Gov. Josh Green has appointed Ciara Kahahane to be the next first deputy of the state Commission on Water Resource Management.
She will serve as second-in-command to Dawn Chang, who heads the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Kahahane previously worked in the state Department of the Attorney General’s Complex Litigation Division and is currently coordinating a review of last year’s fire in Lahaina for the AG’s office.
“Ciara is a dedicated public servant and I’m confident she will help lead the commission through the many complex issues surrounding management of water resources throughout Hawai‘i,” Green said in a statement. “As last year’s devastating Maui wildfires demonstrated, how we conserve, manage and allocate water is one of the most critical issues state government faces.”
Kahahane graduated from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa’s William Richardson School of Law in 2019. In 2016 she earned a bachelor’s degree in Hawaiian studies.
She succeeds the previous first deputy Kaleo Manuel. Last year Manuel notably delayed West Maui Land Company’s request to divert stream water in West Maui to help fight the Lahaina fire.
Chang redeployed Manuel following his decision, before reinstating him as first deputy. Manuel then resigned from the position.
The diversion of West Maui stream water for land companies has long been opposed by many Native Hawaiians and other community members.
