Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green recently announced appointments to the Hawaiian Homes Commission, the Campaign Spending Commission and the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission
“Each of these leaders brings valuable experience, integrity and a deep commitment to public service,” Green said in a news release. “Their work will help expand opportunities for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries, ensure fairness in our campaign finance system and uphold the highest ethical standards in state government.”
Hawaiian Homes Commission
Chairperson Kali Watson (reappointment)
Watson, who also serves as director of Hawaiʻi Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, previously led the department from 1995 to 1998 and returned to the role in 2023. His tenure focused on accelerating homestead development and expanding residential, agricultural and pastoral lease opportunities for Native Hawaiian beneficiaries.
“I truly appreciate Gov. Green’s continued confidence in me and I look forward to working alongside him to move the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands forward in historic and meaningful ways,” said Watson in the state release.
Kanoa Alapai
Alapai has nearly 20 years of experience in land stewardship, property management and agricultural operations. The Kamehameha Schools senior land operations manager oversees about 175,000 acres throughout West Hawaiʻi on the Big Islan. He previously managed Waikiʻi Ranch and serves on the boards of Paniolo Preservation Society and Nā ʻŌiwi ʻO Puʻuanahulu.
“I thank Gov. Green and [Chairperson] Kali Watson for the privilege of serving the people of Hawaiʻi and the beneficiaries of the Department of Hawaiian Home Lands,” Alapai said in the state release.
Gabe Amey
Amey is founder and executive director of RiseHI Foundation and launched Our Kūpuna, which has supported more than 600 kūpuna throughout 5 islands. He also brings more than two decades of business and lending experience, including helping local families pursue homeownership. Amey is an Omidyar fellow and graduate of St. Louis School and Menlo College.
“I’m grateful to the governor for the trust he has placed in me, and I accept this kuleana with humility,” said Amey in the state release. “Serving Hawaiʻi’s people has been the throughline of my life’s work — from our keiki to our kūpuna — and I look forward to listening to and learning from beneficiaries as we work to help more Hawaiian families put down roots on their own ʻāina.”
Mike Kaleikini (reappointment)
Kaleikini has more than 40 years of experience in power generation, including 6 years in the U.S. Navy and more than 35 years with Puna Geothermal Venture in Puna on the Big Island. He now works in business development and serves with several Hawaiʻi Island business and community organizations.
“I look forward to continuing the great progress the Green Administration, under [Chairperson] Kali Watson’s leadership, has made for our beneficiaries,” said Kaleikini in the state release.
Note: Appointments to Hawaiian Homes Commission are subject to Hawaiʻi Senate confirmation.
Campaign Spending Commission
Wesley Bogdan
Bogdan brings more than 30 years of legal experience, including service in private practice and with the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands Offices of the Attorney General and Public Defender as legal counsel to two Mariana governors and as a Superior Court associate judge from 2017 to 2023. He now works as a legal consultant, mediator and international football integrity officer.
“This appointment to the Hawaiʻi Campaign Spending Commission has special meaning for me,” said Bogdan in the state release. “After more than 30 years in law and public service, I sincerely thank Gov. Green for the opportunity to continue serving. I look forward to applying my legal and judicial experience in support of integrity, fairness and transparency in Hawaiʻi’s campaign finance process.”
Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission
Dr. Robert Hong (reappointment)
Hong has served the state Ethics Commission since 2022. The Honolulu native and Kalani High School graduate is a cardiologist and professor emeritus at University of Hawaiʻi John A. Burns School of Medicine.
He established Hawaiʻi’s first accredited cardiovascular disease fellowship and served in several senior clinical, educational and administrative positions at John A. Burns School of Medicine and The Queen’s Medical Center.
“I believe that good government requires the oversight of those who the government serves. Fundamental to this oversight is a review of any question raised about thoughtful and ethical behavior by those involved in governance,” said Hong in the state release. “I am proud and honored to have the opportunity to help in this process.”
Laura Valenzuela
Valenzuela brings more than 45 years of residential property management experience, now managing affordable housing on Maui. The certified hospice aide and longtime community advocate is committed to serving with integrity, fairness and transparency.
“I am truly honored and humbled by Gov. Green’s appointment to the Hawaiʻi State Ethics Commission. For more than four decades, I have had the privilege of serving the people of Maui, and those experiences — especially serving affordable housing communities through the challenges of COVID-19, the Lahaina wildfire and volunteering as a certified hospice aide — have reinforced my belief that integrity is demonstrated through fairness, compassion, transparency and respect for every individual,” said Valenzuela in the state release. “Public service is both a privilege and a responsibility, and I look forward to serving the people of Hawaiʻi with independence, thoughtful judgment and an unwavering commitment to the public trust.”
