New Hawaiʻi Gov. Josh Green announced appointments to his cabinet, which include alumni and a student from the University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa William S. Richardson School of Law. The cabinet convened its first meeting on December 7.
UH law school alumni Nadine Ando was named director of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), while Anne Lopez was appointed Attorney General. Chris Sadayasu was named director of the Department of Business, Economic Development and Tourism. Cathy Betts and Joseph Campos II will be continuing in their roles with the Department of Human Services as director and deputy director, respectively. In another round of appointments announced on December 12 which included nominees for the Department of Land and Natural Resources, Dawn Chang was nominated as chair and Laura Kaʻakua (née Edmunds) as first deputy; their appointments are subject to state Senate confirmation.
Ando, who had expressed an interest in serving in the public sector with the new administration, had been encouraged to apply due to her background in commercial and business litigation. As director of DCCA, her immediate plan is “to immerse myself in the mission and the workings of the department to get myself up to speed as quickly as possible,” she said. DCCA includes 14 offices and oversees a number of industries; the department assists Hawaiʻi’s businesses and industries and works to protect the interest of consumers. Prior to her appointment as director, Ando worked in private practice for 40 years.
Campos pointed out the opportunity in continuing his role at the department alongside Betts with Gov. Green in office, as well as his department’s focus on addressing needs for social services.
Campos said, “I am humbled and grateful for this opportunity to serve under Governor Green’s administration. I am committed to supporting the health and well-being of individuals and families by ensuring access to vital services.” Campos is currently a law student in the UH law school’s Evening Part Time Program.
Betts also emphasized the goals of eradicating homelessness and meeting the increased need for social services, as well as the significance of working with community stakeholders to address Hawaiʻi’s needs.
“Cross-sector collaboration to eradicate homelessness and care for our houseless residents is a top priority,” she said.
Betts previously led the Department of Human Services through the pandemic, and plans to continue leading with aloha. As the department’s director, she oversees multiple offices, including four divisions and six state offices. Betts credits her education at the UH law school for equipping her with the tools that have shaped her leadership.
“My education at Richardson—rooted in critical race theory, feminist theory, and social justice—has helped me become an effective government leader and has helped me immensely in learning how to lead with empathy, dignity, and humility,” said Betts.
