Ige nominates union veteran as labor department deputy

Veteran labor union official Leonard Hoshijo was nominated by Gov. David Ige Thursday to be the deputy director in the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations.

Hoshijo most recently has been education and political director for the Hawaii Regional Council of Carpenters. Previously, he was with the International Longshore and Warehouse Union in various positions.

The appointment needs confirmation from the state Senate.

Ige, last month, announced Elizabeth Kim would be the state’s new labor relations director. But that nomination was pulled back because she failed to meet residency requirements. Another nominee has not yet been named.