Senate committee advises consent for Ryan Yamane as Hawaii DHS director after extended questioning on federal funding and child-welfare plans

Ryan Yamane, the governor's nominee for director of the Hawaii Department of Human Services, won the committee's recommendation for confirmation after a hearing in which he outlined his leadership philosophy and answered detailed questions about federal funding uncertainty and Child Welfare Services (CWS) reforms.

Yamane told the committee he brings decades of social-service experience and a listening-based approach, saying, "The Department of Human Services is a value driven public service organization, which purpose is to help our constituents during various times of personal struggles." He recounted volunteer and field responses, including work after the 2016 California wildfires and the 2017 Las Vegas mass shooting, to illustrate his emphasis on listening and compassion.

The committee hearing drew broad institutional support from agencies including the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, the Department of Budget and Finance, the attorney general's office, county officials and numerous health-care and nonprofit organizations. Anne Lucas, representing the attorney general's office, told the committee she had worked with Yamane and described him as "a team player" who problem-solves and collaborates. Deputy directors Trista Spear and Joseph Campos—both appearing in support or later identified as leadership in DHS—also testified or were…