Kawahara to oversee state water policies

The engineer has served in the public and private sectors

Ken Kawahara has been confirmed as the deputy director of water resources for the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

The state Commission on Water Resource Management approved Kawahara's appointment by Interim DLNR Director Allan Smith during its monthly meeting on Wednesday.

Kawahara is a civil and environmental engineer who most recently worked as the city Department of Environmental Services communications officer.

He previously managed the city Environmental Services Department's Regulatory Control Branch and has worked on waste-water, recycled-water, pre-treatment and biosolids reuse projects, coordinating with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, state Health Department and other agencies, according to Gov. Linda Lingle's office.

Kawahara also has worked for developer Gentry Homes and engineering and environmental consultants R.M. Towill Corp. and Metcalf and Eddy Pacific.

"I'm very honored to be working with the commissioners, staff and all the different interested parties to protect and manage our precious water resources," Kawahara said.

The position of DLNR deputy director for water resources has been filled on an interim basis since attorney Yvonne Izu left the job in 2005 after refusing to back legislation she believed would weaken the state Water Commission.