University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents to fill four open seats representing three counties

Four seats on the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents need to be filled before July 1.

The Candidate Advisory Council for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents has presented a list of candidates to Gov. Josh Green to fill two Honolulu County seats for five-year appointments.

The appointment will begin July 1, 2026, subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate. The finalists are:

• Keith Y. Amemiya
• Benjamin A. Kudo
• Marie C. Laderta
• Ryan C. Mandado
• Kathryn S. Matayoshi

“The Candidate Advisory Council members extend their sincere appreciation to all the individuals who took the time to apply to serve as a University of Hawaiʻi regent,” said Candidate Advisory Council Chair Brigitte Yoshino. “We are pleased to submit these names for consideration to the governor and the state senate.”

Finalist biographies are available on the Candidate Advisory Council website.

The Candidate Advisory Council also stopped accepting applications for one Hawaiʻi County seat for a five-year term to begin on July 1, and one Maui County seat for a term to begin immediately.

Candidates must reside in the respective county for which they are applying.

The Candidate Advisory Council is responsible for conducting recruitment efforts, accepting and screening applications, interviewing candidates, and submitting to the governor the names of nominees willing to serve as regents of the University of Hawaiʻi System, which is a voluntary, uncompensated public appointment.

Candidate lists are compiled after a comprehensive review and selection process, which is solely and exclusively merit-based according to procedures set forth in state statutes and the council’s administrative rules.

The Board of Regents is the governing body of the 10-campus University of Hawaiʻi System, the sole provider of public higher education in the state, and consists of 11 members.

Representation includes five members from the City and County of Honolulu, two from Hawaiʻi County, two from Maui County, one from Kauaʻi County, and one University of Hawaiʻi student.