Department of Land and Natural Resources

 

John Komeiji, Chairperson: An individual from a list of three names submitted by the President of the Senate. Komeiji is former General Counsel and Vice President of Kamehameha Schools, and former President and General Manager of Hawaiian Telecom.

Michelle Noe Noe Wong-Wilson, 1^st Vice-Chair: An individual from a list of three names submitted by the Speaker of the House of Representatives. Wong-Wilson is a Hawaiian cultural practitioner, a retired Assistant Professor of Hawaiian Studies at Hawaiʻi Community College, and Executive Director of Lālākea Foundation and co-author of ʻĀina Aloha Economic Futures.

Richard Matsuda, 2^nd Vice-Chair: A representative from a list of three names submitted by Mauna Kea Observatories. Matsuda is the Director of W. M. Keck Observatory.

Christian Kimo Alameda: Mayor Kimo Alameda is a proud father of seven children who has dedicated his professional career to serving the people of Hawaiʻi Island. Prior to being elected as Mayor, he led Bay Clinic as CEO, the Hawaiʻi Island Fentanyl Task Force, and was the Executive of the County of Hawaiʻi’s Office of Aging. A licensed psychologist and former coach, Mayor Alameda leads the County to build healthy communities, support geographic equity, and create a stronger island for all.

Pōmaikaʻilani Bertelmann: An individual who is a lineal descendent of practitioners and kupuna of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices associated with Mauna Kea. Bertelmann is a Hawaiian cultural practitioner, President of Nā Kālai Waʻa and an educator at Kua o Ka Lā New Century Public Charter School.

Neil J. Kahoʻokele Hannahs: An individual with ʻāina (land) resource management expertise and specific experience with Hawaiʻi island‑based management. Hannahs is former Land Assets Director at Kamehameha Schools, founder of Hoʻokele Strategies, and recently served on the Commission on Water Resource Management.

Paul Horner: An individual with business and finance experience who has previous administrative experience in managing a large private-sector business. Horner is former CEO of Nā Leo o Hawaiʻi, former Resort Manager of Sheraton Keauhou Bay Resort, and former Managing Director of Marketing at the Big Island Visitors Bureau.

Bonnie Irwin: The chancellor of the University of Hawaiʻi at Hilo shall serve as an ex officio, nonvoting member. Bonnie D. Irwin has served as chancellor at the University of Hawai‘i at Hilo since 2019. She also serves on the boards of the Hawaii Island Chamber of Commerce, the ʻIole Stewardship Center, and the Mauna Kea Stewardship Authority (after having served as a member of the Mauna Kea Working Group). She is also a member of the Hawaii Public Radio Board of Directors. Chancellor Irwin previously served as provost and vice president for academic affairs at CSU Monterey Bay. She received her BA, MA and PhD degrees in Comparative Literature from the University of California at Berkeley.

Ryan Kanakaʻole: The chairperson of the Board of Land and Natural Resources, or the chairperson’s designee. Kanakaʻole was designated by BLNR Chair Dawn Chang and is First Deputy of the Department of Land and Natural Resources and a former Deputy Attorney General.

Gary Kalehua Krug: An individual who is recognized as possessing expertise in the fields of preschool through 12th-grade public education or post-secondary education. Krug is a Hawaiian cultural practitioner and Principal of Ka Waihona o Ka Nauʻauao Public Charter School.

Benjamin Kudo:  A former member of the UH Board of Regents, Mr. Kudo was designated by the present Chair to be the Regent designee on MKSOA.  Mr. Kudo was a former Adjunct Professor, William S. Richardson School of Law, and is presently an attorney at Ashford and Wriston, LLP.

Joshua Lanakila Mangauil: An individual who is a recognized practitioner of Native Hawaiian traditional and customary practices. Mangauil is the founder and director of HŌʻĀ Hawaiʻi, a Kumu Hula, and is an educator at Kanu ʻO Ka ʻAina Public Charter School. Mangauil is also a recognized Kanaka Maoli Kiaʻi, advocate for the care and protection of Hawaiʻiʻs environment, people and culture.