Bennett, 49, is a partner with the high-powered Honolulu law firm of McCorriston Miller Mukai MacKinnon. Previously, he was an assistant U.S. attorney. He has been Republican counsel since earlier this year.

As the state's top legal officer, the attorney general is among the most powerful positions in the state and traditionally held in high confidence by the governor. Bennett has represented a variety of clients, from tobacco company Philip Morris Inc. to the Hawai'i Employee Retirement System.

Lingle said Bennett's broad experience, including representing the state and counties on occasion, will serve him well in his new post.

Bennett said today he will recuse himself from cases he has been involved with while he was a private attorney.

A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., he received his bachelor's degree from Union College and his juris doctorate degree from Cornell University Law School.

Last year, Bennett was one of the finalists to become U.S. attorney but lost out to Ed Kubo, who was appointed to the federal position by President Bush.

Kane, 33, is a Native Hawaiian. Before becoming chairman of the Republican Party in February, he had been executive director since May 1999.

Before that he spent five years as government affairs liaison for the Building Industry Association. Kane has a master's of business administration from the University of Hawai'i- Manoa.

Kane said his goal will be to distribute homestead lands to all individuals holding a legal right and desire for such property within five years.

He said he also will work on reinstating the Hawaiian Home Lands Trust Individual Claims Review Panel to resolve past claims.