Maui managing director named

By Timothy Hurley
Advertiser Maui County Bureau

Maui County Finance Director Keith A. Regan yesterday was named managing director by Mayor Alan Arakawa, replacing Jack Kulp, who resigned after a drunken-driving arrest.

Regan, 32, becomes the county's top appointed official, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the county and serving as acting mayor when Arakawa is away.

Deputy Finance Director Wayne Fujita will serve as acting finance director while a search continues for a permanent replacement.

Regan, who is married to county economic coordinator Lynn Araki-Regan, was president of a small trucking company before taking over as finance director at the beginning of 2003. He was named Young Business-person of the Year in 2001 by Pacific Business News, and received Bank of Hawaii's Community Service Award in 2001. He is currently lieutenant governor of Kiwanis Division 22.

Kulp, meanwhile, continues to contest the validity of a police checkpoint where he was detained on suspicion of drunken driving on Dec. 17. A motion filed by his attorney seeks to overturn the arrest on a technicality: It claims officers were instructed not to stop mopeds, although state roadblock standards require that all vehicles be pulled over.

A court hearing on the matter has been continued until Aug. 27.

Arakawa refused to accept Kulp's resignation, offered immediately after his arrest. Kulp issued a statement at the time apologizing for his "inexcusable error in judgment."

But when the arrest was challenged, the mayor and Kulp agreed the situation might "detract from the integrity of the office," Arakawa said, and Kulp resigned.

Reach Timothy Hurley at thurley@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808) 244-4880.