Colin Kippen, a Native Hawaiian educator, will be the state’s new homeless coordinator.

Kippen was the executive director of the National Indian Education Association in Washington, D.C., and previously led the Native Hawaiian Education Council.

Kippen will guide an interagency council on homelessness that is preparing a strategic plan that should be released in July.

Gov. Neil Abercrombie announced Kippen’s appointment on Friday. The governor also signed a bill into law that formally establishes the interagency council under the state Department of Human Services and requires the department to conduct a study on designating safe homeless facilities.