State authority on development names new chief

The state agency regulating development in Kakaako will have a new leader Dec. 1 after a roughly yearlong search that weeded out nearly 200 other applicants.

Board members of the Hawaii Community Development Authority unanimously voted Wednesday to appoint Jesse Souki, a local attorney and veteran government executive, to head the agency.

The state announced Souki as the board’s preferred selection last week, and on Wednesday the agency’s board chairman shed light on what previously had been a mostly closed-door effort to pick a new HCDA leader.

Souki, who is the director of planning, permitting and right-of-way for the Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation, will replace Aedward Los Banos, who served as interim executive director since last December. Los Banos previously was the agency’s administrative services officer and will return to that role.

John Whalen, HCDA board chairman, thanked Los Banos for taking on the additional duty and welcomed Souki upon completing a lengthy recruitment process that began last November after former agency leader Anthony Ching announced he would leave for medical reasons.

HCDA retained executive search firm Bishop & Co. in April and attracted 192 applicants, Whalen said. Most weren’t qualified, but the search was narrowed to six good applicants who received hourlong interviews before the board.

Souki won out over one other finalist. None of the other contenders was named because they were promised confidentiality so as not to jeopardize existing employment, Whalen said.

Souki will earn $130,000 a year. Ching’s salary was $125,484.

Prior to serving on the city’s rail authority, Souki was first deputy director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources. He also has led the state Office of Planning and been deputy corporation counsel for Maui and Honolulu counties as well as a private attorney.

Souki told HCDA’s board that he is honored to serve them in helping direct how Kakaako, which the state several decades ago intended to transform from a decaying industrial area into a mix of residential towers and commercial uses, evolves as a community.

“It’s a challenge but also a rewarding opportunity if we get it right,” he said.