Deputy Director Ryan Kanaka’ole is serving as acting chair and director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources with Chair Dawn Chang out on medical leave.

According to Gov. Josh Green’s office, day-to-day operations and public services will continue without interruption. DLNR leadership, boards and commissions remain fully staffed and 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 Hawaii 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.