CAPAC Members Applaud Confirmation of Esther Kia‘aina for Assistant Secretary of the Interior

Washington, D.C. – Today, the U.S. Senate confirmed Esther Puakela Kia‘aina as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior. Members of the Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) released the following statements:

Congresswoman Judy Chu (CA-27), CAPAC Chair:
“I congratulate Esther Kia‘aina on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. With this confirmation, Esther is now the highest-ranking Native Hawaiian to serve in the Obama Administration. Her wealth of legislative and policy expertise on issues impacting the insular areas will be an asset to the Department of Interior, and I have no doubt that she will excel in her new role.”

Senator Mazie K. Hirono (HI):
“The Senate’s overwhelming support for Esther’s nomination speaks to her strong qualifications to serve as DOI Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. I have no doubt she will serve with distinction and make Hawaii proud.”

Senator Brian Schatz (HI):
“President Obama recognized a tremendous individual for this important post in Esther Kia‘aina. Her confirmation is a testament to her distinguished career and expertise on Native Hawaiian issues and land management. Esther is an exceptional addition to the Department of the Interior and will serve well as Assistant Secretary.”

Congresswoman Madeleine Bordallo (GU), CAPAC Vice Chair:
“I join the people of Guam in congratulating Esther Kia‘aina on her confirmation as the Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas. Esther has a proven track record of working to advance Pacific Islander issues, and she has extensive knowledge of the many challenges affecting Guam, the other territories, and Freely Associated States. I am confident that she will be a strong advocate in the Administration for our issues, and I look forward to working with her as she assumes her new position.  We have a lot of work that needs her leadership and guidance at Interior.”

Congressman Mike Honda (CA-17), CAPAC Chair Emeritus:
“I am thrilled that my dear friend Esther Puakela Kia‘aina has been confirmed as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the Department of the Interior. It has been a pleasure working with her throughout my time in Washington. She has the environmental, management, and government experience to do an outstanding job. I can’t wait to see what she will do at the Interior Department. Her confirmation is great for the AAPI community, the environment, and our nation.”

Congressman Eni Faleomavaega (AS):
“I congratulate Esther Kia‘āina on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of the Interior. I am especially proud of the accomplishment she has achieved by becoming the highest-ranking Native Hawaiian presidential nominee in the Obama Administration. As American Samoa’s congressional representative, I look forward to working closely with Ms. Kia‘āina on issues affecting the insular areas. Given her wealth of experience on Capitol Hill, years of service to the State of Hawai‘i, and keen understanding of issues affecting the Territories and Freely Associated States, I am confident that she will be an extraordinary asset to the Department.”

Congresswoman Tulsi Gabbard (HI-02):
“I congratulate Esther Kia‘aina on her confirmation to be Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the U.S. Department of Interior. A Native Hawaiian born on Guam, who has worked more than two decades on Capitol Hill, I’m confident she will use her deep local knowledge and senior management experience to affect positive change for her new region of responsibility in the Pacific.”

Congresswoman Colleen Hanabusa (HI-01):
“I would like to congratulate Esther Kia‘aina on her confirmation as Assistant Secretary for Insular Areas at the Department of the Interior. Esther, a Kamehameha Schools graduate, has served in important roles in the Hawaii and Guam congressional delegations here in Washington, as well as back home in Hawaii for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs and the Hawaii Department of Land and Natural Resources. I believe her experience and her leadership will make her a successful advocate for the Insular Areas.”

Congressman Gregorio Kilili Camacho Sablan (CNMI):
“Congratulations to Ms. Esther Kia‘aina on her confirmation by the U.S. Senate today to be Assistant Secretary of the Interior for Insular Areas. The office she will be heading plays a vital role in helping the Northern Mariana Islands and the other U.S. insular areas develop our economies, build public infrastructure, and nurture our human resources. I know that, as Assistant Secretary, Ms. Kia‘aina will bring a new sense of urgency and direction to those efforts. And I thank President Obama for filling this vital position with a person of Ms. Kia‘aina’s energy and expertise. She and I have known each other since the 1980s, when we worked together for Hawai‘i Senator Daniel K. Inouye. I look forward to working together again, she as Assistant Secretary and I as Ranking Member on the House Subcommittee responsible for insular affairs, for the benefit of America’s island jurisdictions.”

Background:
Esther Kia‘aina most recently served as the Deputy Director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources for the State of Hawaii, a position she held since 2012. Previously, she was Chief Advocate for the Office of Hawaiian Affairs from 2009 to 2011 and from 2007 to 2009, she was a Land Asset Manager for the Kamehameha Schools’ Land Asset Division. Ms. Kia‘aina served as Chief of Staff for Congressman Ed Case from 2003 to 2007. From 1999 to 2003, she was Chief of Staff and Legislative Director for Congressman Robert Underwood. She also served as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Daniel Akaka from 1990 to 1999. Ms. Kia‘aina received a B.A. from the University of Southern California and a J.D. from the George Washington University Law School.

###

The Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) is comprised of Members of Congress of Asian and Pacific Islander descent and Members who have a strong dedication to promoting the well-being of the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) community. Currently chaired by Congresswoman Judy Chu, CAPAC has been addressing the needs of the AAPI community in all areas of American life since it was founded in 1994.