Governor Green appointed Ryan Kanakaʻole as the new DLNR director and David Day as first deputy, effective July 7, replacing retiring director Dawn Chang.
- Dawn Chang will retire as DLNR chairperson and director on July 1, 2026.
- Ryan Kanakaʻole, who has been acting director since December 2025, will officially take over on July 7.
- David Day will serve as first deputy director, bringing experience from the Attorney General’s office.
- Day previously worked on cases related to the 2023 Maui wildfire disaster case management program.
- Kanakaʻole has extensive experience with state agencies including previous roles with Hawaiian Home Lands and Water Resource Management.
Source: Kwxx
Share this article
