Posted at 1:15 a.m., Sunday, July 8, 2007
Ching named interim director of state labor department
Advertiser Staff
Gov. Linda Lingle has named Honolulu attorney and former Board of Education member Darwin Ching to serve as interim director of the Department of Labor and Industrial Relations (DLIR). Ching will replace current director Nelson Befitel, who elected not to be considered for reappointment for a second term. Ching's appointment is subject to confirmation by the State Senate when it reconvenes in January. He will start his new position on Aug. 6.In August 2005, the Governor appointed Ching to fill a vacant O'ahu-at-large seat on the Board of Education. He served until November 2006. As a BOE member, Ching was the chair for labor negotiations for the Hawai'i Government Employees Association (HGEA) Units 6 and 10 and participated in negotiation sessions with the Department of Education and the union.
Ching is a private practice attorney who focuses on criminal, personal injury, business dispute, and family law. Previously, he was a law partner in the firm Yoshida and Ching, and worked with the law firm of Graulty, Ikeda, Ching & Yoshida.
Ching represented workers before the Disability Compensation Division of the DLIR and the Labor Board of Appeals as well as labor arbitrations. He also was a labor arbitrator on cases involving the HGEA and United Public Workers (UPW) versus the state.
From 1981 to 1988, Ching worked for the Department of the Prosecuting Attorney for the City and County of Honolulu, where he served in various positions including supervising attorney for the White Collar Crime Unit, supervising attorney for the District and Family Court Unit and deputy prosecuting attorney.
Ching also served as a deputy attorney general with the state Attorney General's office from 1979 to 1981, where he was assigned to the administration division and handled litigation and civil rights and education cases for the Department of Education.
