Hawaiʻi governor appoints acting chair of DLNR with Dawn Chang out on medical leave

Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green announced Monday that Dawn Chang, chair of the Department of Land and Natural Resources, is out on medical leave.

In her absence, he has appointed DLNR’s Deputy Director Ryan Kanaka‘ole to serve as acting chair and director of the state agency, effective immediately.

“Jaime and I send our heartfelt aloha to Dawn and her ʻohana as she recovers,” Green said in a news release. “Dawn has been a dedicated steward of Hawaiʻi’s lands, waters and wildlife and we wish her strength and a full recovery.”

The news release did not disclose Chang’s medical issue.

Green said the Department of Land and Natural Resources “remains in good hands” with Kanaka‘ole, who “brings steady leadership and a deep commitment to mālama ʻāina and community.”

Green added: “We look forward to welcoming Dawn back when she is ready.”

The department’s day-to-day operations, public services, boards and commissions will continue without interruption, state officials said.

The Board of Land and Natural Resources and Commission on Water Resource Management also will continue their scheduled meetings and hearings as planned. 

Kanaka‘ole most recently served as a deputy attorney general with the Department of the Attorney General, where he represented the Hawaiʻi Housing Finance and Development Corp. and the Mauna Kea Stewardship and Oversight Authority.

From 2017 to 2023, he served as deputy attorney general for the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands.

He also was appointed to the Public Land Trust Working Group and has played a key role in audits involving DLNR, the University of Hawaiʻi, the State Foundation on Culture and the Arts, the Department of Transportation, the Department of the Attorney General, the Hawaiʻi Energy Office and the Department of Human Services.