Gov. Linda Lingle partially fulfilled a Hawaii Supreme Court order yesterday that she name new members to the University of Hawaii Board of Regents whose terms expired more than six months ago.

The Supreme Court on Dec. 4 gave her 30 days to select six regents, but Lingle chose only five and requested additional time to choose the last regent.

They become acting regents immediately, but must be confirmed by the state Senate.

Lingle, a Republican, had tried to “;hold over”; the regents - including her friend and campaign adviser Kitty Lagareta - past the time their terms ended June 30.

Lingle's administration argued the law set no deadlines for the governor to make appointments to the board.

But state Senate Democrats challenged the holdover decision in the state Supreme Court and won.

Lingle filed a motion asking the court to extend the deadline for the last regent because two of the five candidates for the position withdrew their names. The Supreme Court is considering the motion for additional time, according to the governor's office.

The five new regents are:

» University of Hawaii agronomist and emeritus professor Ramon de la Pena, who will represent Kauai.

» Servco Pacific Inc. Chairman and CEO Mark Fukunaga, who becomes one of five regents from Honolulu.

» Former University of Hawaii School of Travel Industry Management Dean Chuck Gee, representing Honolulu.

» Tradewind Capital Group Inc. Managing Director Eric Martinson, for a Honolulu position.

» University of Hawaii history and political science major Grant Teichman, who will serve as the student regent.