UH board selects new capital planner

By Andrew Gomes
Advertiser Staff Writer

The University of Hawai'i Board of Regents yesterday selected Kaka'ako redevelopment agency director Jan Yokota to become the UH director of capital improvements.

Jan S. Yokota, Kaka'ako redevelopment agency director, was selected as the UH director of capital improvements. Advertiser library photo

"It's a challenging position," she said. "I'd like to be a part of making (the university) a better institution, and I think the facilities are part of that."

Yokota will take the place of Sam Callejo, a former state comptroller and chief of staff to former Gov. Ben Cayetano who is leaving to become chief of staff for university President Evan Dobelle.

Born and raised in Hawai'i, Yokota attended UH as an undergrad before earning a bachelor's in arts at the University of Michigan and a master's in regional planning from Cornell University.

Yokota worked at the Kaka'ako redevelopment agency in planning and finance positions in the late '70s before taking jobs in Washington, D.C., Pittsburgh and Hong Kong. In 1994, she returned to Hawai'i and a position at the Kaka'ako redevelopment agency.

"It's a big loss," said agency board member and state Comptroller Russ Saito. "She's been doing an excellent job as executive director. UH is getting a really good planner."

Yokota said she would like to begin work at UH in August to provide time for the Kaka'ako redevelopment agency board to find her replacement.

The UH position pays $120,000 a year.

Yokota said she had applied for the UH position before Callejo was hired last November. She said she maintains a passion for helping guide development of Kaka'ako, but the scope of improvement projects was broader at UH. "It was just a good opportunity," she said.

Reach Andrew Gomes at agomes@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8065.