Bissen directors cross final hurdle

All 12 department appointees fully confirmed by council

The Maui County Council on Friday approved all 12 of Mayor Richard Bissen Jr.’s department head appointments.

Eleven of his appointments were taken up at once and approved via unanimous 9-0 vote.

But the full council separately discussed Bissen’s nominee for housing and human concerns director, Lori Tsuhako, as there was some opposition to her nomination in the past.

Council Member Gabe Johnson, who cast the only opposing vote for Tsuhako when the appointments were discussed by the Government Relations, Ethics and Transparency Committee, continued to oppose her nomination on Friday.

He reiterated comments he made in committee, noting he supports Tsuhako as a person, but they just “don’t see eye to eye on policy.”

He added that the disagreements are professional.

Council members who supported Tsuhako, such as Tasha Kama, said she also doesn’t agree with Tsuhako all the time.

But, it’s not the “stuff we disagree” on, but the things they can agree on “that matters,” Kama said.

Kama pointed to the mother who testified Friday in favor of Tsuhako, telling the council that she was previously houseless but was helped by Tsuhako and her programs.

Now the mother is back on her feet and will soon head to Germany to visit her family.

The other 11 directors confirmed by the council were Kekuhaupio Akana as managing director, Victoria Takayesu as corporation counsel, Andrew Martin as prosecuting attorney, John Stufflebean as water supply director, Scott Teruya as finance director, Kathleen Aoki as planning director, Jordan Molina as public works director, Marc Takamori as transportation director, Rogerene “Kali” Arce as agriculture director, Patrick McCall as parks and recreation director and Shayne Agawa as environmental management director.