Ads by Google Ads by Google

Native Hawaiian woman confirmed to serve as DOI Asst. Sec. for Insular Areas

The U.S. Senate yesterday confirmed President Obama’s nomination of Esther Puakela Kia’aina to serve as the new Assistant Secretary of the Interior Department for Insular Areas, which oversees the U.S. territories and freely associated states.

 

Kia’aina replaces Acting Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas Eileen Sobeck, who has held the position since February 2013, and would return to her former position as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Fish and Wildlife and Parks, according to DOI.

 

Samoa News points out that Sobeck stepped in as acting assistant secretary when former assistant secretary, Anthony Babauta resigned, while a federal investigation was underway regarding his role in the awarding of grants and behavior towards DOI employees (See Samoa News edition on June 6 regarding the outcome of that investigation).

 

In a statement yesterday after Kia’aina was confirmed, Interior Secretary Sally Jewell said, “Esther will bring considerable expertise to the issues facing the U.S. territories and the freely associated states” and she is pleased the Senate has voted to confirm Kia’aina to this important leadership post at DOI.

 

 Born in Guam to Native Hawaiian parents, Kia’aina has strong connections to Pacific islands and extensive experience on Capitol Hill, said Jewell, adding that the new assistant secretary will be a valuable asset to DOI “as we work with island leaders, the White House Interagency Group on Insular Areas, and partners across the federal government to further the islands’ social and economic progress.”

 

Congressional delegates from the territories all issued their own statements congratulating Kia’aina on her confirmation, adding that they look forward to working with her to assistant the insular areas.

 

Prior to being confirmed by the Senate, the nominee served as the First Deputy Director of the Hawai’i Department of Land and Natural Resources. Kia’aina had also served as Chief Advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs, according to DOI information.

 

Kia’aina served for nearly two decades on Capitol Hill, as Chief of Staff to former U.S. Reps. Ed Case and Robert A. Underwood and as Legislative Assistant to former U.S. Sen. Daniel K. Akaka. She was instrumental in the passage of numerous legislative initiatives impacting Native Hawaiians, U.S. territories and the freely associated states.

 

A graduate of the Kamehameha Schools in Honolulu, Kia’aina received a Juris Doctor degree from the George Washington University Law School in 1998 and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from the University of Southern California in 1985.