Gov. Josh Green on Monday tapped Ryan Kanakaʻole to serve as acting chair and director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources after Chair Dawn Chang went on medical leave. The move, effective immediately, shifts the department’s top policymaking duties to Kanakaʻole while Chang recovers, a step state officials say is meant to keep the agency’s day-to-day work running smoothly.
In a news release, the Office of the Governor said, "Jaime and I send our heartfelt aloha to Dawn and her ʻohana as she recovers," and praised Kanakaʻole's steady leadership. The release underscored that DLNR's mission to safeguard Hawaiʻi's natural, historical and cultural resources will continue without interruption. The designation was issued under state law to provide temporary leadership authority while the chair is absent.
Kanakaʻole has served as DLNR's first deputy since early 2024 and previously worked as a deputy attorney general, according to the DLNR biography. In that role, he represented state entities including the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. and the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority, and he was appointed to the Public Land Trust Working Group. Officials say this mix of legal and policy experience put him in a strong position to assume the acting role.
Officials reiterated that public services and scheduled board business will carry on during the temporary transition. As reported by Hawaii News Now, the Board of Land and Natural Resources and the Commission on Water Resource Management are expected to move forward with planned meetings and hearings. Staff and commissioners remain authorized to handle pending responsibilities, and community members are urged to keep an eye on posted agendas for any late-breaking adjustments.
What Kanakaʻole Will Be Managing
The Department of Land and Natural Resources is responsible for stewarding public lands, water resources, ocean waters and historic sites, overseeing nearly 1.3 million acres and roughly 750 miles of coastline, according to the DLNR. In his acting capacity, Kanakaʻole will help direct programs that span coastal management, wildlife conservation and commercial leasing of state lands. The job also requires regular coordination with federal, county and community partners on recovery efforts and long-term stewardship priorities.
Local coverage has highlighted Kanakaʻole's legal background as well as his hands-on work with audits and interagency reviews of state agencies. Maui Now reported that those audits, combined with his time in the Attorney General's office, gave him familiarity with both legal and operational challenges across state departments. That kind of behind-the-scenes experience is often cited by officials when a deputy is called up to fill in at the top.
Multiple local outlets echoed the governor's message that scheduled board business will proceed as planned. Big Island Now noted that the announcement did not include details on the nature of Chang's medical leave. Stakeholders are encouraged to continue monitoring official meeting notices for public testimony options and agenda items, while the administration maintains that regular operations will continue during her recovery.
The governor’s office said the written designation will be filed with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor to ensure uninterrupted leadership and full legal authority under state law. The Office of the Governor added that it looks forward to welcoming Chair Chang back when she is ready to return.
