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Hawaii Gov. David Ige fills in more leadership posts

BRUCE ASATO / BASATO@STARADVERTISER.COM

Gov. David Ige presented his executive budget at the state Capitol on Dec. 17.

Gov. David Ige is reappointing the directors of the Department of Health, Department of Human Services, Commerce and Consumer Affairs, Public Safety and Department of Land and Natural Resources to serve during his second term.

Bruce Anderson will continue to serve as director of the Health Department; Pankaj Bhanot as the director of the Human Services Department; Suzanne Case as chair of the Land and Natural Resources Department; Catherine Colón as the director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs; and Nolan Espinda will continue serving as director of the Department of Public Safety.

Those appointments are subject to senate confirmation.

Ige also reappointed Robert Masuda as first deputy director at DLNR.

Bhanot has re-appointed Cathy Betts to be his deputy at the Human Services Department, an appointment that is not subject to senate confirmation.

“The health and wellbeing of Hawaiʻi’s people and natural resources are in good hands with this team of directors and deputies,” Ige said in a press release. “Their commitment to the people, place and culture of Hawaiʻi will carry us forward to an increasingly healthy and sustainable future.”

Colon has also reappointed Jo Ann Uchida Takeuchi as her deputy.

The governor has yet to announce who will lead a number of other state departments, such as the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands and Department of Agriculture.

More announcements about Ige’s cabinet are expected over the next couple of weeks.

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