Committee advances mayor's cabinet nominations, forwards confirmations to full council

The Hawaii County Committee on Governmental Operations and External Affairs on Jan. 7 voted to forward a slate of mayoral cabinet nominations to the full County Council with favorable recommendations.

Mayor Kimo Alameda presented each nominee and described his aim to draw local talent with experience across county departments. The nominees included Corey K. Stone for director of Information Technology; Wesley Seagawa for director of Environmental Management; Clayton Hanma for director of Parks and Recreation; Jeffrey W. Darrow for director of Planning; Renee N.C. Schoen for corporation counsel; William V. Brillante Jr. for managing director; Diane Nakagawa for director of Finance; Benson P. Medina for director of Research and Development (economic development); and Hugh Y. Ono for director of Public Works. Committee members and public testifiers repeatedly praised nominees’ experience, local ties and technical competence.

Corey K. Stone told the committee his early priorities would be improving internet and public Wi‑Fi access at parks and recreation facilities, strengthening cybersecurity and expanding staff and public digital training. "One of the big ones is getting a lot of the parks and gyms and pools connected with internet connectivity," Stone said, noting plans to use county fiber to reduce vulnerabilities and provide public access at community sites.

Jeffrey Darrow, who has worked in the Planning Department for more than two decades, said completing the long‑awaited general plan and updating development and subdivision codes would be priorities if confirmed. Darrow also signaled a focus on capturing institutional knowledge and staff training.

Renee Schoen said the corporation counsel’s office will emphasize teamwork, department training and risk reduction while continuing to provide legal advice to the mayor, council and county departments. Diane Nakagawa noted plans to strengthen the finance department’s staffing and technology capacity and to expand public budget education.

Nominees for Parks & Recreation and Public Works emphasized maintenance, hiring for critical trades and expanding recreational and senior programs; economic development nominee Benson Medina framed his role as creating job and business opportunities that leverage the island’s natural and cultural assets; managing director nominee William Brillante highlighted workforce morale and interdepartmental coordination.

Votes and next steps All items were forwarded to full council with favorable recommendations. The committee recorded the following votes (motion to close file and forward favorable recommendation to council): - Communication 45 (Corey K. Stone, director of Information Technology) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused (Council Member Kimball). - Communication 46 (Wesley Seagawa, director of Environmental Management) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 47 (Clayton Hanma, director of Parks & Recreation) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 48 (Jeffrey W. Darrow, director of Planning) — outcome: forwarded; tally as recorded: 7 ayes, 2 excused. - Communication 49 (Renee N.C. Schoen, corporation counsel) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 50 (William V. Brillante Jr., managing director) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 51 (Diane Nakagawa, director of Finance) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 52 (Benson P. Medina, director of Research & Development) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused. - Communication 53 (Hugh Y. Ono, director of Public Works) — outcome: forwarded; tally: 8 ayes, 1 excused.

Why it matters If confirmed by the full council, the nominees will occupy roles that shape county services and implementation of infrastructure projects, permitting and economic development. Several council members pressed nominees to prioritize filling vacancies, strengthening maintenance and repair capacity, and improving permitting and build‑out processes so projects move forward more quickly.

Looking ahead The full County Council will take up each of these confirmations in upcoming sessions. The committee’s favorable recommendations send the nominees to that body for final action.