Governor Elect Neil Abercrombie Makes Key Directorship Nominations

Mr. Abercrombie nominated the following leaders to key agencies responsible for Hawaii's natural resources, statewide energy planning, and land use regulations:

• William Aila Jr., director and chairman of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.  This position is currently held by Laura Thielen.  Within the DLNR is the State Historic Preservation Division, which is charged with, inter alia, implementing Hawaii's native Hawaiian burial laws and the federal and state historic preservation acts.   SHPD has been under close scrutiny by the U.S. Department of the Interior's National Parks Service for SHPD's failure to comply with provisions of the National Historic Preservation Act.
• Richard Lim, director of the state Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism.  DBEDT is is Hawaii's resource center for economic and statistical data, business development opportunities, energy and conservation information, and foreign trade advantages.  Mr. Lim is the managing director of Sennet Capital. Prior to Sennet Capital, Mr. Lim was president and chief operating officer of City Bank until its merger with Central Pacific Bank.  He will replace Director Theodore E. Liu.
• Alapaki Nahale-a, to the state Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.  DHHL's mission is to manage the Hawaiian Home Lands trust effectively and to develop and deliver lands to native Hawaiians.  Mr. Nahale-a is currently the Executive Director for the Hawaii Charter Schools Network.  He will replace Director Micah Kane.

Under HRS § 26-31, the above directors are "nominated and, by and with the advice and consent of the senate, appointed by the governor, for a term to expire at the end of the term for which the governor was elected."

For more land use related news, see the Land Use News archive.