Thielen, who was elected to the board in 2002, has resigned from the post even though she wasn't required to do so, the governor's office said today. The empty seat will be filled by a Lingle appointment.

The Office of Planning assists the governor in maintaining an overall framework to guide development in the state.

"Laura is an outstanding strategic planner, and I admire the collaborative way she approaches every issue," Lingle said. "Laura's skills and experience will be invaluable to charting the long-range plans for the state of Hawai'i and ensuring our future growth is balanced with responsible management of our resources."

Since 1997, Thielen has been the sole proprietor of LHT Services, which provides business consulting to nonprofit organizations and state agencies.