But get to know the inner workings of the city's second largest department and the mind of retired Maj. Gen. John "Jack" D'Araujo, and the pieces start to fall into place.
D'Araujo is a career Army man, 32 years to be exact.
The 53-year-old Hilo native was named the nation's director of the Army National Guard - the country's top National Guard post - in 1993, serving in that post until retirement in 1995.
Before that, he was assistant adjutant general of Hawaii and commanding general for the 29th Infantry Brigade based on Oahu.
D'Araujo and Harris officials stress the word administrator.
"I've had a lot of experience in running large, complex and diverse organizations like the Army National Guard of the United States so I've garnered the management and leadership associated with that," D'Araujo said in a recent interview.
Particularly during a time of "diminished resources" like the one the city is now confronting, D'Araujo believes someone with his qualities is necessary to ensure that resources are used best in a department hurting for both money and more manpower.
Outgoing Deputy Parks Director Alvin Au believes D'Araujo is perfect for the job. Au, slated to be auditoriums director in the new roster, believes a parks director "doesn't need to be an expert in parks matters."
What is important is that the director "be a good manager, leader and administrator," Au said.
"Because (of the size of) the department ... we need someone with experience dealing with large budgetary organizations," Au said.
But D'Araujo insists that he does have a recreational background.
Much of his career has dealt with facilities construction, operations and maintenance, particularly when he was deputy director of the Army National Guard from 1990 to 1993, he said.
Among his duties was to testify before Congress for funding of programs, including more than 3,000 armory facilities.
"In most places in the country, a National Guard armory is a community center," D'Araujo said. Most have recreational or other types of community facilities, from skating rinks to centers for senior citizen or youth programs, he said.
D'Araujo already has won the support of City Council Parks Chairwoman Rene Mansho. "The Parks Department is a large department. The director has to have good management skills to run it." Mansho said she's also impressed by the general's creativity and enthusiasm.
D'Araujo dismissed the fears of some that he'll bring a militaristic approach.
"I don't think people will be shocked by the management style that I bring to the table," D'Araujo said. "I consider myself a people person. I think anybody that's successful in military leadership has to be."
He wants to "spend time out in the field saying and feeling and touching for myself, getting feedback from all levels of the department," he said in a Kaumana pidgin not worn by years away from Hawaii. "I don't plan to be exclusively chained to this desk and office."
D'Araujo said improving park maintenance in the face of diminishing funding is a key priority as is enhancing youth recreation and sports programs. He also wants to put up recreational facilities in needy areas in a reasonable span of time.
He said Harris' plan to put the zoo and golf course divisions with the Auditoriums Department "makes a lot of sense" because all are entrepreneurial ventures.
Department: Parks and Recreation