Young will chair the committee, which includes representatives from environmental, native Hawaiian, cultural, business, and agricultural groups.

"I am glad that Peter has agreed to chair the selection committee to find his replacement," Lingle said in a news release issued this afternoon.

"No one is more aware of the kind of leadership needed to ensure that we continue to protect, manage, and enhance Hawai'i's natural and cultural resources. I also want to thank the committee members who have agreed to participate in the selection process. Peter and his DLNR team could not have achieved such significant, long-lasting accomplishments in protecting our fragile environment and preserving historical and cultural resources without the collaborative partnership of these diverse groups and individuals."

The state Senate this week voted yesterday against confirming Young as director of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.

Anyone interested in applying for the director's position or nominating a candidate may send a cover letter and resume to Young at:

E-mail: peteryoung@hawaii.gov

Telephone: (808) 587-0401, fax: (808) 587-0390,

The deadline to submit a resume or nominate a candidate is May 28.

Names submitted to the search committee may also be considered to fill the DLNR deputy land director position, which will be vacated on Thursday by Bob Masuda. Earlier this year Masuda informed the governor of his intent to resign at the end of the legislative session.

"We appreciate the work Bob has done as deputy director and his commitment, dedication and contributions to serving the public," Lingle said in the release.

The DLNR Director Search Committee includes:

1. Kehau Abad, Hawaiian cultural specialist

2. Noa Emmett Aluli, M.D., Kaho'olawe Island Reserve Commission, Chair

3. Haunani Apoliona, Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Chair

4. Earl Campbell, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

5. Derek Chow, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

6. Alika Desha, Royal Order of Kamehameha I, Hawai'i Chapter

7. Charles Ensey, Hilo hunter and farmer

8. Mark Fox, The Nature Conservancy

9. Stephanie Fried, Environmental Defense

10. Barry Fukunaga, Department of Transportation, Director

11. Rick Gaffney, Kona boater/fisherman

12. Berton Hamamoto, Honolulu Board of Realtors, President

13. Vicky Holt Takamine, 'Ilio'ulaokalani Coalition

14. Micah Kane, Department of Hawaiian Home Lands, Director

15. Sandra Lee Kunimoto, Department of Agriculture, Director

16. Charles Maxwell, Maui/Lana'i Islands Burial Council, Chair

17. Jeff Mikulina, Sierra Club

18. Gary Moniz, DLNR Conservation & Resources Enforcement Division, Administrator

19. Isaac Moriwake, Earthjustice

20. Nelson Oyadomari, Primary Residential Mortgage, President

21. Bill Paty Former DLNR Chair

22. Dan Quinn, DLNR State Parks Division, Administrator

23. Harry Saunders, Castle & Cooke Hawai'i, President

24. Cha Smith, Kahea

25. Alvin Tanaka, Pacific Transfer LLC

26. Darrell Tanaka, Maui fisherman

27. Ed Underwood, DLNR Division of Boating & Ocean Recreation, Administrator

28. 'Aulani Wilhelm, National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration

29. Avery Youn, Kaua'i architect