Jacky Takakura is sworn into office as deputy director of the Maui County Department of Planning on Wednesday morning in the Mayor’s Conference Room in Wailuku while Mayor Michael Victorino (far right) and members of Takakura’s family look on. MAUI COUNTY photo

The Maui News

Jacky Takakura was sworn in as the new deputy director of the county Department of Planning on Wednesday after former Deputy Director Jordan Hart was moved to chief of the department’s Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division.

“I am honored and humbled to be part of Mayor Victorino’s team, and I hope to help out in whatever way I can,” Takakura said.

Takakura started working for the county in 1998 when she joined the Department of Water Supply, according to a county news release. She later transferred to the Department of Planning from 2014 to 2017 before returning to the Department of Water Supply for a year. In 2019, she rejoined the Planning Department as administrative planning officer in the Zoning Administration and Enforcement Division.

Takakura grew up in Kahului and graduated from Baldwin High School. She earned her bachelor’s degrees in business administration and Japanese language and literature from the University of Washington. In December, she earned a professional certificate in urban and regional planning from the University of Hawaii at Manoa.

“Jacky Takakura brings a wealth of experience to help lead the Department of Planning. She has long been a strong member of our administration’s team,” Mayor Michael Victorino said. “Mahalo to Jordan Hart for his service as deputy director and I’m sure he will have continued success as chief of Zoning Administration and Enforcement.”

The Planning Department has come under fire in recent months over its approval of certain projects as well as an assessment that found a backlog of permits and enforcement actions.

Victorino has said the department is working on improvements that include launching an online permitting system and rewriting the county’s outdated zoning code.

While the mayor’s director picks have to be approved by the Maui County Council, deputy director appointees do not.