Finalists named for 3 seats on UH Board of Regents

The Candidate Advisory Council (CAC) for the University of Hawaiʻi Board of Regents has presented a list of candidates to Gov. Josh Green to fill one Honolulu County seat, one Maui County seat, and one Hawaiʻi County seat for 5-year appointments beginning July 1, 2023, subject to confirmation by the Hawaiʻi State Senate.

The finalists for these seats are:

Honolulu County seat

• Neil Abercrombie
• Keith Amemiya
• Matthew Matsunaga
• Mary Oneha
• Wai‘ale‘ale Sarsona

Maui County seat

• Lauren Akitake
• Sheri Daniels
• Beverly Stanich

Hawaiʻi County seat

• Michael Miyahira
• Kona Moran
• Alapaki Nahale-a
• Steven Pavao

Finalist biographies are available at www.hawaii.edu/rcac

Members of the University of Hawai'i Candidate Advisory Council include:

• Brigitte Yoshino, Chair
• Lance Wilhelm, Vice Chair
• Blair Odo, Secretary
• Amy Agbayani, Member
• Amy Hennessey, Member
• Brandon Marc Higa, Member
• Dale Nishikawa, Member

The CAC began accepting applications to fill these vacancies in the fall by contacting and

encouraging government, business, and community leaders to nominate candidates. The

council also placed print advertisements encouraging applications. All applications were thoroughly and comprehensively reviewed and screened by all CAC members. 

The Candidate Advisory Committee is statutorily responsible for conducting recruitment efforts, accepting and screening applications, interviewing candidates and submitting to the governor the names of nominees willing to serve as regents of the University of Hawaiʻi System, which is a voluntary non-compensated public appointment.

Candidate lists are compiled after a comprehensive review and selection process, which is solely and exclusively merit-based and according to procedures set forth in state statutes and the council’s administrative rules.

“The Candidate Advisory Council members thank all the individuals who applied for these seats on the Board of Regents. We are pleased to submit these names for consideration to the governor,” said Chair Brigitte Yoshino.

The Board of Regents is the governing body of the University of Hawai‘i and consists of 11 members. Representation includes five from the City and County of Honolulu; two from Hawaiʻi County; two from Maui County; one from Kauaʻi County; and one (1) University of Hawaiʻi student.

Members of the CAC serve voluntarily and are not paid.