Posted on: Friday, November 1, 2002
City's new budget director takes office
By Treena Shapiro
Advertiser Staff Writer
A local businessman and attorney today becomes director of the city Department of Budget and Fiscal Services, pending confirmation from the City Council.
Ivan Lui-Kwan, 57, was appointed by Mayor Jeremy Harris to fill a vacancy created when budget director Caroll Takahashi resigned in July to care for her ailing father.
The council has not yet scheduled a confirmation hearing. In the meantime, Lui-Kwan can begin work as the new budget director.
Lui-Kwan said he decided to take the post because it is a great opportunity to serve the people of Honolulu. "All my adult life I've tried to make contributions to improve the quality of life in the community."
He comes to the city administration from Kona Bay Marine Resources, where he was president and CEO. He has also been chairman and CEO of The Queen's Development Corp. and executive vice president and chief operating officer of The Queen's Health Systems. Prior to that he was an attorney with the firm of Carlsmith Ball, and was a partner from 1976 to 1995.
Lui-Kwan said he has been preparing for the job by reading background material and will come up with clear goals once he is briefed by the budget department staff, city department heads and the mayor.
At a time when the city is facing a potential budget shortfall of more than $150 million, when the administration is under scrutiny for cost overruns in several projects and when the prosecutor's office has launched an investigation into Harris' campaign finances and the awarding of city contracts, Lui-Kwan sees his new job as a "unique opportunity."
He said he had been considering moving on to something else when he was presented with the prospect of joining the city administration. "I'm really grateful to the mayor for providing me with this opportunity," he said.
The two met seven or eight years ago when Lui-Kwan, chairman of the March of Dimes Hawai'i Chapter, asked Harris and his wife, Ramona, to get involved with Walk America, a March of Dimes fund-raiser. "That's the only context that I've really known him."
Lui-Kwan replaces Chris Diebling, who was appointed acting budget director after the resignations of Takahashi and deputy director Ben Diamond.
Diebling, who had served briefly as deputy director, will return to that post.
Harris said he was pleased Diebling decided to remain with the department, in a statement announcing Lui-Kwan's appointment.
Of Lui-Kwan, Harris said: "He brings a wealth of private sector executive experience to the position. Much of that dealt with overseeing the finances of major corporations. As a member of the executive committee of the Queen's Health Systems, his responsibilities included oversight of all operations — including finances — of the Queen's companies."
Born and raised in Hilo, Lui-Kwan received his juris doctor and a master's degree in international relations from Rutger's University Law School in 1971. He and his wife, Frances, have three sons and a daughter.
