Director named for Maui public works

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui Bureau

WAILUKU, Maui — Board of Land and Natural Resources chairman Gil Coloma-Agaran was named yesterday as director of public works and environmental management for the incoming administration of Maui mayor-elect Alan Arakawa.

Coloma-Agaran, a Maui resident, has been director of the Department of Land and Natural Resources for two years. Arakawa, who will take office Jan. 2, said he was impressed with Coloma-Agaran's work with the state and appointed him, in part, to help coordinate road construction with state officials.

During the campaign, Arakawa said he would work to help relieve growing traffic congestion on the island.

Coloma-Agaran, a former director of the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, also served as deputy in the Department of Land and Natural Resources, and deputy of the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs.

Arakawa also announced several other appointments yesterday, including former state Sen. Jan Yagi Buen to the staff of the Economic Development Office working on agricultural and medical issues.

In the Senate, Buen was chairman of the Agriculture Committee and vice chairman of the Health and Human Service Committee.