June 30, 2027).
COMMISSION ON WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT (CRWM)
Governor Green recently received a list of names from the nominating committee established under statute. However, no decision on an appointment for position has yet to be made
LAND USE COMMISSION
Governor Green appointed Bruce U‘u, Ken Hayashida (O‘ahu member) and Myles Miyasato (At-Large member) to the Land Use Commission:
MAUNA KEA AUTHORITY
Established in 2022, the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority (Authority) will assume governance and management responsibility over Mauna Kea after a five-year transition period,
Governor Green appointed the following four members to the Authority:
- Reappointment of Joshua Lanakilaoka‘aina Mangauil, as a recognized practitioner of native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices associated with Mauna Kea.
- Reappointment of Gary Kalehua Sherwood Krug Jr., as an individual who is recognized as possessing expertise in the fields of P-12 education public education or post-secondary education.
- Reappointment of Pomaikalani Bertelmann, as an individual who is a lineal descendent of a practitioner of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices associated with Mauna Kea.
- Appointment of Neil Jacob Kahoʻokele Hannahs, as an individual with ʻāina resource management expertise and specific experience with Hawaiʻi island-based management to succeed Kamanamaikalani Beamer, who has decided to step down from the Authority at the end of his term on June 30, 2024.
If confirmed, these members will all have terms that expire on June 30, 2028.
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Governor Green reappointed Colin Yost, who has served on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) since November 1, 2022.
HAWAIʻI COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY (HCDA)
HCDA was created to establish community development plans in community development districts; determine community development programs; and cooperate with private enterprise and the various components of federal, state, and county governments to bring community development plans to fruition. There are regional boards for these districts, and Governor Green has appointed the following:
For Kakaʻako District – Michael China
For Kalaeloa District – Mikiala Lidstone
For Pulehunui District – Fiona van Ammers and Glenn H. Yamasaki
HAWAIʻI HOUSING FINANCE AND DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (HHFDC)
HHFDC is the primary agency charged with overseeing affordable housing finance and development in Hawaiʻi. HHFDC works with the state’s residents, housing developers and financiers to make housing dreams come true. Governor Green has appointed the following:
- Reappointment of Carol Reimann (Maui County, public member), whose term ends on June 30, 2028.
- Reappointment of Sean Sasaki (City and County of Honolulu, public member), whose term ends on June 30, 2028.
HAWAIʻI PUBLIC HOUSING AUTHORITY (HPHA)
Governor Green appointed the following to serve on the HPHA:
- Reappointment of Susan Kunz (County of Hawaiʻi member), whose term ended on June 30, 2023 and is currently serving in a holdover capacity.
- Reappointment of George DeMello (Public Housing member), whose term ends on June 30, 2024.
BOARD OF AGRICULTURE
Governor Green appointed Nathaniel Oswald as the Maui Member on the Board of Agriculture.
HAWAIʻI PAROLING AUTHORITY
Governor Green appointed Linda Rich and Jennifer Merkle to the Hawaiʻi Paroling Authority.
HAWAIʻI LABOR RELATIONS BOARD
Governor Green appointed Clark Hirota to the Hawai‘i Labor Relations Board.
HAWAIʻI LABOR APPEALS BOARD
Governor Green appointed Harry Yee to the Hawaiʻi Labor Appeals Board.
ELECTRICIANS AND PLUMBERS LICENSING BOARD
Governor Green appointed James Tam and Miles Kawamura as public members on the Electricians and Plumbers Licensing Board.
After 13 years, Office of Information Practices (OIP) Director Cheryl Kakazu Park has decided to retire from her post at the end of March 2024. Governor Green has appointed staff attorney Carlotta Amerino to serve as acting director.
In a statement Governor Green said, “Our administration has been working extremely hard on moving our state forward on affordable housing, education, energy, and protecting our cultural resources. We are proud to appoint a wide breadth of leaders with diverse backgrounds of experience to take leadership positions to guide our state on these important issues. We value their contributions and appreciate their willingness to serve the people of Hawaiʻi.”
