Paul Brewbaker, Hawaii's homegrown economist famous for his island outlook and jovial ways, is leaving his position as chief economist at the Bank of Hawaii.

Brewbaker, who had been with Bankoh for 24 years, will become a consultant and senior economic adviser, said Stafford Kiguchi, bank spokesman.

“;This is a familiar arrangement with economic experts, and at the same time will allow us to continue the benefits of Paul's expertise and knowledge,”; Kiguchi. “;We thank him for his many years of service.”;

Brewbaker could not be reached for comment. However, in addition to his role at the bank, Brewbaker is a director of the Hawaii Economic Association, a member of the American Economic Association, and chair of the Hawaii Council on Revenues, which estimates state revenue.

Brewbaker began doing research in the international banking division at Bank of Hawaii as a student in 1981 and joined the bank's economics department as an economist in 1985. Brewbaker was promoted to his most recent role as Bankoh's senior vice president and chief economist in 1995 and has since researched financial and economic risk and worked in the bank's treasury department

Brewbaker also has consulted with the University of Hawaii Economic Research Organization, or UHERO, which got under way in 1997 after First Hawaiian Bank closed its research department and Bankoh significantly downsized its economics department.

Brewbaker received his bachelor's degree in economics from Stanford University and his doctorate in economics from the University of Hawaii. Brewbaker also has done some graduate work and lecturing at the University of Wisconsin and at the University of Hawaii.