Gov. Ben Cayetano today announced that outgoing city Prosecutor Keith Kaneshiro will become Department of Public Safety director in January, overseeing the state's troubled prisons system.

"We both agree that the availability of prison space has to be increased," Cayetano said. "Keith shares my commitment to continue our efforts to improve our prison system and management of the department."

Current Public Safety Director George Iranon has agreed to postpone his retirement from Sept. 1 until January, and will stay on as a consultant after Kaneshiro assumes the job, Cayetano said in a news release.

Kaneshiro "will be an asset to my administration and bring to the job a wealth of experience including an excellent relationship with our law enforcement personnel and the Honolulu Police Department," Cayetano said.