Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 30, Number 10, 1 October 2013 — OHA praises Kiaʻāina's presidential appointment [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

OHA praises Kiaʻāina's presidential appointment

By Harold Nedd The Office of Hawaiian Affairs applauds President Obama for selecting its former Chief Advocate Esther Kia'āina as his new U.S. assistant secretary for insular affairs at the U.S. Department of the Interior, where she would lead efforts to coordinate federal policy for American Samoa, Guam, the U.S. Virgin Islands and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands. If her nomination is confirmed hvtheTTS Senate Kia'āina wonlH

be the highest-ranking Native Hawaiian presidential nominee in the White House, bringing more than 20 years of experience as a legisla-

tive aide in Washington, D.C., to her responsibilities, whieh include administering and overseeing federal assistance to the Federated States of Micronesia, the Republie of the Marshall Islands and the Republic of Palau. "I highly commend the president for picking Esther Kia'āina to help his administration address the ehallenges of protecting land and natural resources in such American territories in the Paeihe and Caribbean as Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands," said OHA Ka Pouhana, Chief Executive Officer Kamana'opono Crahhe "Uer annointment is also

an important acknowledgement that Native Hawaiians are ready and capable of serving at the highest levels in our federal govemment."

Kia'āina, 49, who is the deputy director at the state Department of Land and Natural Resources, began a 20-year career on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., as an intern for the late Sen. Daniel Inouye. She then rose to become the chief of staff to U.S. Congressman Robert Underwood of Guam. In 2007, she ended her career in Washington as chief of staff to then-U.S. Congressman Ed Case of Hawai'i. A lawyer by training, she was a candidate in the November 2012 general eleehon for Hawai'i's 2nd Congressional District. Before that, she was the chief advocate for OHA. Prior to joining OHA, she was a land asset manager for Kamehameha Schools. "I hope that more Native Hawaiians will look at the appointment and consider how they ean also contribute to the important decisions at the federal level that affect Hawaiians and Hawai'i every day," Crabbe said. ■

Esther Kia'āina. - Courtesy photo